Seven years after her last release, Robyn is reawakening dance floors and hearts with “Dopamine,” her latest single and video directed by Marili Andre. The track reunites the Swedish pop visionary with longtime collaborator Klas Åhlund, the producer behind many of her signature anthems.
Exploring the Chemistry of Emotion
In a statement, Robyn described “Dopamine” as a reflection on the human tendency to quantify feelings. “Everyone has a phone where they see their heart rate, and we’re learning how to decode our emotions through the chemicals in our bodies,” she said. The song balances the thrill of emotion with the awareness that those sensations are, at their core, biological reactions.
Rather than choosing between science and spirituality, Robyn invites listeners to sit with both, to feel deeply and analyze later. The tension between those impulses fuels the song’s hypnotic rhythm and introspective lyrics.
Reuniting With a Familiar Collaborator
Robyn’s partnership with Åhlund dates back decades, spanning hits like “Dancing on My Own” and tracks from her last album, Honey (2018). Åhlund teased their reunion earlier this year, sharing on the Nordmark Pod that a new Robyn album was complete and “super exciting.”
If “Dopamine” is any indication, fans can expect a continuation of the shimmering synths and emotional transparency that define Robyn’s best work, this time charged with a raw, almost scientific curiosity about what makes us feel alive.
Life After Honey
Since Honey, Robyn has lent her voice to a range of collaborations, appearing on tracks by SG Lewis, Jamie xx, Neneh Cherry, and Jónsi of Sigur Rós. She also popped up on Charli XCX’s “360 (Remix),” further proving her enduring influence on the next wave of experimental pop.
“Dopamine” feels like a distillation of everything Robyn does best: vulnerability you can dance to, a study in longing that still sounds like liberation. The wait may have been long, but for fans craving her brand of emotional clarity wrapped in electronic bliss, the reward is worth every beat.
