Kygo

Artist Facts

Active: 2009-present
Name: Kygo (born Kyrre Gorvell Dahll)
Genre: Deep House, Tropical House, Down Tempo, Progressive House
Birth Date: September 11, 1996
Place of Birth: Singapore

Artist Background

This Singapore born DJ, musician and producer produces a World Rock sound influenced by a globe-trotting upbringing in Brazil, Kenya, Egypt and Japan. With a Norwegian following and heavy social media presence, he has both topped the charts and gained notoriety for collaborating with a host of vocalists.

Born in Singapore Kygo’s childhood was spent with stepbrother Mads, sisters Johanne and Jenny, and little half-brother Sondre, traversing across Brazil, Kenya, Egypt and Japan.

Kygo’s musical journey started with piano lessons at 6 years old. A decade later, he traded the piano for the producing seat at Logic Studio. Armed with a MIDI keyboard, he honed the craft by watching a variety of YouTube tutorials. That led to his decision to pursue music full-time after studying business and finance at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, thanks to the inspiration of Swedish DJ Avicii.

Artist Music Career

Kygo’s upward trajectory began with his first single, “Epsilon,” which released on May 15, 2013 on the Romania Ensis Records label. The he lit the scene with “Firestone,” a December 1, 2014 release featuring vocalist Conrad aka Conrad Sewell. The project garnered international attention by charting across the globe. Racked up more than 80 million hits on YouTube and SoundCloud, Kygo was tapped by Avicii and by Coldplay’s Chris Martin to remix “Midnight.” Kygo also hit the stage at the Findings Festival in Oslo, Norway in 2014. As the year progressed, Avicci had growing health concerns that led Kygo to replace him on the TomorrowWorld mainstage on September 19, 2014.

In the July 2014 issue of Billboard magazine, Kygo told writer Matt Medved what it was like to partner with Diplo and Coldplay for the remix project, as well as his plans to tour North America. In that same month he collaborated with EDM lifestyle brand Electric Family to create a bracelet, with proceeds benefitting Medecins Sans Frontières. That busy month also included Kygo signing record deals with Sony International and Ultra Music.

He was also featured in an interview for Billboard magazine, where he talked to writer Matt Medved about his remixes for Diplo and Coldplay, and talked about his upcoming tour in North America. In July 2014, he signed a record label deal with Sony International and Ultra Music.

In February 2015, Kygo’s song “ID” was featured in the official trailer for Ultra Music Festival. The same track was also showcased at well known association football video game FIFA 16. In August 2015, Kygo headlined at Lollapalooza in the Windy City. Kygo graced U.S. television with an October 2015 appearance on “The Late Late Show” with James Cordon.

Kygo’s third single, “Nothing Left,” debuted July 31, 2015, and featured Will Heard, going on to top the Norwegian Singles Chart. Less than two months later, his fourth single “Here for You,” featured Ella Henderson debuted at the Ultra Music Festival. His fifth single, “Stay,” closed out 2015 with 1 billion Spotify hits.

Kygo’s second studio album, “Kids in Love,” dropped October 2017 and led to a tour, followed by the March 2018 release of “Remind Me to Forget,” featuring Miguel.

Kygo Awards & Milestones (recent highlights)

Kygo’s career has long been defined by streaming-era dominance and global chart presence — but in recent years, his output has also been backed up by formal recognition, major international chart peaks, and consistent radio traction. These recent highlights reflect how Kygo continues to operate at the top level of modern dance-pop.

• Spellemannprisen “Song of the Year” (2025):
  Kygo and Ava Max earned one of Norway’s highest music honors when “Whatever” won Song of the Year at the Spellemannprisen (2025). Often referred to as the Norwegian equivalent of the Grammys, the award reinforced Kygo’s ability to create songs that land not just in clubs and playlists — but also in mainstream cultural moments.

• Major UK chart performance:
  “Whatever” delivered standout results in one of Europe’s most competitive markets, reaching the UK Top 10 (including a #7 peak on the Official Singles Sales Chart). This performance is a strong indicator of wide audience appeal, particularly for dance releases where crossing into Top 10 territory signals true pop crossover.

• Global radio momentum & airplay wins:
  Beyond streaming, “Whatever” gained serious traction on traditional radio — a key metric of mainstream reach. The track hit #1 on Malta Airplay and #1 on Slovenia Airplay, showing that Kygo’s music continues to translate internationally with strong rotation across different regions.

• #1 success in Norway:
  In his home country, Kygo remains a defining pop and electronic figure. “Whatever” also reached #1 in Norway, continuing a pattern of local chart leadership that highlights his sustained relevance in Scandinavian pop and electronic music — even after years at global scale.

• Elite streaming scale:
  Kygo continues to rank among the most streamed electronic artists of his generation, with industry tracking estimating his Spotify catalog surpassing 17 billion total streams by early 2025. This long-term streaming performance is one of the most important modern indicators of legacy: it shows not only viral peaks, but consistent global listening across multiple eras of his career.

What Kygo is doing now (2025–2026)

As of 2025–2026, Kygo continues to evolve far beyond the tropical-house breakthrough that first made him a global name. In the latest chapter of his career, he’s balancing high-profile new releases, a busy international live schedule, and a growing lifestyle brand universe under Palm Tree Crew.

Latest music & headline releases

Kygo has been actively releasing new music into 2025, keeping his sound current while staying true to the melodic style that defines him. Recent highlights include the single “Hold On Me” featuring Swedish singer Sandro Cavazza, a collaboration that revisits their well-known creative chemistry.
He also reunited with OneRepublic for “Chasing Paradise” (2025), continuing a partnership that has become one of the most recognizable in modern dance-pop.

Touring & major live moments in 2026

Kygo’s live presence remains one of his biggest strengths — and 2026 sees him booked for standout international appearances and festival dates. He’s set to headline Palm Tree Music Festival West Palm Beach (February 14, 2026) and Palm Tree Music Festival Aspen (February 21, 2026), placing him at the center of the festival brand he co-founded.
Beyond Palm Tree, his 2026 calendar includes performances tied to major global festivals such as Lollapalooza South America dates.

The Palm Tree Crew ecosystem

In parallel with music and touring, Kygo’s broader creative footprint continues to expand through Palm Tree Crew — a global lifestyle, hospitality, and live entertainment brand. The brand’s flagship events, including Palm Tree Music Festival, reflect Kygo’s ability to blend music with premium destination experiences, attracting fans who follow not only the artist but the entire Palm Tree “world.”