The origins of that image can be traced back to a photograph Björk encountered in Visionaries magazine. Shot by Nick Knight and art-directed by Alexander McQueen, it featured model Devon Aoki in a surreal, cold-toned composition that blended cultural references and fashion into something almost mythological. The image resonated deeply with Björk, who was already envisioning Homogenic as an exploration of identity, technology, and emotional intensity. She reached out to Knight and McQueen to collaborate on the album cover, asking them to help translate these ideas into a single, powerful visual.

At the heart of the concept was a character, a “warrior of love”. Björk imagined someone placed in such an extreme, impossible situation that transformation became necessary: not into a fighter armed with weapons, but into a figure who resists through emotional strength.

McQueen, working with stylist Katy England, constructed this character through clothing and symbolism. The kimono was handmade in his London studio from blue and white damask satin, woven with prunus blossom and lined in vivid scarlet. It referenced Japanese aesthetics, reflecting McQueen’s long-standing fascination with the culture, but like much of his work, it avoided simple imitation in favour of hybridisation.

That hybridity extended across the entire look. Björk‘s appearance combined multiple cultural influences: a coiled neckpiece by jeweller Shaun Leane inspired by the brass rings worn by Kayan Lanai women of Myanmar; elaborate hair shaped into sculptural forms reminiscent of Native American traditions; and highly stylised makeup and manicure. Together, these elements formed a kind of “global citizen” figure, something Björk herself identified with. As she described it, she often felt Icelandic abroad and cosmopolitan at home, constantly shifting between identities.

At the same moment as the Homogenic shoot, Alexander McQueen was developing his Elect Dissect haute couture collection for Givenchy (Autumn/Winter 1997-98). Like the album cover, the collection fused a wide range of global influences, drawing from tribal, ethnic, and historical references to construct a deliberately hybrid aesthetic. In the Paris show, the dramatic Masaai-inspired neckpiece created by Shaun Leane, first designed for Björk’s cover, reappeared in a more exaggerated, towering form. Elsewhere, the collection explored a strong vein of Japonisme, with kimono silhouettes, intricate oriental embroidery, and geisha-like hair styling echoing the visual language of the Homogenic image.

The shoot itself has become almost as legendary as the final image. according to Nick Knight, the cover photograph was the very first shot taken that day. McQueen saw the Polaroid, immediately recognised its strength, and left the studio within minutes, convinced they already had what they needed. Björk and Knight, however, continued shooting for several hours, producing hundreds of images – none of which matched the clarity of that first frame. No outtakes from the session have ever been released, reinforcing the almost mythic status of that singular image.

For Björk, embodying the character was physically demanding. She wore heavy sculptural hair, special contact lenses, restrictive clothing taped into place, and towering clogs that made movement difficult. The constraint was intentional, because the image needed to communicate a sense of pressure and containment, mirroring both the emotional tone of the album and her own experiences at the time.

Björk described the album as a return “home”, a deeper connection to Icelandic identity filtered through electronic experimentation. She immersed herself in London’s underground music scene while also drawing on traditional Icelandic vocal techniques, blending the organic with the synthetic. Thematically, the album explores the friction between nature and technology, intimacy and distance, fragility and resilience.

All of these ideas converge in the cover image, which is a visual manifesto, a figure suspended between cultures.

The legacy of the image extends beyond the album itself. The kimono worn by Björk was later sold at auction in 2016, while the cover continues to be cited as one of the most influential collaborations between fashion, photography, and music. More importantly, it crystallised Björk’s approach to artistry: not separating sound, image and identity, but weaving them into a single, unified expression.

