Vargas and Lagola

Vargas & Lagola are a Swedish songwriting and production duo of Vincent Pontare and Salem Al Fakir.

Vargas and Lagola
Vincent Pontare (left) and Salem Al Fakir (right) as Vargas & Lagola
Background information
OriginSweden
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Songwriters
  • producers
  • musicians
  • singers
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • guitar
  • bass
  • keyboard
  • drums
  • violin
Years active2006–present
Associated acts
Websitehttp://www.vargasandlagola.com/
Members

They have worked with many artists, including Avicii, Axwell & Ingrosso, David Guetta, Galantis, Madonna and Seinabo Sey. In addition to their songwriting and production work, they release alternative pop music.[1]

Career

Vincent Pontare and Salem Al Fakir have gone from successful solo artists to Swedish Grammy Award winning songwriters and producers.[2] Among the first co-writes together are Avicii’s 2013 Billboard Hot 100 single "Hey Brother" and "Younger" by Seinabo Sey.[3]

At the 2014 Swedish Grammy Awards Vargas & Lagola and Magnus Lidehäll were awarded Composer of the Year after writing for Veronica Maggio’s album Handen i fickan fast jag bryr mig and the Petter album Början på allt, and work with artists like Galantis.[4] In 2014 they wrote numerous songs on Mapei’s album Hey Hey and Avicii’s "The Days" and "Divine Sorrow" (with Wyclef Jean).[5] Vargas & Lagola followed up with another successful year in 2015 co-writing most songs on Seinabo Sey’s highly acclaimed debut album Pretend and songs for Madonna’s Rebel Heart album.[6][7]

Vargas & Lagola have co-written some of the biggest hits by Axwell Ʌ Ingrosso – "More Than You Know", "Sun Is Shining", "Dreamer" and more - taken from their 2017 album More Than You Know.[8]

The duo have also contributed to two songs on Swedish rock band Ghost's Billboard 200-charting and Grammy Award-nominated album Prequelle, including the album's second single "Dance Macabre" which topped Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart.[9][10][11]

In 2018, the same moment as Vargas & Lagola blazed onto the alternative pop scene with the hit single "Roads", they shared the no.1 spot as Sweden's most streamed songwriters for songs including Avicii – "Without You (feat. Sandro Cavazza)" and "Waiting For Love".[12] After working closely with Avicii for several years, Al Fakir and Pontare played a key role in finishing up the 2019 posthumous Avicii album TIM and are featured artists on three of the album songs.[13] On December 5, 2019, Vargas & Lagola performed at Avicii’s Tribute Concert in Stockholm.[14]

Vargas & Lagola's debut album The Butterfly Effect was released in January 2020.[15]

Discography
For solo discographies, see discographies of Vincent Pontare and Salem Al Fakir

Albums
Title Details Peak chart positions
SWE
[16]
The Butterfly Effect 16
[17]
Mount Alda
  • Released: 30 October 2020
  • Label: Salem Al Fakir AB / Baby Hurricane AB, Universal Music
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 —

As lead artist
List of singles, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
SWE
[18]
"Rolling Stone"[19] 2017 — Non-album single
"Dolores (The Awakening)"[20] —
"As Long As I Have To"[21] —
"Sun Is Shining (Band of Gold)"[22] —
"More Than You Know (Acoustic)"
(featuring Agnes)[23]		 —
"Roads"[24] 2018 17
"Selfish" 2019 —
"Shores"
(with Seinabo Sey)		 61
[26]
"Since 99" — The Butterfly Effect
"Forgot to Be Your Lover" —
"Somebody That Understands Me"
(featuring Ludwig Göransson)		 2020 —
"Hurts to Be Hurt" —[upper-alpha 1]
"Always" — Mount Alda
"Suddenly" —

Notes

  1. "Hurts to Be Hurt" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number eight on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[27]
List of songs, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
SWE
[28]		 US Dance
"Friend of Mine"[29]
(Avicii featuring Vargas & Lagola)		 2017 544 Avīci (01)
"Lev nu dö sen"
(Petter featuring Vargas & Lagola)		 2018 —— Lev nu
"Peace of Mind"
(Avicii featuring Vargas & Lagola)		 2019 1722 TIM
"Tough Love"
(Avicii featuring Agnes, Vargas & Lagola)		 29
"Excuse Me Mr. Sir"
(Avicii featuring Vargas & Lagola)		 3034

