Swedish House Mafia debuted a new collaboration with Lykke Li titled “Happiness Is So Sad” during their Ushuaïa Ibiza residency on June 28. The track, which features additional production from Max Martin and Oscar Holter, is scheduled for official release on July 31.
How did the “Happiness Is So Sad” collaboration happen?
The track brings together a group that Sebastian Ingrosso described to Vogue Scandinavia as a “Swedish Avengers crew.” The production credits include the electronic trio—Axwell, Steve Angello, and Ingrosso—alongside Max Martin and Oscar Holter.
Lykke Li told Vogue Scandinavia that while writing on the spot with new collaborators can be nerve-racking, Ingrosso’s positive energy put her at ease. Li described the moment the group found the track’s main riff as a high-energy experience, noting that the melodies were designed to make listeners “want to cry and dance at the same time.”
What is Lykke Li’s history with dance music?
While “Happiness Is So Sad” marks a new partnership, Li has a documented history in the dance world. Her 2011 track “I Follow Rivers,” from the album Wounded Rhymes, became a European club staple after a remix by The Magician reached number one in Italy, Belgium, and Germany. She later collaborated with Mark Ronson on the 2019 single “Late Night Feelings.”
This new collaboration follows the May release of her sixth album, The Afterparty. Li told NME she aimed for this record to be more “extroverted, impulsive and chaotic” than her 2022 project EYEYE. In interviews preceding the release, Li suggested The Afterparty could be her last, describing the process of making it as a “motherfucker.”
Where can you see Swedish House Mafia next?
The trio is currently performing a weekly residency at Ushuaïa Ibiza every Sunday through September 13. Beyond the White Isle, the group announced a homecoming performance in Gothenburg on August 29, which is being billed as their biggest headline show to date.
Quick Summary: Release and Tour Dates
- Single Release: July 31
- Ibiza Residency: Sundays at Ushuaïa until September 13
- Gothenburg Show: August 29
- Collaborators: Lykke Li, Max Martin, Oscar Holter
How did critics receive Lykke Li’s recent work?
NME awarded The Afterparty four stars, characterizing it as “a brief but heady last round from the Swedish alt-pop icon” and noting that “with strings, beats and love, Lykke Li slammed down a heady shot to call time.”