Kygo

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History

Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll (born September 11, 1991), known globally by his stage name Kygo, is a Norwegian record producer, DJ, and songwriter. Gaining international prominence with his 2013 remix of Ed Sheeran's "I See Fire" and his 2014 breakout single "Firestone," Kygo quickly established himself as a streaming phenomenon. By late 2015, he held the record as the fastest artist to reach one billion streams on Spotify, doubling that milestone by June 2016.

Early Life and Musical Origins

Born in Singapore to Norwegian parents, Gørvell-Dahll was raised in Bergen, Norway. His father's career in the maritime industry meant the family lived in various countries during his childhood, including Brazil, Japan, Kenya, and Egypt. He began taking piano lessons at age six, developing a foundation that led him to identify more as a pianist than a traditional DJ. By age 15, he transitioned away from formal piano studies to focus on electronic music production, learning Logic Studio and MIDI sequencing through online tutorials. While studying business and finance at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, he made the decision to pursue music full-time, heavily inspired by the work of Swedish producer Avicii. His stage name, Kygo, originated as a username on his school's digital learning platform, combining the first two letters of his first and last names.

Breakthrough and Streaming Records

Kygo released his debut single "Epsilon" in May 2013, but it was his December 2014 release, "Firestone" featuring Conrad Sewell, that catapulted him to global stardom. The track's massive streaming success led to high-profile remix requests and collaborations with artists like Chris Martin of Coldplay. His rapid ascent was cemented when he stepped in for Avicii on the main stage at Tomorrowland in 2014 due to the Swedish producer's health issues. Signing with Sony Music and Ultra Music, Kygo dominated 2015 with a string of hit singles, including "Stole the Show" featuring Parson James, "Here for You" featuring Ella Henderson, and "Stay" featuring Maty Noyes.

Debut Album and Olympic Milestone

In May 2016, Kygo released his highly anticipated debut studio album, Cloud Nine. The record featured promotional singles like "Fragile" with Labrinth and "Raging" with Kodaline. That same year, he expanded his brand by launching Kygo Life AS, a lifestyle company offering audio products and apparel. In August 2016, Kygo made history as the first house music producer to perform at an Olympic closing ceremony, delivering a rendition of "Carry Me" with Julia Michaels at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Continued Success: From Kids in Love to Golden Hour

Kygo's momentum continued into 2017 with the release of the Stargazing EP and his second studio album, Kids in Love. This era was highlighted by "It Ain't Me," a collaboration with Selena Gomez that remains one of his most commercially successful tracks. In 2018, he co-founded Palm Tree Records alongside his manager Myles Shear and released hit collaborations like "Born to Be Yours" with Imagine Dragons. The following year, his remix of Whitney Houston's "Higher Love" became a massive posthumous hit.

In 2020, Kygo released his third studio album, Golden Hour, featuring collaborations such as "Like It Is," "I'll Wait," and "Lose Somebody." He also paid tribute to the late Avicii by completing and releasing the track "Forever Yours" with the blessing of the producer's family. His fourth studio album, Thrill of the Chase, followed in 2022, accompanied by a steady stream of singles including "Love Me Now," "Dancing Feet," and "Woke Up in Love."

Recent Projects and Self-Titled Album

Marking a decade in the music industry, Kygo released his self-titled fifth studio album, Kygo, in 2024. The project featured high-profile singles such as "Whatever" featuring Ava Max, "For Life" featuring Zak Abel and Nile Rodgers, and "Stars Will Align" with Imagine Dragons. Continuing his prolific output, he released the single "Save My Love" in February 2026.