Dirt Femme

Tove Lo released her fourth studio album, Sunshine Kitty, in September 2019. It received positive reviews from contemporary music critics and had a moderate commercial performance. In May of the following year, after touring across Europe and North and South America, the singer reissued the album with the subtitle Paw Prints Edition, including four additional songs and four remixes.{{Cite magazine |last=Shaffer |first=Claire |date=22 May 2020 |title=Tove Lo Releases Deluxe 'Sunshine Kitty' Edition, 'Sadder Badder Cooler' Video |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tove-lo-sunshine-kitty-paw-prints-expanded-edition-sadder-badder-cooler-video-1003314/ |access-date=15 July 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} Two years after Sunshine Kitty, Lo started teasing via social media the release of a fifth album; by September 2021, the record was "taking shape".{{Cite web |last=Skinner |first=Tom |date=5 October 2021 |title=Tove Lo reveals she's almost finished writing her new album |url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/tove-lo-reveals-shes-almost-finishing-writing-her-new-album-3063434 |access-date=15 July 2022 |website=NME}} Earlier that year, in April, fellow singer Charli XCX revealed she worked with Lo in "making the best music ever" in Palm Springs, California. The two previously collaborated on "Out of My Head", from XCX's 2017 mixtape Pop 2, and on the 2018 remix of "Bitches", from Lo's 2017 album Blue Lips.

In May 2022, Lo announced Pretty Swede Records, her own record label under artist development company Mtheory.{{Cite web |last=Rettig |first=James |date=21 June 2022 |title=Tove Lo Announces New Album 'Dirt Femme': Hear 'True Romance' |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2190988/tove-lo-true-romance/music/ |access-date=15 July 2022 |website=Stereogum}} Being independently released, Dirt Femme marks the first time Lo had complete creative control over an album's development process. Although she recognizes the importance of her former contract with the Universal Music Group, which was "crucial" for her to breakthrough worldwide, Lo "like[s] to make these intricate stories that don't help the algorithm and maybe aren't the most commercial way to do pop releases and how you put out pop music".{{Cite magazine |last=Mier |first=Tomás |date=21 June 2022 |title=Tove Lo Announces Fifth Album, Dirt Femme, and Talks Femininity |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tove-lo-dirt-femme-1371343/ |access-date=15 July 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} The album's making was compared by the singer to a "emotional bungee jump" because its development process was the first since her debut, Queen of the Clouds, to not happen in between touring. "This almost felt like I was back to starting completely new again", she accounted.

