Alcazar

Producers Alexander Bass and Anders Hansson joined forces with Andreas Lundstedt, a former solo performer born in 1972, to create a club-and-house-focused group. Annikafiore, born in 1971 and previously a vocalist in the female ensemble Dreamettes, along with Tess, born in 1970 and experienced as a backing singer and dancer for various regional acts, completed the lineup of this Swedish dance-pop endeavor. The three members inked a deal with BMG in 2001, which led to the launch of their first single, “Crying at the Discotheque,” incorporating elements drawn from French disco diva Sheila’s track “Spacer.” Casino marked Alcazar’s introductory full-length release and included the follow-up hit “Sexual Garantee.”