Colorful, brassy and blessed with a great voice, Robyn has been an established synth-pop star throughout Europe since the mid ‘90s when her first record was released. Due to disagreements with her previous labels, however, much of her catchy music has been kept out of the States. Her 2007 self-titled album remedied that. Releasing it on her own label gave her the freedom to record whatever songs she felt fit, however she wanted them. Now, it’s as if she’s getting the proper introduction to America she deserved a long time ago.

So say hi to Robin Carlsson, a Stockholm native who first earned a recording deal at the tender age of 13. Her father was a director and her mother an actress in the family’s touring theater company; their divorce would prompt Robin to channel her emotions into song. When Swedish pop star Meja held a workshop at Robin’s school, she heard the teenager sing and was moved to help her get a record deal. Robin released several singles, and at 16 was working on a debut album. Rechristened Robyn, she released Robyn is Here in Sweden, where it was a major hit, blending her sweet vocals with dancey electro.

She grew disillusioned with her music label soon after, who she claimed was trying to fit her into a ditzy pop mold in which she clearly didn’t fit. She’s an outspoken woman, with more than a little fight in her, as demonstrated though any of her records. Blending dance beats with hip-hop flavor, she’s created a unique brand of music that lets her speak her mind. Her music videos show off her modern fashion sense and a quirky sense of humor not unlike Björk’s.

But it’s her lyrics that show she’s not one to be toyed with. She teamed up with the Swedish brother-sister duo The Knife, for the single “Who’s that Girl?” The indie synth band provides the beats while Robyn sings, “Good girls are happy and satisfied, I won’t stop asking until I die.”

Her old record label felt it wasn’t commercial enough, and wasn’t willing to release that song. That lends an ironic air to the statement of individuality Robyn is finally allowed to send out over the radio, and which has clearly become a hit to the legions of fans that are discovering her in America for the first time.