Lo's first solo effort in almost two years and Dirt Femme{{'s}} lead single, "How Long" was released on 26 January 2022 as part of the soundtrack from American television series Euphoria.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Daniel |date=26 January 2022 |title=Tove Lo unveils new single 'How Long' for 'Euphoria' soundtrack |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/tove-lo-unveils-new-single-how-long-for-euphoria-soundtrack-3146658 |access-date=14 July 2022 |website=NME}} The song was also featured on the fourth episode of the series' second season, "You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can".{{Cite web |title=S2E4: You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can - Euphoria Soundtrack |url=https://www.tunefind.com/show/euphoria/season-2/115715 |access-date=14 July 2022 |website=TuneFind}} An accompanying music video directed by Seattle filmmaking duo Kenten premiered on 10 February.{{Cite magazine |last=Zemler |first=Emily |date=11 February 2022 |title=Tove Lo Evokes Throwback Glamour in 'How Long' Music Video |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tove-lo-how-long-video-1298685/ |access-date=14 February 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} Alongside the announcement of Pretty Swede Records' founding on 3 May 2022, Lo issued "No One Dies from Love" as the album's following single and the first material released under the newly founded imprint.{{Cite web |date=6 May 2022 |title=Tove Lo launches label in collaboration with Mtheory |url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/tove-lo-launches-label-in-collaboration-with-mtheory/085752 |access-date=14 July 2022 |website=Music Week}}{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Sam |date=3 May 2022 |title=Tove Lo announces 2022 UK and European tour |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/tove-lo-announces-2022-uk-and-european-tour-tickets-3217380 |access-date=14 July 2022 |website=NME}} The song's music video premiered the same day{{Cite magazine |last=Mier |first=Tomás |date=3 May 2022 |title=Tove Lo Falls in Love With a Robot in Retrofuturistic 'No One Dies From Love' Video |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tove-lo-falls-in-love-with-a-robot-in-retrofuturistic-no-one-dies-from-love-video-1346297/ |access-date=14 July 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} and was directed by Brazilian duo Alaska Filmes, with whom Lo previously worked with on "Are U Gonna Tell Her?".{{Cite web |last=Fraga |first=Gabriel |date=29 April 2022 |title=Tove Lo divulga trailer de "No One Dies From Love"; clipe chega 4 de maio |trans-title=Tove Lo Releases Trailer For "No One Dies From Love"; video arrives May 4 |url=https://www.papelpop.com/2022/04/tove-lo-divulga-trailer-de-no-one-dies-from-love-clipe-chega-4-de-maio/ |access-date=14 July 2022 |website=Papel Pop |language=pt-br |quote=This is not the first time that the artist collaborates with Alaska Filmes, as they were responsible for the production of the video for 'Are U Gonna Tell Her?', her partnership with Zaac.}} That day, the singer also announced a concert tour, scheduled to start on 29 October and visit Europe and the United Kingdom. On 21 June 2022, Lo officially revealed the album's title to be Dirt Femme, as well as its track listing, artwork and release date of 14 October. The same day, she released the record's third single, "True Romance". The fourth single, "2 Die 4", was released on 27 July.{{Cite web |last=Kenneally |first=Cerys |date=14 July 2022 |title=Tove Lo previews new Dirt Femme single "2 Die 4" |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/tove-lo-previews-new-dirt-femme-single-2-die-4 |access-date=15 July 2022 |website=The Line of Best Fit}}{{Cite Instagram|postid=Cf_6VD2jqen|user=tovelo|title=The wait is almost over 💃|date=14 July 2022|first=Tove|last=Lo|access-date=15 July 2022}}

On 5 May 2023, a seven-track acoustic EP was released called Dirt Femme (Stripped).{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tove-lo-dirt-femme-stripped-acoustic-ep-1234729847/|title=Tove Lo Shares Acoustic 'Dirt Femme' Tracks on Stripped Back EP|last=Paul|first=Larisha|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=5 May 2023|access-date=5 May 2023}}

In the album's artwork, Lo wears a metallic, robotic scorpion stinger—a reference to her astrological sign, Scorpio—attached to her back while her vagina-inspired logo lies on the side of her hip. According to the singer, her use of scorpion-related imagery reflects the album's approach of femininity: "I just love the fact that the female scorpion eats the male scorpion after mating. I'm in a very lovely relationship now where we have a good balance of crazy between us. But I get told that I draw people in and I consume them".

In a June 2022 interview with Rolling Stone, Lo stated that her fifth album would "be a very beautiful visual and sonical{{Sic}} journey" and that she created a "new world" for it. Describing the record's lyrics as "extremely personal", she highlighted their inquisitive nature: "It's all my feelings, thoughts and questions put together in under 50 minutes with no answers". The result is a body of work encompassed by songs that "will contradict each other, will probably upset some of you, will make you want to dance, cry, fuck, and drive your car really, really, fast". The album's inspiration came from a moment of introspection during the COVID-19 pandemic as she reflected upon her 10-year career, her femininity and her pansexuality in the midst of her marriage to Charlie Twaddle. She stated: "I'm bringing up all these questions and feelings and emotions that don't necessarily have answers to them. It's just more my current place of wonder". Lo further explained:

"When I started out as a writer and an artist, I used to view my feminine traits as weaker and would enhance my masculine traits to get ahead in life. I feel a big energy shift in my environment since then and this album reflects the various ways my feminine side has both helped and hurt me. I'm a pansexual woman married to a straight man. I believe masculine and feminine lives on a spectrum in all humans. There are so many more interesting nuances than most people want to accept."{{Cite web |last=Bloom |first=Madison |date=21 June 2022 |title=Tove Lo Announces New Album Dirt Femme, Shares Video for New Song: Watch |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/tove-lo-announces-new-album-dirt-femme-shares-video-for-new-song-watch/ |access-date=15 July 2022 |website=Pitchfork}}

