Sigrid Is Listening to Kendrick Lamar, Luke Bryan, and (Duh) Robyn

This is “Add to Queue,” our attempt to sort through the cacophony of music floating in the algorithmic atmosphere by consulting the experts themselves. Our favorite musicians tell us about their favorite music—the sad, the happy, the dinner party-y, the songs they want played at their funeral. In this edition, we speak with Sigrid, the Norwegian electro-pop singer who, following a string of synth-y singles, released her debut album, Sucker Punch, earlier this year. Here, she details her biggest musical influences, dream collaborations, and the perfect party playlist, including Kendrick Lamar, Luke Bryan, and fellow Scandinavian superstar Robyn. 

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MARK BURGER: What was the last song you listened to? 

SIGRID: I love these questions. I’m pulling up my Spotify here. “10/10” by Rex Orange County.

BURGER: Who was the earliest musical influence? 

SIGRID: Adele. She’s the first pop artist I ever discovered on my own. I could say Coldplay, because my brother showed them to me and it’s defined my music taste forever. But Adele was like the first artist I found myself that I loved, and she happened to be a female pop singer. She still influences me in the way of writing and how it’s always about the song. Her voice is so incredible. Most of her songs, they do well without production. They don’t really need it. It’s just great, classic tunes. 

BURGER: What was your first concert? 

SIGRID: I remember there was one rock concert in Ålesund, where I come from. It’s not really a music city. Ålesund is, like, a small village on the West coast of Norway, 50,000 people. I went to see a rock band from Bergen–they’re really good–Fjorden Baby! And that was also the first time I was backstage in my entire life. I was there with some friends, and I knew the sound tech. But I think the first big show was probably Neil Young, with my family in Oslo. We’re a big Neil Young family. 

BURGER: I love that. 

SIGRID: I’ve seen him five times now. 

BURGER: Five times? 

SIGRID Six times maybe? I saw him this summer too in Hyde Park with my parents again. It was great.

BURGER: Do you have a favorite movie soundtrack? 

SIGRID: Amélie, by Yann Tiersen. “La Valse D’Amélie.” It’s one of my favorite films. It’s so beautiful. 

BURGER: If you could collaborate with anyone from history, who would it be?

SIGRID: Joni Mitchell. And not even like collab, just sit in a room with her and learn. That would be enough for me. Or Carole King. She’s so cool. 

BURGER: What’s a song that always puts you in a good mood? 

SIGRID: Hmm… [Laughs.] This one song I listen to a lot, I listened to it this morning too: “What Makes You Country” by Luke Bryan. 

BURGER: [Laughs.] Okay. 

SIGRID: I love that song, and we play it in the tour bus all the time. I have a thing for country music nowadays. 

BURGER: It’s kind of en vogue now. I feel like I’ve been seeing more of it recently. 

SIGRID: We’ve had that hybrid with Taylor Swift, but it is very exciting with Kacey Musgraves nowadays. I love her music. [Golden Hour] is one of my favorite albums, maybe of all time. But we listen to “What Makes You Country” all the time. I remember when we played Glastonbury this summer in England, that was our title track when we were driving in, like, “Let’s fucking do this.” 

BURGER: What are some songs or artists that you would put on a road trip playlist? 

SIGRID: Well, I would put that Luke Bryan song on it, obviously. Other than that, let’s see… What did I put on this morning? I put on a song called “Destroyer” by Panama, that I found in a Netflix series called Atypical. It was in the ending scene in one of the seasons. That song is such a good driving song. Then War on Drugs, of course. That’s an obvious choice. All their songs are driving music. Or Kendrick Lamar. I’m either hip-hop or rock music. That’s what I listen to in the car. 

BURGER: What about for a dinner party playlist? 

SIGRID:  I would play Amason, a Swedish band. They’re whole album is good. I would put on the album because then I don’t need to go back and forth through the playlist. 

BURGER: A house party playlist? 

SIGRID: For a house party playlist we’d definitely got to throw in some country in there. [Laughs.] It would be Luke Bryan again, but also “Dancing On My Own” by Robyn. Everyone loves that one, you know? More Kendrick Lamar, I think. Also Lizzo, and Poolside’s remix of “Harvest Moon.”

BURGER: What about for a “crying in your bedroom” playlist? 

SIGRID: I would do Konradsen, a Norweigan band. Then, obviously, Bon Iver. That’s crying in your bed music. Fleetwood Mac. That’s some good stuff. 

BURGER: What are some songs that you would want to have them play at your funeral? 

SIGRID:  I don’t know why, but “I’m So Excited” came to mind. [Laughs.]

BURGER: By The Pointer Sisters? 

SIGRID: That’s pretty fucked up to play at your funeral, isn’t it? I don’t know why, but I thought about it. It’s been in my head forever. No, I would have Neil Young, “Give Me Strength.” Or maybe “Harvest Moon.” “River” by Joni Mitchell. And then, I don’t know, “Don’t Feel Like Crying,” by myself. [Laughs.]

BURGER: What is your go-to karaoke song? 

SIGRID: “Don’t Stop Believing,” Journey. 

BURGER: Oh, a karaoke classic. 

SIGRID: That’s the one. I love that song. 

BURGER: Do you sing in the shower? 

SIGRID: I hum a lot.

BURGER: What’s an instrument that you would like to learn how to play? 

SIGRID: I’ve always wanted to play drums. I play piano and guitar, but I never got to drums, so I think that would be fun. But, for now I’m not drumming. I have a drummer, he’s great. 

BURGER: If your life were a TV show, what would your theme song be? 

SIGRID: I want to say “Rolling in the Deep.” I don’t know why. It’s an epic song. 

Listen to Sigrid’s “Add To Queue” playlist below, and follow Interview on Spotify for more.