From her early days as a 90s R&B sensation to her 2026 return with the avant-garde and unapologetic Sexistential, Robyn has remained the undisputed queen of cutting edge dance-pop and heartbreak bangers. Indeed, 2010’s Dancing on My Own is often cited as the definitive "crying-at-the-disco" anthem. Following its release, Robyn's popularity shifted from "pop singer" to "industry icon” and her influence became a blueprint for the next decade of music.
I was fortunate enough to get a live preview of two tracks from Sexistential at her Brooklyn Paramount show at the start of the year, the title track and Talk To Me, which heightened my anticipation for the release of the album. Sexistential marks a shift from the heartbreak vibe of 2018's understated Honey towards sexual confidence and introspection, touching on themes surrounding single motherhood and middle-aged sensuality. Still, the album is characterized by all the elements we’ve come to expect from a Robyn masterpiece: polished production, glittering synths, catchy basslines and high energy pop.
Here is my ranking of the nine tracks - no easy feat considering every track is amazing:
9 | Sexistential
While not my favorite, it certainly packs a punch with what critics have called a “horny IVF rap” over minimal house beats.
8 | Sucker For Love
Originally written for her 2014 Do It Again EP with Röyksopp, this version captures a classic pop energy that feels rich and nostalgic.
7 | Light Up
The experimental synths and vocal effects on this track transform it into a reinvented slow-burner that made me love it from the first time I heard it.
6 | Into The Sun
A soaring synth-pop ballad that concludes the album, exploring themes of commitment, isolation and catharsis.
5 | It Don’t Mean A Thing
Karen Gwee from NME describes the song as “an understated mid-record stunner with production and songwriting credits by Addison Rae collaborator Elvira Anderfjärd” that “feels free-associative, like it could have ripped out of a tear-soaked diary”.
4 | Really Real
The chorus is a masterclass in pop songwriting, stacking infectious hooks on top of each other while Robyn’s emotive crooning adds a layer of human vulnerability to the melody.
3 | Dopamine
This was the song that marked Robyn’s triumphant return and reminded us just what we’d been missing during her hiatus. It blends euphoria and desire into a club-ready track with a catchy chorus.
2 | Blow My Mind
On this track she reclaims her 2002 Max Martin-produced deep cut and gives it a maternal glow-up, inverting the lyrics to capture the awe of motherhood with vocoders, jazz-infused interludes and a buoyant bassline.
1 | Talk To Me
Robyn penned this track alongside Klas Åhlund, Max Martin and Oscar Holter. She serves plenty of sexual innuendo, referencing the album’s title with the lyric “Damn, I’m feeling so sexistential”, over a fun, energetic club sound.
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