Sweden

The Swedish twee pop ensemble Raymond & Maria were a palpable force on the Scandinavian pop charts in the early 2000s. The group formed in 2002 with Johan, Staffan, Per, Camilla, and lead vocalist Maria, naming themselves after an infamous nightclub in Stockholm; drummer Mårten joined a little later. Armed with a sound that nodded to the tongue-in-cheek pop sensibilities of the Cardigans and Hello Saferide, the group released their first album, Vi Ska Bara Leva Klart, in 2004. The first single from that release, "Ingen Vill Veta Var Du Kopt Din Troja" ("No One Wants to Know Where You Bought Your Sweater"), became a surprise summer hit, shooting to the top of the Swedish charts and holding that position for several weeks. The group's second album, Hur Mycket Jag an Tar Finns Alltid Lite Kvar, followed two years later. ~ Margaret Reges