Björk‘s videos are always an event and her latest one is no exception. For the visuals of “Losss”, the Icelandic artist collaborated once again with German digital artist Tobias Gremmler, who alredy directed “Tabula Rasa” earlier this year and who has also contributed to her new show. About this new video and collaboration, Björk explained:

[su_quote]noone captures digital sensuality like him , elegant and expressive !!!! this is made for the multiple of screens of cornucopia and we share it all here on 1 for your laptop screen … we based it on the conversations between our inner optimist and pessimist , when i recorded this i tried to sing in a deeper tone for one of them and if you listen on headphones it will match the imagery.[/su_quote]

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Björk has recently launched Cornucopia in NYC and Mexico; a live concept that is described as her most elaborate stage concert yet. The theatrical and innovative show is now coming to Europe and the UK. Check her itinerary below.

13 Nov – Brussels @ Forest National

16 Nov – Luxembourg @ Rockhal

19 Nov – London @ O2 Arena

25 Nov – Glasgow @ SSE Hydro

28 Nov – Dublin @ 3Arena

Björk made her come back on TV for Later… With Jools Holland where she performed live for the first time in eight years. The Icelandic artist, who was surrounded by jungle-like settings and an ensemble of flautists, sang “Courtship,” a song taken from her 2017’s ninth studio album “Utopia” as well as “The Anchor Song” from her 1993’s album “Debut.”

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The artist also started her “Utopia Tour” which will bring her to London’s All Points East Festival, Barcelona’s Primavera Sound Festival and to Gent Jazz Festival amongst others.

The three remixes are used as promotion for the release of a vinyl 12″ edition due out on May 25 via One Little Indian Records. As told by Björk herself, it has been pressed on “Slug Genitalia coloured” vinyl. The EP-remixes follows the release of the video directed by Jesse Kanda for the track, that features Arca. You can check the artcover of the EP above.

Björk‘s vinyl 12″ edition of “Utopia” is expected on May 25 via One Little Indian Records.

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100. CITY FATHER – “Coquette”

99. BILLIE EILISH – “Bellyache”

98. SABRINA CLAUDIO – “Belong To You”

97. PETRA GLYNT – “Fell In A Hole”

96. HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR + SHARON VAN ETTEN – “Omnion”

95. GIRLI – “Hot Mess”

94. THE SOFT MOON – “Burn”

93. J.I.D – “Never”

92. ACE TEE + KWAM.E – “Bist Du Down?”

91. CRALIAS – “Hope You Are”

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90. CHROMATICS – “Shadow”

89. RUN THE JEWELS – “Legend Has It”

88. CARDI B – “Bodak Yellow”

87. YELLOW DAYS – “Hurt In Love”

86. JFDR – “Airbone”

85. SUSANNE SUNDFØR – “Undercover”

84. TOM TRIPP – “Aurelia”

83. SUPERORGANISM – “Something For Your M.I.N.D.”

82. KAN WAKAN – “Still Feather”

81. NILÜFER YANYA – “Baby Luv”

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80. WAKE CHILD – “In The End”

79. JAJA BU – “Sweetness”

78. ALVVAYS – “Dreams Tonite”

77. KIDÄ – “Bone Mother”

76. HÅN – “The Children”

75. ULYSSE – “Mañana”

74. SHY GIRLS – “You Like The Pain Too”

73. GOURMET – “Delicious”

72. SORCHA RICHARDSON – “4AM”

71. MILLIE TURNER – “Underwater”

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70. NABIHAH IQBAL – “Something More”

69. KEDR LIVANSKIY – “Your Name (имя твоё)”

68. MORGXN – “xx”

67. GRIZZLY BEAR – “Mourning Sound”

66. DANIEL CAESAR + KALI UCHIS – “Get You”

65. DILLON – “2.KIND”

64. COUCOU CHLOE + SEGA BODEGA – “Flip U”

63. THE TRP – “Soda”

62. JAY SOM – “The Bus Song”

61. GFOTY – “Tongue”

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60. SELENA GOMEZ -“Bad Liar”

