Hello MØ! How are you doing? What’ve you been up to recently?
Hi! I’m great! Just enjoying the summer and playing festival gigs again!

It’s been a couple of months since you released ‘Motordrome’ now - how did it feel to get it out into the world? How’s the reaction to it been so far?
It felt so good!! It seems that people are absorbing the stories these songs convey, and relating to them in their own way, so I couldn’t be more happy. The album has truly come to life to me, after having been on the road playing it to a live audience, because that’s really the moment where you can tell whether the album has translated to your audience or not. It’s so special seeing people sing along to a song you’ve written for the first time! Makes me feel so lucky!

Just a few weeks ago, you shared ‘True Romance’, a fan favourite that you’ve been performing live for a while now; what made you want to give it an official release?
It was just one of those songs that’s been lying around in my Logic folder for years and years, and I’ve been waiting for an excuse to finish it for a long time to be honest. I’ve been playing the song live since 2015 or 2016. It was such a fun, dark and energetic - live song, and I think that’s why people fell in love with it. But it was some really busy years back then, so I just never managed to finish it. Once ‘Motordrome’ was out, and I was about to start touring, I saw, when hanging out on social media, that my fans were still talking about this song, and asking me to put it out. That excited me and inspired me, so I thought now was the time - in-between album and touring - why not! Luckily, my drummer Rasmus (also known as School of x) also felt very keen and inspired by this idea, so together we gave ‘True Romance’ new life, and finished the song quite quickly actually. It’s about rediscovering artistic innocence, dreaming of the garden of youth and creativity.

You’ve also just collaborated with Gryffin on new track ‘Reckless’ - how did that come about?
We started working on it back in 2020. It was my friends at Snakehips who originally sent me the song, and I just loved it so much, and went to work on the vocals right away. Then Gryffin came into the picture, and made this banging and beautiful production. To me it’s about summer romance, a search for freedom, late night shenanigans and dreaming versus real life. I’m so happy this song is finally out in the world - just in time for the festival season.

You’ve launched a new platform called Karen’s Desktop. Can you tell us a little about it? What inspired you to invite fans even further into your world?
I just realised I had so much shit on my computer - a ton of old demos, old collages, pictures, lol stuff and so on. And since I have so many creative fans, I just thought they might think it fun to dive into some of all this.

You’re currently in the midst of playing a bunch of festivals; how have they been so far? What’s it been like to be back on stage doing what you love in front of so many people?
It’s been so great! And surreal! It’s funny how it feels like a decade since I’ve been at a festival, and then at the same time, it feels like yesterday. I’m so grateful to be back in this kind of space with people again - that togetherness and unity it creates when you sing together, in a big tent or an open field, is just so freeing and wonderful. It makes me fall in love with my job and the human race all over again.

This weekend, you’re going to be playing at Flow Festival in Finland - what are you most excited for about that show?
I’m so excited to be back in Finland! I’ve been to Helsinki a lot because my father used to work there, and I’m just obsessed with Finland in general - their aesthetic, the people, their saunas, the artist and Mumintroll [that’s the Moomins, to any non-Scandi speakers - Ed] creator Tove Jansson, and my popstar friend Alma!

Have you got anything else planned for the rest of 2022?
I have some more music coming out this summer, but then besides that, my plan is just to kick back and write music in the fall, while I get ready for a trip to Mexico where I’m playing the Corona Capital festival at the end of November.

MØ will play Flow Festival, which takes place 12th August - 14th August 2022. DIY is an official media partner. Tickets are on sale now.