We Took A Peek Inside Robyn’s Surprise After-Party at Sister City

“Going Out” is a column celebrating the legacy of our founder, Andy Warhol. Long ago, in the disco ball-refracted days of The Factory, Warhol’s Interview chronicled the comings and goings of the downtown scene, spotlighting its ever-eccentric populace in their favorite dimly lit haunts. This week, Mark Burger followed Swedish superstar Robyn to a surprise after-party at Sister City’s rooftop bar Last Light for a post-show dance session.

Robyn, the Scandinavian pop savior known for her lovelorn anthems that unify fans across oceans and subway platforms, dazzled and danced her way through her headlining show at Barclays Center last Friday night, her second stop through New York in support of her spectacular album, Honey. Following an eight-year hiatus, the Swedish singer returned in 2018 with a record that perfectly contours her trademark hooks about heartache, desire, and forgiveness into ravishing, electronic beats. The concert was a spectacle unto itself–swaths of white fabric swayed above the stage, shimmering lights filled the stadium with a subaqueous glow, and adoring fans sang along to “Dancing On My Own” with the power of a thousand late-night, solo dance parties.

Two encores later, however, the party was far from over. From the glowing rooftop of Last Light at Sister City in the Lower East Side, Robyn’s friends threw her a surprise after-party to celebrate the show. She contributed to a string of DJ sets by Bubble T, Joey Labeija, Lagoon, Papi Juice, Lil C, and Rabz, who kept spirits high with a tasteful blend of disco and house, with the occasional Khia dropped in for good measure. Among the attendees were the Dupont Twins, photographer Luke Gilford, Humberto Leon of Opening Ceremony, author and critic Antwaun Sargent, Lisa-Kaindé Diaz from Ibeyi, designer Collina Strada, producer Doss, and Theo Canham-Spence, who, after spending two hours dipping, twirling, jumping, and shimmying alongside Robyn herself on the Barclays Center stage, was able to bust out a few more hours of dancing.

Photographer Teddy Fitzhugh captured the night’s festivities, full of fans and friends alike, all eager to join each other on the dance floor, all too wired to think about going home, much less sleep. Robyn continues on the Honey Tour though mid-August, where it will conclude in her hometown of Stockholm. While we don’t know precisely when she may grace our streets or stadiums again, it’s safe to say her title as New York’s favorite dance club romantic remains as secure as ever.