Olof Dreijer
Olof Dreijer | |
|---|---|
| Olof Dreijer wearing a dark button-up, long-sleeved shirt and dark, ski-mask-like head covering, performing onstage while holding two drum sticks at a DJ station Dreijer performing with the Knife in 2006 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | 27 November 1981 |
| Origin | Nacka, Sweden |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Rabid |
Olof Björn Dreijer (born 27 November 1981) is a Swedish DJ and record producer, best known as one half of the electronic music avant-pop duo the Knife, formed with his sibling Karin Dreijer.[1] They disbanded in 2014 and continued to produce music collaboratively. Olof released his debut solo album, Loud Bloom, in 2026.[2]
Early life
Dreijer grew up in Gothenburg and played saxophone with his father in the local communist band.[3]
Career
In 1999, he and his sibling Karin formed the duo the Knife.[4] He had previously worked as a kindergarten teacher, DJ, and beatmaker, before performing with the Knife full-time, and the duo released a total of four albums.[3]
Although the Knife very rarely played live, Olof performed as DJ Coolof in nightclubs across Europe, though only at events with equal gender representation on the artist lineup—with no more than 50% people who identify as men.[5]
In late 2009 and early 2010, Olof released four EPs under the pseudonym Oni Ayhun. In late 2010, he issued a remix of Emmanuel Jal's "Kuar". In 2011, he produced the song "Jam" by Planningtorock, from the album W.[6]
In 2014, he and Karin disbanded the Knife, calling their final show 'Post-Colonial Gender Politics Come First, Music Comes Second'. Olof went on to produce music for his friends and taught music to undocumented migrants in Stockholm and Berlin.[3]
In October 2023, he released the EP Rosa Rugosa, which was the first solo project under his own name and not a pseudonym.[3]
During his performance at the 2026 BBC Radio 6 Music festival, Robyn joined him onstage in a surprise appearance.[7]
In May 2026, Olof released his first solo album, Loud Bloom, along with the single "Echoed Dafnino", which featured the Sudanese singer MaMan.[8]
Political views
Olof has been explicit in his opposition to the Swedish far-right political movement.[3] He has stated that the involvement of technology companies in music streaming was the "gentrification" of piracy.[9]
Upon being asked to DJ in Tel Aviv, Dreijer stated that he supports the international cultural boycott of Israel and the BDS movement in support of Palestinian rights. Dreijer and the Knife have supported this boycott for many years.[10]
Discography
as Oni Ayhun
- OAR001 (2008)
- OAR002 (2008)
- OAR003 (2009)
- OAR004 (2010)
as Olof Dreijer
- Echoes from Mamori (EP, 2021)
- Souvenir (2023)
- Rosa Rugosa (EP, 2023)
- Coral (EP, 2024)
- Brujas with Diva Cruz (EP, 2024)
- C2C Festival 2024, Stone Island Sound: Olof Dreijer (DJ Mix) (compilation, 2024)
- Homobloc: Olof Dreijer in Manchester, Nov 9, 2024 (DJ Mix) (compilation, 2024)
- Iris (EP, 2025)
- Loud Bloom (2026)
References
- ↑ "The Knife | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic.
- ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (8 May 2026). "Olof Dreijer: Loud Bloom review – the Knife star's debut solo album is a garden of earthly delights". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Kalia, Ammar (6 March 2024). "Olof Dreijer on the Knife, Swedish nationalism and dancefloor activism: 'Music gives us energy to overcome'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ Frere-Jones, Sasha (8 April 2013). "Look Sharp". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Bleeding Edge: The Knife Talk 'Shaking the Habitual'". 5 April 2013.
- ↑ "PlanningToRock – W (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
- ↑ Fisher, Charlotte (29 March 2026). "Pop legend makes surprise appearance at YES". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ Green, Walden (11 March 2026). "The Knife's Olof Dreijer Readies Debut Solo Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ Pelly, Liz (7 January 2026). Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781668083529. Search this book on
- ↑ "The Knife's Olof Dreijer: 'I will not perform in Israel'". residentadvisor.net. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
External links
- Olof Dreijer discography at Discogs
- Oni Ayhun discography at Discogs
- Oni Ayhun official website (archived)
- Olof DreijerLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 23: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). discography at MusicBrainz
- Resident Advisor DJ Page
- The Knife official website
 | This article about a Swedish musician is a stub. You can help EverybodyWiki by expanding it. |
 | This article on a dance music disc jockey is a stub. You can help EverybodyWiki by expanding it. |
This article "Olof Dreijer" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Olof Dreijer. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
