Tove Lo

Tove Lo Artistfacts

  • October 29, 1987
  • Tove Lo's real name is Ebba Tove Elsa Nilsson. Her parents started calling her Tove Lo at the age of 3, after she fell in love with a Lynx ("Lo" is Swedish for "Lynx") during a visit to an animal park. She has a tattoo of a lynx on her right hand.
  • Her name is pronounced "Too-veh Lu," but she doesn't correct people who mispronounce it.
  • Nilsson studied at the music-orientated high school Rytmus Musikergymnasiet, which is similar to the UK's BRIT School. She met and befriended there Caroline Hjelt (of Icona Pop).
  • Nilsson first found success by contributing to the writing of songs for the likes of Victoria Justice ("Gold"), Girls Aloud ("Something New"), Icona Pop ("We Got The World") and The Saturdays ("What Are You Waiting For.") She achieved a solo breakthrough with her 2013 tune "Habits (Stay High)."
  • She had been in therapy most of her life. Her mother is a counselor who specialized in treating young people with drug problems.
  • Tove Lo became the first female member of Max Martin and Shellback's songwriting team known as Wolf Cousins.
  • In 2012 Tove Lo shared a London flat with another star-to-be, Swedish actress Alicia Vikander.
  • There is a noticeable divide between the upbeat songs Tove Lo writes for other artists, such as Ellie Goulding's "Love Me Like You Do," and the more downbeat tracks she keeps for herself.

    "If a song is just 100% 'everything is perfect,' I can't relate to it, and I can't feel it," Lo explained to The Independent. "It might be fun and cool but it doesn't touch me or resonate with me in any way. I think it's because if you're in a really amazing situation where everything is great, there's always that little hint of fear that it's all gonna go away. Nothing is static when it comes to emotions."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

TV Theme Songs

TV Theme SongsFact or Fiction

Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.