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 7.6/10{{cite web |title=Dirt Femme by Tove Lo reviews |url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/13457/Tove-Lo-Dirt-Femme.aspx |website=AnyDecentMusic?}}

| MC = 77/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/dirt-femme/tove-lo|title=Tove Lo – Dirt Femme reviews and tracks |website=Metacritic}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last1=Phares |first1=Heather |title=Dirt Femme - Tove Lo |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dirt-femme-mw0003755989?1665759797806 |website=AllMusic |language=en-us}}

| rev2 = DIY

| rev2score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2022/10/12/tove-lo-dirt-femme-album-review|title=Tove Lo – Dirt Femme Album Review|work=DIY|last=Swann|first=Emma|date=12 October 2022}}

| rev3 = Gigwise

| rev3score = {{rating|8|10}}{{cite web|last=White|first=Jordan|title=Album Review: Tove Lo – Dirt Femme|url=https://gigwise.com/reviews/3427293/tove-lo-dirt-femme|website=Gigwise|date=13 October 2022|access-date=14 October 2022|archive-date=14 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014130721/https://gigwise.com/reviews/3427293/tove-lo-dirt-femme|url-status=dead}}

| rev4 = The Independent

| rev4score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/tove-lo-review-dirt-femme-b2201937.html |url-access=subscription|title=Tove Lo review, Dirt Femme: Spinning her lows into tendon-twanging highs|last=Brown|first=Helen|website=The Independent|date=13 October 2022}}

| rev5 = The Line of Best Fit

| rev5score = 9/10{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/tove-lo-dirt-femme-mixes-emotion-with-dancefloor-grooves|title=Tove Lo's Dirt Femme mixes heartfelt emotion with signature dancefloor grooves|website=The Line of Best Fit|last=Franzini|first=Sa|date=10 October 2022|access-date=13 October 2022}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/tove-lo-dirt-femme-review-3326558|title=Tove Lo – 'Dirt Femme' review: pop provocateur boldly goes it alone|last=Levine|first=Nick|date=12 October 2022|website=NME}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 5.4/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/tove-lo-dirt-femme/|title=Tove Lo: Dirt Femme Album Review|website=Pitchfork|last=Thomas|first=Peyton|date=31 October 2022|access-date=31 October 2022}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/tove-lo-dirt-femme-2-1234611298//|title=Tove Lo Picks Apart Domestic Bliss on the Excellent 'Dirt Femme'|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Spanos|first=Brittany |date=14 October 2022|access-date=14 October 2022}}

| rev9 = The Skinny

| rev9score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/tove-lo-dirt-femme?amp|title=Tove Lo – Dirt Femme|website=The Skinny|last=Hepburn|first=Tara|date=10 October 2022|access-date=13 October 2022}}

| rev10 = Slant Magazine

| rev10score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/tove-lo-dirt-femme-album-review/|title=Tove Lo Dirt Femme Review: An Undefined Pop Treatise on Femininity|work=Slant Magazine|last=Bedenbaugh|first=Thomas|date=10 October 2022|access-date=13 October 2022}}

}}

Dirt Femme received positive reviews from contemporary music critics.{{Cite news |date=February 28, 2023 |title=TOVE LO BLASTS INTO 2023 WITH NEW SINGLE "BORDERLINE" AND HEADLINING WORLD TOUR |url=https://untitled-magazine.com/tove-lo-blasts-into-2023-with-new-single-borderline-and-headlining-world-tour/ |access-date=June 20, 2024 |work=The Untitled Magazine |quote=Dirt Femme, which released late last year to critical acclaim}} At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 77 based on 14 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.4 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.

AllMusic's Heather Phares praised the album's musical direction, writing, "Lo is maturing but holding onto the most important parts of herself. Dirt Femme gives the confessional, sexual, and danceable sides of her music equal time and offers a fuller portrait of her music than we've heard before". The Line of Best Fit writer Sam Franzini pointed out that "confidence and unadulterated passion for being herself comes together on Dirt Femme, a much darker album than its predecessor Sunshine Kitty, but truer to Nilsson with its pulsating beats and slinky jams" and also described the album as "sexy, smart, and most importantly; fun" Emma Swann of DIY writes that Dirt Femme sees Lo juxtapose elements ingeniously. Gigwise writer Jordan White described the album as "hot-bodied" additionally stating that is "overtly camp and doesn't shy from its playful side". NME{{'s}} Nick Levine giving it four out of five stars, named the album as "spiky, surprising and not quite cohesive, but never ever boring."

