The Knife fuse progressive sounds and viewpoints into striking electronic pop. From the beginning, Swedish siblings Karin and Olof Dreijer questioned societal and musical norms. On 2001’s The Knife, they combined gender-defying pitch-shifted vocals, electronics that alluded to ’80s pop and experimental techno, lyrics that explored queer perspectives, and a mordant sense of humor into subversively catchy songs, a skill they honed on 2003’s Deep Cuts and its radiant single “Heartbeats”.

Over time, the duo’s music grew darker and more ambitious. On 2006’s masterpiece Silent Shout, the Knife balanced frostbitten sonics with affecting songwriting; on 2010’s Tomorrow, In a Year, they helped reinvent the possibilities of opera in the 21st century. They remained fearlessly creative on 2013’s final album Shaking the Habitual, culminating in a body of music that inspired countless other artists.