Songwriting and production credits
Year Artist Title Album
2012 Swedish House Mafia "Save The World" Until Now
Sebastian Ingrosso & Tommy Trash "Reload" Non-album single
Dada Life "Kick Out The Epic Motherf**ker" Non-album single
Nause "Hungry Hearts" Non-album single
Avicii "Silhouettes" Non-album single
2013 Katy Perry "Love Me" Prism
Avicii "You Make Me" True
"Hey Brother"
2014 John Martin "Anywhere For You" Non-album single
Galantis "Smile" Galantis (EP)
"You"
"Help"
Dada Life "Born To Rage" Non-album single
"One Smile"
Mapei "Blame It On Me" Hey Hey
"As 1"
"Second to None"
"Believe"
"Step Up"
"What's Innit 4 Me"
Wyclef Jean "Divine Sorrow"
(featuring Avicii)		 Non-album single
Avicii "The Days" The Days/Nights
David Guetta "Bang My Head"
(with Sia)		 Listen
2015 Madonna "HeartBreakCity" Rebel Heart
"Wash All Over Me"
"Messiah"
"Rebel Heart"
Galantis "Gold Dust" Pharmacy
"Dancin' To The Sound Of A Broken Heart"
"Kill Em' With The Love"
"Call If You Need Me"
"You"
Avicii "Waiting For Love" Stories
Seinabo Sey "Younger" Pretend
"Poetic"
"Hard Time"
"Easy"
"Words"
"Sorry"
"Still"
"Ruin"
"Burial"
"Pistols At Dawn"
2016 MishCatt "Another Dimension" Highlighter
Miike Snow "Heart Is Full" iii
2017 Johnossi "On A Roll" Blood Jungle
Avicii "Friend Of Mine"
(featuring Vargas & Lagola)		 Avīci (01)
"Without You"
(featuring Sandro Cavazza)
Toby Radall "Hold Me Down" ONE.
Axwell Λ Ingrosso "More Than You Know" More Than You Know
"Something New"
"This Time"
"Renegade"
"Sun Is Shining"
"On My Way"
"Dreamer"
Axwell "Barricade"
2018 Seinabo Sey "I Love You" I'm a Dream
"Never Get Used To"
"I Owe You Nothing"
"Breathe"
"Good In You"
Ghost "Dance Macabre" Prequelle
"Life Eternal"
MagnusTheMagnus "It Don't Impress Me"
(featuring Madi Banja)		 Non-album single
"Calling"
(featuring KIDDO)
David Guetta "Light Headed"
(with Sia)		 7
RØMANS "Glitter & Gold" Non-album single
Salvatore Ganacci "Kill A Soundboy"
(featuring Nailah Blackman)		 Non-album single
2019 Gryffin "You Remind Me"
(featuring Stanaj)		 Gravity
Frank Walker & Astrid S "Only When It Rains" Non-album single
PRETTYMUCH "Eyes Off You" Phases - EP
Avicii "Peace Of Mind"
(featuring Vargas & Lagola)		 TIM
"Tough Love"
(featuring Agnes, Vargas & Lagola)
"Excuse Me Mr Sir"
(featuring Vargas & Lagola)
Otto Knows "About You" Non-album single
Ghost "Kiss The Go-Goat" Seven Inches of Satanic Panic
"Mary On A Cross"
Agnes "Intro" Nothing Can Compare
"I Trance"
"Not Dangerous"
"Interlude (What Is Wrong)"
"Limelight"
"Interlude (I Like To Sing)"
"Nothing Can Compare"
Mapei "Ether" Sensory Overload
2020 Galantis "Steel" Church
"Unless It Hurts"
"Never Felt A Love Like This"
(with Hook n Sling featuring Dotan)
Agnes "Goodlife" Non-album single

Songwriting and production credits for local Swedish artists
Year Artist Title Album
2013 Veronica Maggio "Sergels torg" Handen i fickan fast jag bryr mig
"Jag lovar"
"Hela huset"
(featuring Håkan Hellström)
"Va kvar"
"Låtsas som det regnar"
"Hädanefter"
"Dallas"
"Bas gillar hörn"
"I min bil"
Petter "Mighty"
(featuring Newkid)		 Början på allt
"Början på allt"
(featuring Eye N'I)
"April"
"Håll om mig"
(featuring Daniel Adams-Ray)
"Tills döden skiljer oss åt"
"King"
(featuring Lilla Namo)
"Maj"
"Arbete"
"Alla vet"
(featuring Agnes)
"Fristad"
"Juni"
"Sitter på en dröm"
"Minnen del II"
"Släpp mig fri"
2016 Veronica Maggio "Den första är alltid gratis" Den första är alltid gratis
"Vi mot världen"
"Pang pang"
2018 Petter "Kliv på!"
(featuring Eye N'I)		 Lev nu
"Lev nu dö sen"
(featuring Vargas & Lagola)