In a mixed review writing for The Skinny, Tara Hepburn identified this album as "pandemic baby" lamented that this project "is a mixed bag as the singer explores new paths for herself". Thomas Bedenbaugh from Slant Magazine criticised the album because of its lack of the sing-along hooks that have made Lo's past efforts, especially 2016's Lady Wood, so memorable, while describing the album as "a collection of slightly melancholic, occasionally catchy dance-floor filler". Pitchfork{{'}}s Peyton Thomas dubbed the album "the first Tove Lo album you can play for your grandparents", claiming that she lost "a lot of her spark in the process" of pivoting to tamer themes and giving more lethargic performances.

Tove Lo announced first leg of her Dirt Femme Tour on May 3, 2022, which took place in Europe. Tickets went on sale on May 6, 2022.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CdFitB-rVV4/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=www.instagram.com}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-04 |title=Tove Lo Is Going On Tour In 2023 |url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/tove-lo-dirt-femme-tour-2023-dates-locations-tickets |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=Nylon |language=en}} Tove Lo announced her second leg on October 3, 2022, which took place in North America. Tickets went on sale on Oct 7, 2022.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CjQkPODpj7b/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=www.instagram.com}} Additional tour dates and music festivals appearances were announced later on. On October 29, 2022, Tour began in Dublin and ended on October 14, 2023, in Austin.{{Cite web |title=Tove Lo dances the night away at ACL Fest 2023 |url=https://www.statesman.com/picture-gallery/entertainment/2023/10/07/tove-lo-dances-the-night-away-at-acl-fest-2023/71108495007/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=Austin American-Statesman |language=en-US}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Dirt Femme track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title_width = 30%

| writing_width = 40%

| extra_width = 30%

| title1 = No One Dies from Love

| writer1 = {{hlist|Tove Nilsson|Ludvig Söderberg}}

| extra1 = A Strut

| length1 = 3:06

| title2 = Suburbia

| writer2 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Söderberg}}

| extra2 = A Strut

| length2 = 3:19

| title3 = 2 Die 4

| writer3 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Oscar Görres|Gershon Kingsley}}

| extra3 = Görres

| length3 = 3:04

| title4 = True Romance

| writer4 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Timothy Nelson}}

| extra4 = Timfromthehouse

| length4 = 4:06

| title5 = Grapefruit

| writer5 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Söderberg|Nelson}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|A Strut|Timfromthehouse}}

| length5 = 3:51

| title6 = Cute & Cruel

| note6 = featuring First Aid Kit

| writer6 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Elvira Anderfjärd}}

| extra6 = Elvira

| length6 = 3:00

| title7 = Call on Me

| note7 = with SG Lewis

| writer7 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Samuel George Lewis|Orlando Higginbottom}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|SG Lewis|Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs}}

| length7 = 3:18

| title8 = Attention Whore

| note8 = featuring Channel Tres

| writer8 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Söderberg|Jerome Castille|Sheldon Young}}

| extra8 = A Strut

| length8 = 3:11

| title9 = Pineapple Slice

| note9 = with SG Lewis

| writer9 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Lewis}}

| extra9 = SG Lewis

| length9 = 2:55

| title10 = I'm to Blame

| writer10 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Ali Payami}}

| extra10 = Payami

| length10 = 3:20

| title11 = Kick in the Head

| writer11 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Nelson}}

| extra11 = Timfromthehouse

| length11 = 3:12

| title12 = How Long

| writer12 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Sibel Redžep|Söderberg|Nelson}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|A Strut|Timfromthehouse}}

| length12 = 3:18

| total_length = 39:40

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Dirt Femme (Stripped) track listing

| title_width = 60%

| writing_width = 35%

| extra_width = 5%

| total_length = 22:56

| title1 = Borderline

| note1 = Stripped in Brazil

| writer1 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Dua Lipa|Jakob Jerlström|Söderberg}}

| length1 = 3:13

| title2 = Call on Me

| note2 = Stripped at SG's) (with SG Lewis

| writer2 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Lewis|Higginbottom}}

