The Knife

Biography

The Knife was a Swedish electronic music duo formed in 1999 by siblings Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olof Dreijer, initially in a red barn near Gothenburg before basing operations in Stockholm. Karin, formerly of the indie-rock/punk band Honey is Cool, sought to explore pop by cracking its conventions, collaborating with teenage brother Olof who was interested in jazz, dance music, and electronic experimentation. They started Rabid Records, releasing their prescient 7" single 'Afraid of You' in 2000, followed by their self-titled debut album in 2001, blending vintage synth pop with unsettling, playful electronic textures infused with feminist politics.

Their career evolved with the 2003 album 'Deep Cuts,' earning Swedish Grammy nominations for Best Pop Group and Best Album, though they boycotted the ceremony by sending gorilla-masked proxies to protest male dominance in music. 'Silent Shout' (2006) marked a global simultaneous release and their first tours, featuring masks, altered voices, and visuals by Andreas Nilsson, solidifying their reputation for artistic independence and aversion to fame. Later works like the ambitious 2013 double album 'Shaking the Habitual' incorporated drone, dance freakouts, field recordings, and socio-political themes on human rights and environmental issues, developed through live jamming sessions with collaborators.

The duo disbanded in 2014 after 15 years, with Karin pursuing her solo project Fever Ray (inspired by motherhood) and Olof releasing ambient techno as Oni Ayhun. Their legacy endures as innovators in electronic pop, challenging industry norms while influencing progressive electronic music with bold, conceptual artistry.

Fun Facts

• They chose 'Afraid of You' for the A-side and 'Bird' for the B-side simply because the titles started with A and B, respectively.
• For their first live show in 2005 at London's ICA and subsequent tours, they wore black pantyhose over their heads painted with UV paint, used bird masks in interviews, and altered their voices on video to avoid fame.
• In protest at the 2003 Swedish Grammis, they sent two friends in gorilla costumes (with '50' written on them, symbolizing male dominance) to accept their award.
• Their 2009 opera 'Tomorrow, In a Year' for the TV series about Darwin used field recordings and rejected traditional grandiosity for a granular sonic palette.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• None identified - No specific teachers or mentors mentioned in sources

Key Collaborators

• Andreas Nilsson - Visual artist for live shows and music videos (2005 ICA live show, 'Silent Shout' title track video) [2005-2006]
• Mt. Sims - Co-writer on opera project (Tomorrow, In a Year (opera for TV series))
• Planningtorock - Co-writer on opera project (Tomorrow, In a Year (opera for TV series))

Artists Influenced

• None directly identified - Sources do not specify artists explicitly listing The Knife as influence

External Links

• Spotify