First Aid Kit

Swedish duo Klara and Johanna Söderberg formed First Aid Kit as teenagers, and the sisters’ decision to sing folk music was partly a rebellion against their punk rock-loving parents. ∙ While in high school, they won global attention for their cover of Fleet Foxes’ “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song,” which now has nearly 6 million views online. ∙ During their second US tour, Jack White surprised First Aid Kit with an invitation to record at his studio, which they said was like “winning a golden ticket to the Willy Wonka factory.” ∙ Conor Oberst became a fan after they slipped him a demo at a Monsters of Folk show, and he later appeared on their chart-topping album, The Lion’s Roar. ∙ The duo added the Omaha Symphony Orchestra to their typically stripped-down sound on Stay Gold, which Paste included on its list of the Best Folk Albums of the 2010s. ∙ Their performance of Patti Smith’s “Dancing Barefoot” at Sweden’s 2011 Polar Music Prize ceremony brought the legendary artist to tears.