Meja

Meja first achieved visibility in the early 1990s as a member of the dance-pop ensemble Legacy of Sound. She later established herself as a solo performer with strong followings throughout Europe and Japan, although American audiences responded more gradually than they had to other Swedish acts such as ABBA, Ace of Base, and the Cardigans. Born near Stockholm, she absorbed early musical influences from her grandfather, a classical composer, and from soul figures including Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles. While with Legacy of Sound she co-wrote the worldwide club success “Happy.” After the group dissolved, she moved away from its high-energy approach in favor of a vocal style grounded in soul and jazz. Working with producer Douglas Carr, whose credits include Ace of Base and Dr. Alban, she issued her self-titled debut album in 1995; the record attained gold status in Sweden and platinum certification in Japan. Her second album, Seven Sisters, followed in late 1997 and matched much of the first release’s commercial performance, receiving a delayed American release during the summer of 1999.