Under-appreciated-Swedish-popstar-who-isn’t‑Robyn Lykke Li has spoken about her dislike of touring.
Li told The Irish Times in a pre-Electric Picnic festival interview: “I hate mentioning her name because people always take it up the wrong way, but I remember seeing ‘In Bed with Madonna’ and she was in this amazing suite and hanging out with her dancers. That’s what touring meant to me: big suites, walking around in a silk komono, waiting for my movie-star lover to show up and then strutting on stage. I had no idea what I was actually getting myself into”.
While she has learned the hard way that life isn't a rollercoaster of deep-throating bottles and tonguing your harem of gays, Li is realistic about what it takes to be a popstar. “I realise that touring allows me to do so much of what I want to do. I wouldn’t be able to make a record without touring”.
In a break from the usual ‘performing live feeds me’ popstar narrative, she claims: “You can’t really do what Kate Bush does and not play. No one gives a fuck about you if you retreat. I survive on touring but my dream is to retreat and just do a few shows every so often”.
