Fred Vincent Pontare (born 13 May 1980) is a Swedish songwriter, producer, and singer.[1] He is also known by the mononym Vincent. He regularly collaborates with Salem Al Fakir as songwriting, producer, and duo Vargas & Lagola.[2] Together, they have worked with many pre-eminent artists, including: Avicii, Axwell Ʌ Ingrosso, Madonna, Seinabo Sey and Lady Gaga. In addition to their songwriting and production work, they release alternative pop music as Vargas & Lagola.[3]
Vincent Pontare | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Fred Vincent Pontare |
| Also known as | Vargas |
| Born | 13 May 1980 |
| Origin | Solna, Sweden |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument |
|
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | Universal |
| Website | vargasandlagola |
In August 2017, they were featured artists on Avicii's "Friend of Mine" from EP Avīci (01) which they co-wrote.[4]
Career
editVincent Pontare started his musical career a solo artist under the mononym Vincent releasing his debut single "Paradise" in 2006 and the albums Lucky Thirteen (2007) and Godspeed (2011). Other hits as Vincent included "Don't Hate on Me", "Miss Blue" and "Baby Hurricane". In 2008 Pontare won the STIM Platinum guitar prize.[5] His career in writing songs for other artists began to gain momentum in 2012 when he co-wrote Swedish House Mafia’s "Save The World" and "Reload" performed by Sebastian Ingrosso & Tommy Trash.
Among the first co-writes with Salem Al Fakir are Avicii’s 2013 Billboard Hot 100 single "Hey Brother" and "Younger" by Seinabo Sey.[6] On Katy Perry's 2013 album Prism he co-wrote and produced "Love Me" with Bloodshy, Magnus Lidehäll and Camela Leierth.[7]
At the 2014 Swedish Grammy Awards Vincent Pontare, Salem Al Fakir 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.[8] In 2014 he wrote numerous songs on Mapei’s album Hey Hey and Avicii’s "The Days" and "Divine Sorrow" (with Wyclef Jean).[9] Pontare 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.[10][11] He also collaborated on David Guetta's single "Bang My Head" with Sia and Fetty Wap.
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.[12] 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.[13][14][15]
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" (featuring Sandro Cavazza) and "Waiting For Love".[16] 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.[17] On 5 December 2019, Vargas & Lagola performed at Avicii's Tribute Concert in Stockholm.[18]
Vargas & Lagola's debut album The Butterfly Effect was released in January 2020.[19]
Personal life
editVincent Pontare is the son of the renowned Swedish musician Roger Pontare (born Roger Johansson). Vincent has a brother called Viktor Pontare.[citation needed]
Vincent Pontare is married to Agnes, whom he has been dating since 2009.
Discography
editAs Vargas & Lagola
edit- 2020: The Butterfly Effect
As solo artist
editAlbums
edit| Year | Album | Peak position (SWE) |
Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Lucky Thirteen
|
25
|
|
| 2011 | Godspeed
|
–
|
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Peak position |
Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWE [20] |
FIN | GER | SWI | |||
| 2006 | "Paradise" | 23 | – | – | – | Lucky Thirteen |
| 2007 | "Don't Hate on Me" | 7 | – | – | – | |
| 2008 | "Miss Blue" | 6 | 19 | 39 | 23 | |
| "This Is for You" | – | – | 74 | – | Non album release | |
| 2010 | "Baby Hurricane" | – | – | – | – | Godspeed |
| 2011 | "The Moment I Met You" | – | – | – | – | |
| "Put Your Money Where Your Money Is" | – | – | – | – | ||
Songwriting and production credits
edit| Year | Artist | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Agnes | "I Believe" | Agnes |
| 2009 | Matt Dusk | "Don't Hate on Me" | Good News |
| 2011 | Agnes | "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" | Non-album single |
| 2012 | Swedish House Mafia | "Save The World" | Until Now |
| Sebastian Ingrosso & Tommy Trash | "Reload" | Non-album single | |
| Dada Life | "Kick Out the Epic Motherfucker" | The Rules of Dada | |
| Nause | "Hungry Hearts" | Non-album single | |
| Agnes | "All I Want Is You" | Veritas | |
| "Human Touch" | |||
| "Got Me Good" | |||
| "Nothing Else Matters" | |||
| 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 | |
| "Believe" | |||
| "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" | |||
| Sharks | "The Rebel" | Non-album single | |
| 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" | |||
| "Sorry" | |||
| "Ruin" | |||
| "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 You Down" | ONE. | |