59. ELA MINUS – “Juan Sant”

58. EMPRESS OF – “Go To Hell”

57. SHE Major – “Please Don’t”

56. VAGABON – “Cold Appartment”

55. NADINE – “Ultra Pink”

54. SONDER – “Feel”

53. RINA SAWAYAMA – “Alterlife”

52. SEGA BODEGA + SHYGIRL – “CC”

51. GOLDLINK + BRENT FAIYAZ – “Crew”

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50. CRATER – “Unearth”

49. QUAY DASH – “Decline Him”

48. YELLE – “Romeo”

47. GABRIEL GARZÓN-MONTANO – “Fruitflies”

46. WESLEE – “Bathwater”

45. FOREST SWORDS – “The Highest Flood”

44. KENDRICK LAMAR + ZACARI – “LOVE.”

43. ALEX CAMERON + ANGEL OLSEN – “Stranger’s Kiss”

42. SMERZ – “Oh My My”

41. SASSY 009 – “Are You Leaving”

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40. CHARLI XCX – “Roll With Me”

39. TESSA DIXSON – “Prayer”

38. TOMMY GENESIS – “Tommy”

37. SSION – “Comeback”

36. PIXX – “Romance”

35. DANNY L HARLE – “1UL”

34. LCD SOUNDSYSTEM – “american dream”

33. LANA DEL REY – “Love”

32. KING KRULE – “Dum Surfer”

31. SAMPHA – “(No One Knows Me) Like The Piano”

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30. MAKTHAVERSKAN – “Vienna”

29. CCFX – “The One To Wait”

28. KLLO – “Downfall”

27. KELLY LEE OWENS + JENNY HVAL – “Anxi.”

26. BLUE HAWAII – “No One Like You”

25. FEVER RAY – “Wanna Sip”

24. JULIEN BAKER – “Turn Out The Lights”

23. LIL PEEP + LIL TRACY – “witchblades”

22. FAKA – “Uyang’khumbula”

21. TR/ST – “Bicep”

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20. SARO – “Eyelids”

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19. BROCKHAMPTON – “Summer”

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18. TYLER, THE CREATOR + KALI UCHIS – “See You Again”

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17. O-SHiN – “A Revelation”

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16. ionnalee – “SAMARITAN”

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15. Vince Staples – “Crabs In A Bucket”

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14. WWWATER – “My Hands”

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13. Björk – “Blissing Me”

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12. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Cut To The Feeling”

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11. Big Thief – “Mythological Beauty”

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10. SZA – “Drew Barrymore”

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9. Frank Ocean – “Chanel”

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8. Wy – “Bathrooms”

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7. SOPHIE – “It’s Okay To Cry”

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6. Moses Sumney – “Doomed”

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5. Kelela – “Onanon”

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4. Arca – “Desafío”

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3. Lorde – “The Louvre”

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2. Perfume Genius – “Slip Away”

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1. Yaeji – “Raingurl”

Listen to the 100 tracks of 2017 according to the HighClouds‘ staff via Spotify, Youtube and Deezer.

20) Gabriel Garzón-Montano – Jardin

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19) Pixx – The Age of Anxiety

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18) Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.

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17) Makthaverskan – III

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16) Fever Ray – Plunge

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15) Vagabon – Infinite Worlds

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14) SZA – Ctrl

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13) Big Thief – Capacity

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12) BROCKHAMPTON – Saturation II

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11) Kelly Lee Owens – Kelly Lee Owens

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10) Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory

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9) Björk – Utopia

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8) wy – Okay

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7) Moses Sumney – Aromanticism

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6) Julien Baker – Turn Out The Light

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5) Kelela – Take Me Apart

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4) Arca – Arca

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3) Perfume Genius – No Shape

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2) BROCKHAMPTON – Saturation

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1) Lorde – Melodrama

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1- Brendan Maclean – “House Of Air” (Director: Brian Fairbairn and Karl Eccleston)

