Arista Records: Ace of Base Bio
"I never had any specific influences -- I just like songs. I don't like a song just because it's in a particular style or it's by a certain group. A good song is a good song." So says Ace of Base's Jonas "Joker" Berggren, and he should know: the songs he co-wrote propelled his group to seemingly instant international stardom. The Swedish quartet's debut album The Sign sold over 8 million copies in the United States, driven by an unmistakable blend of reggae-tinged grooves, dance-floor savvy, and infectious hooks. The album generated four U.S. top ten singles, including the #1 title track, and the band was subsequently honored with three Grammy nominations including Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo or Group, two American Music Awards, and two Billboard Awards. Now, Ace of Base returns with The Bridge, an album which finds siblings Jonas, Jenny and Linn Berggren, along with their cohort Ulf "Buddha" Ekberg, exploring new musical territory while retaining the hooks and harmonies that made The Sign so irresistible. From the pulsating first single "Beautiful Life," to the Arabic-flavored "My Deja Vu," and the rich vocal arrangements of "Lucky Love," the album proves that Ace of Base has just begun to flex their creative muscle. "It's nice to have different tempos, different moods," explains Jonas, who wrote the bulk of the songs on the first album. This time around, all of the group members contributed to the writing process; Linn, Jenny and Ulf contributed three songs each. Says Jenny, "We knew that we could write songs...it was a natural thing." Adds Linn, "I had done some songs before we even had a record contract, and I've always taken a small part in the production. As a matter of fact, "All That She Wants" was originally in a major key. When I heard it the first time, I said, 'You have to do it in minor, and then it will be fabulous'." The pressure of following up such a successful first album was daunting, but not overwhelming. Recording at the same small studio in their hometown of Gothenburg, the band knew not to tamper too much with a good system. "We've added some new things," says Jonas, "but we haven't changed our basic technique. I've always believed that you shouldn't change your winning team." Adds Ulf, "We were aware of the pressure, but tried to put it out of our minds. We were all writing from the heart." The group still possesses the same enthusiasm that first brought them together in 1990, when keyboardists Ulf and Jonas began collaborating in a local rehearsal/recording studio where they had been working on separate projects. At first, they experimented with darker, more aggressive tracks inspired by the likes of Ministry and Front 242. It was only after enlisting Jenny and Linn to sing that they began to develop the unique blend of bright, immediate melodies and street-smart rhythms that would become Ace of Base's signature sound. Their first show took place in August 1990 on the same night the Rolling Stones came to town (despite the cross-town competition, they described the concert as a success). After signing with a Danish independent label, the group released their first single, "Wheel of Fortune," which opened doors for them across Europe, and set the stage for the runaway success of "All That She Wants," which took the band completely by surprise. "I never thought it would do so well," says Jonas now. " I don't think anybody did. We felt that it would be a hit in Scandinavia, but I never expected it to work in Europe, or especially the States." After "All That She Wants" hit #1 in ten countries, the group signed with Arista Records for the United States. With no time to record an entirely new record, the group recorded four new songs and reconfigured their Happy Nation album as The Sign for their American debut. "All That She Wants" the first single from the group's debut album The Sign peaked at #2 in the U.S., but stayed in the top 5 for weeks, eventually selling well over platinum. Seemingly leaping out of nowhere, the group suddenly became highly visible on MTV, VH-1, The Box, and radio outlets and clubs throughout the country. The title track single "The Sign" then went all the way to the top, selling over a million copies. Another single, "Don't Turn Around," went gold and peaked at #4 on the charts, while a fourth single, "Living in Danger" was also a hit. Despite their massive success, the members of Ace Of Base still reside in Gothenburg, and remain determinedly down to earth. "When this interview is over," says Linn,"I'm going home to feed my little cats-and my boyfriend."

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