| length2 = 2:53

| title3 = No One Dies from Love

| note3 = Stripped in France

| writer3 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Söderberg}}

| length3 = 3:42

| title4 = Pineapple Slice

| note4 = Stripped in Norway

| writer4 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Lewis}}

| length4 = 3:11

| title5 = Suburbia

| note5 = Stripped in UK

| writer5 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Söderberg}}

| length5 = 3:16

| title6 = Grapefruit

| note6 = Stripped at home

| writer6 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Nelson|Söderberg}}

| length6 = 3:26

| title7 = How Long

| note7 = Stripped at home

| writer7 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Nelson|Söderberg|Redžep}}

| length7 = 3:14

}}{{Anchor|Extended_cut}}{{Track listing

| headline = Dirt Femme (Extended Cut) track listing

| title_width = 30%

| writing_width = 40%

| extra_width = 40%

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 22:56

| title1 = Elevator Eyes

| writer1 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Joel Little}}

| extra1 = Little

| length1 = 2:58

| title2 = I Like U

| writer2 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Nelson}}

| extra2 = Timfromthehouse

| length2 = 3:11

| title3 = Borderline

| writer3 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Lipa|Jerlström|Söderberg}}

| extra3 = The Struts for Wolf Cousins Productions

| length3 = 3:42

| title4 = No One Dies from Love

| writer4 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Söderberg}}

| extra4 = A Strut

| length4 = 3:06

| title5 = Suburbia

| writer5 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Söderberg}}

| extra5 = A Strut

| length5 = 3:19

| title6 = 2 Die 4

| writer6 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Görres|Kingsley}}

| extra6 = Görres

| length6 = 3:04

| title7 = True Romance

| writer7 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Nelson}}

| extra7 = Timfromthehouse

| length7 = 4:06

| title8 = Grapefruit

| writer8 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Söderberg|Nelson}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|A Strut|Timfromthehouse}}

| length8 = 3:51

| title9 = Cute & Cruel

| note9 = featuring First Aid Kit

| writer9 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Anderfjärd}}

| extra9 = Elvira

| length9 = 3:00

| title10 = Call on Me

| note10 = with SG Lewis

| writer10 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Lewis|Higginbottom}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Lewis|Dinosaurs}}

| length10 = 3:18

| title11 = Attention Whore

| note11 = featuring Channel Tres

| writer11 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Söderberg|Castille|Young}}

| extra11 = A Strut

| length11 = 3:11

| title12 = Pineapple Slice

| note12 = with SG Lewis

| writer12 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Lewis}}

| extra12 = SG Lewis

| length12 = 2:55

| title13 = I'm to Blame

| writer13 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Payami}}

| extra13 = Payami

| length13 = 3:20

| title14 = Kick in the Head

| writer14 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Nelson}}

| extra14 = Timfromthehouse

| length14 = 3:12

| title15 = How Long

| writer15 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Redžep|Söderberg|Nelson}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|A Strut|Timfromthehouse}}

| length15 = 3:18

| title16 = No One Dies from Love

| note16 = Extended

| writer16 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Söderberg}}

| extra16 = A Strut

| length16 = 3:22

| title17 = No One Dies from Love

| note17 = Jacques Greene Remix

| writer17 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Söderberg}}

| extra17 = A Strut

| length17 = 3:22

| title18 = 2 Die 4

| note18 = Jax Jones Midnight Snacks Remix

| writer18 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Görres|Kingsley}}

| extra18 = {{hlist|Görres|Jax Jones}}

| length18 = 2:35

| title19 = I Like U

| note19 = Dorian Electra Remix

| writer19 = {{hlist|Nilsson|Nelson}}

| extra19 = {{hlist|Timfromthehouse|Dorian Electra}}

| length19 = 2:35

}}

• "2 Die 4" samples "Popcorn", composed by Gershon Kingsley.
• "Call on Me" contains elements of "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" by English band Dead or Alive from their second album Youthquake (1985).
• "I Like U" is stylized as "I like u".

• Tove Lo – vocals
• Reuben Cohen – mastering engineer
• Chris Gehringer – mastering engineer
• Şerban Ghenea – mixing engineer
• John Hanes – mixing engineer

{{reflist}}

{{Tove Lo}}

Category:2022 albums

Category:Tove Lo albums

Category:Albums produced by SG Lewis

Category:Self-released albums