Brendan Maclean‘s “House of Air” is probably the NSFW-est video you might have seen this year. It is also one of the most realistic, controversial, and marketable one. Presented as an anthropological study of gay semiotics, taxonomies, and sexual behaviours”, the Hal Fisher-inspired video doesn’t dance around the topic to present gay sex, bondage and more. Strangely, the video was uploaded on YouTube and was banned ten days after with 700,000 views. Directed by Brian Fairbairn and Karl Eccleston, the final rendition is graphic and can’t be more real. It it art, documentation, entertainment, or pornography? Here is the interest and no one can really answer but Maclean is sure about the artistic side of his proposition: “This was never a ‘marketable’ idea, but it was an original one that I cared about. Was it for everyone? Absolutely not. Has it been the most success I’ve had with anything ever? Absolutely.”

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2-SOPHIE – “It’s Okay To Cry” (Director: SOPHIE)

We are fans of SOPHIE’s work since Day 1 and with this new track and video, the producer is pushing the boundaries even further. For the first time ever, she is even starring in her video. SOPHIE appears as androgynous and the visuals come out with a statement from the artist who want to be referred to using she/her pronouns. The interesting part of the colorful emo-dramatic visuals mainly lies in the representation of nudity: as one can notice, SOPHIE is freely exhibiting her breast (and nipples) but YouTube did not censor anything. The appearance of the producer is so gender fluid though, that the arbitrations of YouTube on that specific topic seem to be totally outdated. And it’s useless to add that the fact she also used the same colors than our website was a solid artistic statement.

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3- Björk – “The Gate” (Director: Andrew Thomas Huang)

Alongside long time collaborator Andrew Thomas Huang, a dress by Gucci‘s Alessandro Michele and masks by James Merry, Björk delivers one of the most intense videos of the year. After exploring her sadness after the break-up of a 13 year-old relationship in “Vulnicura”, she decided that it was time to open herself again to love. From an open chest wound featured in the previous videos, there is a prismatic portal of futuristic lovers awaiting for her. In a world where everything is possible, there is space from healing of a hearbreak. The first single taken from her ninth album “Utopia” is an authentic piece of art, and it comes after years of pushing the limits of visual creations. Björk‘s ambition gets even bigger and we expect nothing less from her.

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The rest of videos are in no specific order.

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Young Thug – “Wyclef Jean” (Director: Ryan Staake)

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The Blaze – “Virile” (Director: The Blaze)

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lil peep x lil tracy – “witchblades” (Director:metro blu)

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Colin – “People Talk About Me” (Director: Steven Ross)

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ULYSSE – “Mañana” (Director: A$IAN ROCKY)

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Arca – “Reverie” (Director: Jesse Kanda)

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Kelela – “LMK” (Director: Andrew Thomas Huang)

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RIVE – “Justice” (Director: Ma-Ké, TEMPLE CACHÉ)

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Jinka – “Trash From The Past” (Director: Mario Clement)

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SSION – “Comeback” (Director: Cody Critcheloe)

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Perfume Genius – “Slip Away” (Director: Andrew Thomas Huang)

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Charli XCX – “Boys” (Director: Charli XCX and Sarah McColgan)

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Fever Ray – “To The Moon And Back” (Director: Martin Falck)

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Yaeji – “Last Breath” (Director: Kathy Yaeji Lee)

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FAKA – “Uyang’Khumbula” (Director: Nick Widmer)

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Kedr Livanskiy – “Your Name” (Director: Konstantin Bushmanov and Kedr Livanskiy)

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Kirin J Callinan x Alex Cameron x Molly Lewis x Jimmy Barnes – “Big Enough” (Director: Danny Cohen)

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The first remix features New York-based artist serpentwithfeet who adds an R&B and mysterious touch to the track without ever taken the essence of what Björk has created. Imagined as a collaboration with producers Arca for most of the songs, and Rabit for one, it makes sense that she continues to give life to this album through collaborations. The second version features the harpe as the main character without any beats. It can give you a first taste of the album without the mesmerizing touch of Ghersi.

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“Utopia” is out now via One Little Indian Records.