Photo by Kyle Gustafson

Swedish songstress Lykke Li had quite a year in 2008. Her debut album, Youth Novels, was released all over the world to great fanfare. Its mix of hip-hop, folk and pop influences, coupled with Li’s sugary sweet vocals, proved irresistible to music fans on both sides of the Atlantic looking for Sweden’s next great music export. Li took time out her busy schedule to chat with DCist on the eve of her latest US tour. She plays a sold out show at the 6th and I Historic Synagogue tonight.

Looking back on 2008, how would you rate it? Seems like things went pretty well for you.

Yeah, it has been an excellent year. Just getting my album out in all these different territories and building up a platform and an audience and having all these amazing tours.

I saw the announcement today that you are part of this year’s Coachella festival.

Yeah. That was one of my crazy, out there goals. Coachella! I can’t believe I’m going to play there. It’s going to be amazing. I haven’t done any American festivals other than South By Southwest. I’ve only done European and Australian ones.

Your American tour starts on Friday in Philadelphia. How do you gear up for a tour?

I don’t have a lot of time off, so it usually just goes on and on and on and on, so the only thing to prepare is to stay sane and to not get sick. I don’t plan that much. We just do it, you know? I bring lots of black clothes.

Are you changing up the set at all? I know you did a Vampire Weekend cover on your last tour.

I’m not going to do the Vampire Weekend thing but I have some other things in mind that I’m going to do. We’ll see.

I really liked your Tribe cover that you did at the end of your set.

I think that’s going to stay because I love that song.

I saw it on YouTube before I saw your show in person, and I thought it was a bit strange. But after seeing you live, it really fit in with the rest of your set and the vibe of your show. I wasn’t expecting how hip-hop your show is. It must be a big influence on you.

Yeah, it is. I love hip hop.

You performed with Q-Tip not too long ago. That must have been a real treat.

Yeah, on the MTVu Woodies awards. It was amazing. I was quite nervous. I felt like I took water over my head, because I can’t rap, you know? But I still really wanted to do it because I love him and it would be so crazy to say no.