AQUA

In the early beginnings the band were known as Joyspeed. Rene Lif spent his time DJ’ing clubs around Copenhagen and soon he crossed paths with aspiring producers Soren Rasted and Claus Norreen who had won a competition which included studio time to record a few singles with the support of Lif. With an undeniable chemistry formed, the band sought out a vocalist who came in the form of Lene Nystrm who they discovered aboard a cruise ship.

In 1994 they signed to a small Swedish label where they released their first single “Itzy Bitzy Spider” which received little to no chart success. After a disappointing run with the label, Joyspeed parted ways with them and in 1996 signed a record deal with Universal Music Denmark.

With new management and label, the band opted for a fresh start opting to change their name to Aqua. Their first release under the new name “Roses Are Red” in 1996 was a huge success going platinum and remained in the Danish charts for over two months.

The release of their debut album “Aquarium” in 1997 launched the band into the stratosphere as their brand of European pop invaded charts across the globe. “Barbie Girl” the first single released off the album in 1997 alone sold over four million copies worldwide whilst securing the number one spot in several charts. The album also featured the track “Doctor Jones” accompanied by its memorably cheesy video and full of their signature dance-pop sound. Proving they weren’t a one trick pony, the band released a more toned down and serious love song “Turn Back Time” released in 1998 which also featured on the soundtrack to the Gwyneth Paltrow film “Sliding Doors”.

Slowing it down in 1999, the band focussed on producing their follow up album “Aquarius” which they released the following year featuring the singles “Cartoon Heroes” and “Bumble Bees” which encapsulated their signature pop sound. The album achieved top ten chart position in seven different countries.

Their hit single “Barbie Girl” would come back to haunt the band and although it initially appeared as innocent and cutesy, controversy soon hit the once the sexual suggestiveness was examined. This would ultimately result in Barbie manufacturer Mattel filing a lawsuit in 2000 against the band for diminishing and misrepresenting the image of the children’s toy. The case was eventually thrown out of court, with the judge asking both parties to “chill” over the matter.

This didn’t help the already growing tension in the band as relationships weakened within the group and in 2001 Aqua announced their split. In the meantime Nystrm, Dif and Rasted all achieved solo success in the Netherlands while Norreen continued working as a music producer.

In 2007 the band announced their return which would commence with a 25 date tour. Aqua released their second greatest hits album in 2009 with the addition of three new tracks which allowed them to continue touring across Europe. “Meglomania” Aqua’s third album released in 2011 orientated around a more mature electro-pop sound with the singles “Playmate to Jesus” and “Like a Robot”. Although not as commercially successful as their previous releases, the album went gold in Denmark peaking at number two.

Aqua have established themselves as the most successful Danish band with a string of timeless classics which transport people down memory lane as they relive their youth.