In the early 2000s, Swedish computer enthusiast Jonas Altberg, performing under the name Basshunter, rose to online fame through lighthearted dance tracks aimed at tech enthusiasts, including "Boten Anna" (Anna Bot) and "Vi Sitter i Ventrilo och Spelar DotA" (We Sit in Ventrilo and Play DotA). Starting in 1999, Altberg produced tracks on his personal computer and posted them publicly on his website. The material developed a devoted following that prompted numerous Swedish clubs to extend performance invitations. Basshunter’s first authorized album, The Bass Machine, surfaced online in 2004, after which major labels began extending contract opportunities. He joined Warner Bros. in 2006, leading to the September release of his second album, LOL <(^^,)>. That project reached number five in Sweden, number four in Finland, and number three in Denmark, while its opening single, "Boten Anna" (a song about an IRC bot), ascended to number one on the Swedish, Dutch, and Danish charts. The next single, "DotA" (a song about Warcraft III's Defense of the Ancients), registered somewhat lower peaks yet still entered the top ten across Scandinavia. Altberg resurfaced in 2009 with the single "Every Morning" and the album Bass Generation. During 2013 the archival set The Early Bedroom Sessions paired his 2004 album The Bass Machine with a collection of rare recordings, while the long-anticipated studio album Calling Time also appeared that year.
