Swedish singer-songwriter Lykke Li (aka Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson), will play Monday at Tipitina’s in one of the most highly anticipated shows of the season. While Adele may be this year’s commercial pop queen, Lykke Li rises to the top as her gritty, moody counterpart. Shedding the naïve, girlish feel of her debut album, Lykke Li returned this year with her highly lauded sophomore album “Wounded Rhymes.” Wounded rhymes indeed. The album is the result of three years’ growth and an introspective pilgrimage through the California desert, and it displays a melancholy artist who isn’t afraid to embrace a more visceral sound. Though everything from indie blogs to the soundtrack of the teen-cult “Twilight” have tried to claim her, Lykke Li proves to be her own person. Her songs simultaneously exude gloom and confidence, assaulting listeners with overlapping rhythms, electronic arrangements and thunderous drum lines. The highlight of Lykke Li’s songs, however, is her voice, which confidently handles a wide spectrum of emotions. On “I Know Places,” accompanied by just an autoharp, she’s wistful and delicate, sounding like she might shatter at any second. On “Get Some,” her no-nonsense attitude bluntly declares, “I’m your prostitute/ you gon’ get some.” Having lived in many places, from Sweden to Nepal to Portugal, Lykke Li sounds like the eternal wanderer, with an ancient voice that radiates knowledge of the future of music. While her music displays a volatile, melancholy persona, it is underscored with danceable beats and the brash confidence of a woman ready to claim her place in the music industry. Playing Tipitina’s Uptown, with support from First Aid Kit and WTUL, Lykke Li will bring her mix of youthful nostalgia, haunting lyrics, sexual confidence and weird dance moves to an eager New Orleans crowd. Expect a dramatic production, from strobe lights to gauzy, all-black outfits, and impressive re-workings of her old material, such as her 2008 hit “Dance, Dance, Dance,” while breaking it down on the kazoo. Get your tickets soon — this concert is sure to sell out. -Stephanie Chen
