Biography

Having established herself as one of Sweden’s most esoteric, mesmerising songwriters, with critical acclaim from Uncut, Mojo, Clash and Pitchfork, and shows with the likes of Chelsea Wolfe, Mark Kozelek and Jens Lekman, Promise and the Monster (aka Billie Lindahl) has signed to Icons Creating Evil Art (SWE). Billie’s musical education started young, playing Swedish folk on the cello at school by day and recording mix tapes by night. She became fascinated with Nick Drake, Kaki King and Elliot Smith, writing her debut EP Antarktis and first album Transparent Knives at the age of 18, having been picked up by Imperial Recordings. With a father playing Country bands and mother into eclectic mix of jazz and alternative rock, from day one her tastes were always going to be fluid. By second album Red Time (2009), Promise and the Monster were touring Europe with, among others, label mate José Gonzales. Collaborations followed, with experimental bands such as Alcest and This Gift is a Curse along with performances on heavyweight festival bills such as Roadburn. Signing to Bella Union for her third full-length she released Feed The Fire (2016) produced by Love Martinsen, a quintessential break-up record that focused on abstract imagery. In 2020, Martinsen joined Billie to co-write her upcoming material. The new songs exploring a less introspective side of her psyche, with an emphasis on the tongue-in-cheek nature lurking beneath a veneer of earnestness.