Swedish pop icon Robyn has made a highly anticipated return to music after an eight-year break, announcing her new album titled Sexistential. This nine-track collection will be released on March 27, 2024, and includes the recently dropped singles “Dopamine” and the title track “Sexistential.” This marks her first album since 2018’s acclaimed project, Honey.
The title track, “Sexistential,” was inspired by a personal experience during the early stages of her IVF journey. Robyn credits an offhand joke from Andre 3000 about not wanting to rap about getting a colonoscopy as her creative spark. “It was my cue,” she explained, “I have to do this, I have to write a rap about IVF.” The song explores her experiences and emotions during this transformative period.
Alongside “Sexistential,” Robyn also released “Talk To Me,” produced by her longtime collaborator Klas Åhlund and Oscar Holter, with co-writing contributions from Max Martin. Robyn’s collaboration with Martin dates back to her teenage years in the late 1990s, and this latest offering showcases what fans love about her music—an energetic, synth-driven sound that is sure to resonate as summer approaches.
“I wrote it during the pandemic when there was no way to be physical,” Robyn noted. “I like talkers; that turns me on.” This playful exploration of desire and connection captures the essence of her artistry, reflecting a longing for physical intimacy during challenging times.
Robyn’s Vision for ‘Sexistential’
Set against a backdrop of personal and artistic exploration, Robyn describes Sexistential as akin to “a spaceship coming through the atmosphere at a really high speed and crash landing.” She elaborated, saying, “That’s how I felt, like I’d had all these experiences searching too far out into space, and now I’m crashing back into myself.” This metaphor encapsulates her journey as an artist and individual, balancing vulnerability with strength.
“Exploring my sensual life is the same feeling as when I make a good song,” she added. “It’s such a beautiful kind of sensitive vibration that takes so much work to keep afloat.” Robyn emphasizes that her artistic journey is intertwined with her personal ethos: “I feel like the purpose of my life is to stay horny—it doesn’t even have to be about sex, but it’s feeling sensual and attracted to things that I enjoy, and not letting anything take over that.”
With the release of Sexistential, Robyn not only returns to the music scene but also offers a fresh perspective on themes of intimacy, creativity, and self-discovery. Fans eagerly await the full album, poised to experience the evolution of one of pop music’s most innovative artists.
