A*Teens

A*Teens

A*Teens, also known as A-Teens, are a pop group from Stockholm, Sweden. They form in 1998 under the name ABBA Teens and later take the name A*Teens after Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA request a change to avoid confusion. The group consists of four Swedish-born members: Marie Serneholt, Amit Paul, Dhani Lennevald and Sara Lumholdt.

Early releases and success

The group’s first album, ABBA Generation, appears in 1999 and consists entirely of ABBA covers reworked with a modern pop and techno sound. It reaches number one in Sweden and also gains international success, including sales of 110,000 copies in Chile and a peak position of number 71 on the US Billboard 200. In 1999, the group tours with *NSYNC and Britney Spears.

Their second album, Teen Spirit, follows a year later and moves away from ABBA material. It includes original songs and presents a more individual pop style. The album sells three million copies worldwide, reaches number 50 on the Billboard 200, and is promoted with a US tour with Aaron Carter.

Further albums and touring

In 2002, the group releases Pop Til You Drop in the United States. A European and Asian version appears in 2003 under the title New Arrival, a reference to an ABBA album. Some of the material on these releases is co-written by the band members. The recordings are made in Sweden, with production work from producers based in the United States, Norway, Denmark and Sweden. The group headlines a tour in 2002 with Play, LMNT and Jump5. Pop Til You Drop reaches number 45 on the Billboard 200, and the combined sales of that album and New Arrival pass 1.6 million by 2002 and 2003.

Their fourth album, Greatest Hits, is released in Europe in 2004. It includes a few new songs, among them a cover of Nick Kamen’s I Promised Myself, and sells 500,000 copies worldwide. Across their career, the group sells more than 8 million albums and 1.5 million singles worldwide.

Members and solo work

Marie Serneholt is born in Stockholm on 11 July 1983, Amit Paul in Boden on 29 October 1983, Dhani Lennevald in Stockholm on 24 July 1984, and Sara Lumholdt in Solna on 25 October 1984. After the release of Greatest Hits, the members pause band activity to pursue solo work. Dhani Lennevald releases the single Girl Talk in late 2004, and Marie Serneholt releases the album Enjoy The Ride in 2006. Amit Paul and Sara Lumholdt also work on solo projects.