| Axwell Ʌ 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
edit| Year | Artist | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Danny | "If Only You" | Heart Beats |
| 2008 | Amanda Jenssen | "Do You Love Me?" | Killing My Darlings |
| 2010 | Andreas Grega | "Dom hade mycket att säga" | En sak i taget |
| 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" | |||
| Rasmus Seebach | "I min t-shirt" | Ingen kan love dig i morgen | |
| 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
edit| Year | Awards | Category | Nomination | Outcome | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Best Newcomer | Himself | Nominated | [21] |
| Producer of the Year | Himself | ||||
| Best Dance/Hiphop/Soul | Himself | ||||
| 2014 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Composer of the Year | Himself (with Salem Al Fakir & Magnus Lidehäll) | Won | [22] |
| The Swedish MPA Awards | International Success of the Year | Himself (with Salem Al Fakir & Magnus Lidehäll) | Nominated | [23] | |
| 2015 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Composer of the Year | Himself (with Salem Al Fakir & Magnus Lidehäll) | [24] | |
| The Swedish MPA Awards | International Success of the Year | Himself (with Salem Al Fakir) | [25] | ||
| 2016 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Composer of the Year | Himself (with Salem Al Fakir, Magnus Lidehäll & Seinabo Sey) | [26] | |
| 2018 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Composer of the Year | Vargas & Lagola | [27] | |
| The Swedish MPA Awards (together with STIM) | Most Played Song 2017 | Axwell Ʌ Ingrosso – "More Than You Know" | Won | [28] | |
| The Swedish MPA Awards | Song of the Year | Avicii - "Without You" (feat. Sandro Cavazza) | Nominated | [29] | |
| 2019 | The Swedish MPA Awards (together with STIM) | Most Played Song 2018 | Avicii - "Without You" (feat. Sandro Cavazza) | Won | [30] |
| 2020 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Producer of the Year | Himself Tim Bergling, Salem Al Fakir, Albin Nedler, Kristoffer Fogelmark, Carl Falk, Lucas von Bahder, Marcus Thunberg Wessel | Nominated | [31] |
| Swedish Grammy Awards | Composer of the Year | Himself, Tim Bergling, Salem Al Fakir, Albin Nedler, Kristoffer Fogelmark, Isak Alverus, Carl Falk, Joakim Berg, Lucas von Bahder, Marcus Thunberg Wessel, Martin Svensson | [32] |
References
edit- ^ "Grammisvinnarna genom åren". www.grammis.se (in Swedish).
- ^ "Den stora omvandlingen". www.musikforlaggarna.se (in Swedish). 15 January 2015.
- ^ "Production Duo Vargas & Lagola launch themselves with party-house banger "Rolling Stone"". 27 January 2017 – via www.thelineofbestfit.com.
- ^ "Avicii's 'Friend of Mine' Video Will Warm Your Winter". www.Billboard.com. 2 January 2018.
- ^ "Mottagare av Platinagitarren" (in Swedish) – via www.stim.se.
- ^ "Avicii Chart History" – via www.billboard.com.
- ^ "Katy Perry 'Prism' includes tracks by UMP writers" – via www.umusicpub.com/se.
- ^ "Wyclef Jean and Avicii team up for "Divine Sorrow"". 19 November 2014 – via www.mynewsdesk.com/dk.
- ^ "Madonna releases new album 'Rebel Heart'". 9 March 2015 – via www.umusicpub.com/se.
- ^ "Axwell Λ Ingrosso – More Than You Know". 20 October 2017 – via www.discogs.com.
- ^ "Kanye West Earns Eight no. 1 album on Billboard 200 Chart with 'Ye'". 6 October 2018 – via www.billboard.com.
- ^ "Ghost Waltzes to Third Mainstream Rock Songs No. 1 With 'Dance Macabre'". 14 February 2019 – via www.billboard.com.
- ^ "GRAMMY Award Results for Ghost" – via www.grammy.com.
- ^ "Vargas & Lagola är de- mest populära låtskrivarna 2017". 23 February 2018 – via www.musikforlaggarna.se.
- ^ Martin, Lauren (6 June 2019). "'I had to honour him': the friends who finished Avicii's final album". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ "Avicii Tribute Concert" – via www.aviciitributeconcert.com.
- ^ "ALBUM: Vargas & Lagola - 'The Butterfly Effect'" – via www.scandipop.co.uk.
- ^ Swedishcharts.com: Vincent discography
- ^ "Nominated 2008" (in Swedish).
- ^ "Nominated 2014" (in Swedish).
- ^ "Nominerade till Musikförläggarnas Pris 2014" (in Swedish). 29 September 2014.
- ^ "Nominated 2015" (in Swedish).
- ^ "Nominerade till Musikförläggarnas Pris 2015" (in Swedish). 28 September 2015.
- ^ "Nominated 2016" (in Swedish).
- ^ "Nominated 2018" (in Swedish).
- ^ "Årets vinnare på Musikförläggarnas Pris" (in Swedish). 9 November 2018.
- ^ "Nominerade till Musikförläggarnas Pris 2018" (in Swedish). 5 October 2018.
- ^ "Årets tio mest spelade låtar 2018" (in Swedish).
- ^ "Nominated 2020" (in Swedish).
- ^ "Nominated 2020" (in Swedish).
External links
edit