By Eve Barlow

Swedish pop singer–songwriter Tove Lo is incapable of self-censorship; we’ve seen this since she first emerged, in 2013, with the addictive single “Habits (Stay High).” She has spent the past four years conquering ever-larger stages, often with only glitter covering her nipples, kitting out her house-infused synth pop with unfiltered lyrics about sex, drugs and hard-won self-discovery. The result: a bracing new paradigm of how women in pop can present themselves. In addition to co-writing for artists including Lorde, Nick Jonas and Ellie Goulding, Lo takes charge behind the scenes, funding her own films to accompany 2016’s Lady Wood album. That title, by the way, is a female twist on the male anatomy; her new album, Blue Lips, is another cheeky reversal. Both suggest insatiable appetites—a theme borne out by the new album’s lead single, “Disco Tits,” whose video depicts Lo in flagrante with a yellow bug-eyed puppet. Therein lies a key weapon in her arsenal: “It’s rare to make fun of female sexuality,” she says. “Naked dudes in movies can be sexy or funny, but not women. I like to play with that.” Having recently turned 30, with new music and a new love in the mix, Lo feels reborn. “I made it to this!” she says with a laugh. “I’m whole.”

Photography by Felisha Tolentino
Styling by Annie & Hannah
Makeup by Miguel Andrisani
Hair by Tiffany Nales