Lykke Li’s new album The Afterparty will be existential and apocolyptic
Hear her happy-dark new single, “Lucky Again”
Photo by Chloé Le Drezen
Lykke Li has announced a new album The Afterparty, expected in May. The first single "Lucky Again" is out now and combines her signature, synthy electro-pop with orchestral elements. The lyrics, however, are dark and find her hoping that whenever she goes, it'll be merciful.
The record is her first project since releasing an EP of covers in 2025. Before that, in 2024, she released EYEYE, a twisty record of ambient pop where all her vocals are played backwards. Ahead, find everything we know about her new The Afterparty including its release date, tracklist, and more.
When is The Afterparty being released?
The Afterparty will be released May 8 via Neon Gold Records/Futures✦. Pre-order it here.
What is the first single, "Lucky Again," about?
"Lucky Again" is an energetic dance pop song with orchestral flourishes about, well, death. Per a press release, the song marks an existential turn for the singer. Over bongos and flute, she sings about meeting her end: "Baby hold on tight 'til the bitter end."
“To me it’s samsara in a song," Li said of the track in a statement. "The wheel of life; winning, losing, living, dying. Having had something and praying you’ll have it again. Whether it’s sex, money, vitality, love. I always said I wanted the Vivaldi song at my wedding or funeral but I think this is giving more revenge heist energy.”
What songs will be on The Afterparty?
The album will run 24 minutes and have nine songs, including "Lucky Again," the first single. See the full tracklist below.
1. Not Gon Cry
2. Happy Now
3. Lucky Again
4. Famous Last Words
5. Future Fear
6. So Happy I Could Die
7. Sick Of Love
8. Knife In The Heart
9. Euphoria
What is The Afterparty about?
In a press statement Li says that her new album is about embracing your lower self: "your need for revenge, your shame, despair, all of it." She embodies a new alter-ego, that she says is "a Ram Dass for fuckboys."
She wrote the album in Los Angeles and recorded in Stockholm, Sweden, with a 17-piece string orchestra that included bongos and flute. Its lyrics will fixate on loss, futility, and the search for meaning.
