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The Cardigans: is a Swedish band formed in Jönköping, Sweden, 1992. Members: Peter Svensson (aka Anders Peter Svensson, guitar), Magnus Sveningsson (aka Magnus Johan Sveningsson, bass), Bengt Lagerberg (drums), Lars-Olof Johansson (keyboard), and Nina Persson (aka Nina Elisabet Persson, lead vocalist). The band has existed unchanged since its formation in '92. Peter and Magnus were influenced by heavy rock and heavy metal before joining with the other band members. The initial sound, which may be heard on their first three albums, starting off with the debut,
Emmerdale (1994), the band played a style with vocal jazz elements and a style close to easy listening with a strong influence from baroque pop of the 1960s, and to what some would refer to as indie pop or twee-pop. Hence, the band progressed into more traditional pop / rock, at first with some britpop inspiration and later shaped with a more country rock, folk rock style, and ultimately on their latest and so far final album,
Super Extra Gravity (2005), the sound is pop / rock close to alt. rock / indie pop. The majority of their songs have lyrics written by Nina Persson and music composed by guitarist Peter Svensson. After the band's commercial success with
Gran Turismo (1998) they all went on a hiatus. Nina Persson got married, and she formed the project band A Camp together with Niclas Frisk (from Atomic Swing) and her husband Nathan Larson (from Shudder to Think). Bassist Magnus Sveningsson released a solo album under the name of Righteous Boy, and guitarist Peter Svensson formed a collaboration project with Kent vocalist Joakim Berg named Paus (Swedish for Pause or Break, as both Kent and Cardigans were bands contemporary on hold). Most recently, the band played live concerts at various festivals in 2012 and 2013 but no material has officially been under its way.
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