Swedish electronic pop artist Robyn has cancelled her upcoming festival appearances, including an October 17 slot at San Francisco’s Treasure Island Music Festival, as she continues to cope with the death of a recent collaborator.
Producer Christian Falk, who collaborated with Robyn on La Bagatelle Magique with keyboardist Markus Jägerstedt, died of cancer last year. Moving forward, La Bagatelle Magique performed live at Popaganda Festival in Sweden two weeks ago, but the emotion was still raw and Robyn says today it “feels too heavy still” to perform the music live.
SPIN reports that the canceled dates also include a September 25 appearance at São Paulo’s Allianz Parque with Katy Perry, and Brazil’s Rock In Rio Festival on September 27. Robyn has been replaced at Treasure Island by FKA twigs, according to reports.
Here’s official word from Robyn’s camp, via robyn.com:
Unfortunately, it’s with great regret that Robyn has to cancel her appearances in Brazil (Rock In Rio) and San Francisco (Treasure Island).
After falling ill with cancer, La Bagatelle Magique member Christian Falk passed away one year ago, Robyn and third band member Markus Jägerstedt finalised the music that they had worked on together without Christian, in order to release it as planned. The album release this August was the culmination of that process.
Robyn and La Bagatelle Magique performed two weeks ago at Popaganda Festival in Sweden due to the cancelation of Dans Dakar. After this show, however, it became clear to Robyn that she would not be able to perform the La Bagatelle Magique material again soon.
“It was much harder singing these songs on stage than I thought. Even though it´s been a year since Christian passed, I’m heartbroken and performing them feels too heavy still. I’m sorry to disappoint the fans that have bought tickets to these shows and I will do my best to come back to San Francisco and Brazil soon” — Robyn
Robyn and Markus are still working on an exciting video to come very soon for the project, but she requires a clean break from performing to focus on the future so she can return with new music.
Listen to “Love Is Free” by La Bagatelle Magique below…