Awards and nominations
Year Awards Category Nomination Outcome Ref.
2014 Swedish Grammy Awards Composer of the Year Vincent Pontare, Salem Al Fakir & Magnus Lidehäll Won [30]
The Swedish MPA Awards International Success of the Year Vincent Pontare, Salem Al Fakir & Magnus Lidehäll Nominated [31]
2015 Swedish Grammy Awards Composer of the Year Vincent Pontare, Salem Al Fakir & Magnus Lidehäll [32]
The Swedish MPA Awards International Success of the Year Vincent Pontare and Salem Al Fakir [33]
2016 Swedish Grammy Awards Composer of the Year Vincent Pontare, Salem Al Fakir, Magnus Lidehäll & Seinabo Sey [34]
2018 Swedish Grammy Awards Composer of the Year Vargas & Lagola [35]
The Swedish MPA Awards (together with STIM) Most Played Song 2017 Axwell Ʌ Ingrosso – "More Than You Know" Won [36]
The Swedish MPA Awards Song of the Year Avicii - "Without You" (feat. Sandro Cavazza) Nominated [37]
2019 The Swedish MPA Awards (together with STIM) Most Played Song 2018 Avicii - "Without You" (feat. Sandro Cavazza) Won [38]
2020 Swedish Grammy Awards Producer of the Year Tim Bergling, Vincent Pontare, Salem Al Fakir, Albin Nedler, Kristoffer Fogelmark, Carl Falk, Lucas von Bahder, Marcus Thunberg Wessel Nominated [39]
Swedish Grammy Awards Composer of the Year Tim Bergling, Vincent Pontare, Salem Al Fakir, Albin Nedler, Kristoffer Fogelmark, Isak Alverus, Carl Falk, Joakim Berg, Lucas von Bahder, Marcus Thunberg Wessel, Martin Svensson [40]

References
  1. "Production Duo Vargas & Lagola launch themselves with party-house banger "Rolling Stone"". 27 January 2017 – via www.thelineofbestfit.com.
  2. "Grammisvinnarna genom åren" (in Swedish) – via www.grammis.se.
  3. "Avicii Chart History" – via www.billboard.com.
  4. "Grammis 2014". 20 February 2014 – via www.umusicpub.com/se.
  5. "Wyclef Jean and Avicii team up for "Divine Sorrow"". 19 November 2014 – via www.mynewsdesk.com/dk.
  6. "Seinabo Sey releases debut album 'Pretend'". 23 October 2015 – via www.umusicpub.com/se.
  7. "Madonna releases new album 'Rebel Heart'". 9 March 2015 – via www.umusicpub.com/se.
  8. "Axwell Λ Ingrosso – More Than You Know" – via www.discogs.com.
  9. "Kanye West Earns Eight no. 1 album on Billboard 200 Chart with 'Ye'". 6 October 2018 – via www.billboard.com.
  10. "Ghost Waltzes to Third Mainstream Rock Songs No. 1 With 'Dance Macabre'". 14 February 2019 – via www.billboard.com.
  11. "GRAMMY Award Results for Ghost" – via www.grammy.com.
  12. "Vargas & Lagola är de- mest populära låtskrivarna 2017". 23 February 2018 – via www.musikforlaggarna.se.
  13. "'I had to honour him': the friends who finished Avicii's final album". 6 June 2019 – via www.theguardian.com.
  14. "Avicii Tribute Concert" – via www.aviciitributeconcert.com.
  15. "ALBUM: Vargas & Lagola - 'The Butterfly Effect'" – via www.scandipop.co.uk.
  16. http://www.sverigetopplistan.se
  17. "Veckolista Album, vecka 6". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  18. http://www.sverigetopplistan.se
  19. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rolling-stone/1196407973?i=1196408402
  20. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dolores-the-awakening/1232881978?i=1232881982
  21. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/as-long-as-i-have-to/1235917283?i=1235917286
  22. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sun-is-shining-band-of-gold/1252091309?i=1252091310
  23. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/more-than-you-know-feat-agnes-acoustic/1319670749?i=1319671186
  24. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/roads/1344588172?i=1344588210
  25. http://www.sverigetopplistan.se (Click "search all records" and view 17 February 2017. Then click "visa" on "I Love You")
  26. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 39". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  27. "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 6". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  28. http://www.sverigetopplistan.se
  29. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/friend-of-mine-feat-vargas-lagola/1264907295?i=1264907296
  30. "Nominated 2014" (in Swedish).
  31. "Nominerade till Musikförläggarnas Pris 2014" (in Swedish). 29 September 2014.
  32. "Nominated 2015" (in Swedish).
  33. "Nominerade till Musikförläggarnas Pris 2015" (in Swedish). 28 September 2015.
  34. "Nominated 2016" (in Swedish).
  35. "Nominated 2018" (in Swedish).
  36. "Årets vinnare på Musikförläggarnas Pris" (in Swedish). 9 November 2018.
  37. "Nominerade till Musikförläggarnas Pris 2018" (in Swedish). 5 October 2018.
  38. "Årets tio mest spelade låtar 2018" (in Swedish).
  39. "Nominated 2020" (in Swedish).
  40. "Nominated 2020" (in Swedish).
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