The timing had been right for her to liberate herself. The traditional music business was collapsing, as the internet cut into CD sales while letting listeners elevate their own niche idols. Mainstream pop was going maximalist by overloading its production with digital whizbangery; indie rock had risen as a rawer alternative. Robyn split the difference. She expressed a rebellious worldview in a sleek and organized way, like a manifesto in a well-formatted Word doc.