Enfnts Terribles

It is 11 AM on a Thursday, late May, at Antwerp’s Harbour Hotel when Tove Styrke pulls up in a minivan. She’s in between two back-to-back arena dates for Katy Perry’s massive Witness: The Tour. Tove is the opening act and is simultaneously promoting her new album Sway in Europe. She shakes hands with the ET crew and sees all of the bright ton-sur-ton ensembles laid out on a big table. “I like it. Let’s do it!” she nods approvingly.

While make-up artist Gladys works her glowy magic on Tove, she gets comfy with ET editor Amélie for the interview. She sips on some tea a Sony Records exec got her and is surprisingly chilled for someone who, just the night before, performed a brand new set for a sold-out arena. Her eardrums are probably still recovering from the high-pitched screams Perry fans are known for. Don’t get her easy-going approach twisted tho. This is a woman who knows exactly what she’s doing and what she wants, AM or PM. Just the way we like our pop stars. She checks out her highlighter after the interview, ready to shoot.

Very Perry

As photographer Natalia snaps the first couple of pictures, it’s clear this isn’t Tove’s first time at the rodeo. She works her angles like a true pro and needs no encouragement or direction at all. Frame after frame, she doesn’t snap one bad picture which usually happens to everyone. The entire crew jokes that if she ever gets tired of music, she should become a model. Tove laughs and participates in all the banter but, a quick glance at her iPhone later, she’s keen on shooting the next look. “Guys, please remember I have to get to venue by 2 PM for a soundcheck!” How could we possibly forget? After the soundcheck, we’ve learned she’ll meet Katy Perry for the first time. Yesterday was the first European show of the tour and Katy finished the American Idol season finale right before that, so the meeting between the über pop star and her young Swedish accomplice takes place tonight instead.

Say Her Name

It’s an insanely busy day. Travelling in the morning, straight into an interview and shoot, rushing to rehearsal and meeting Katy in the afternoon. Then a big arena performance at night and doing it all over again in another country the very next day. During the shoot, she eats a Belgian pastry in between outfit changes. This is her normal. Her schedule is packed. Styrke isn’t shaken by it, she’s used to this kind of life by now. Her career wasn’t an overnight success, she’s been a household name in Sweden for years. The unfazed yet focussed Styrke-attitude rubs off on everyone and the work gets done. The time frame was crazy, but worked out perfectly. Tove thanks everyone before she’s off into the minivan again. Right before the show, we notice Katy and Tove’s Instagram stories. The pair has been making videos and snapping pictures, genuinely smiling. It’s an obvious instant connection. That Scandinavian charm is no joke. Say My Name plays as we go through the camera roll later that night. We have a strong suspicion you’ll be hearing it on the regular.

Check out the full interview and backstage pictures of the editorial.