Darin

A Swedish teen pop sensation who shot into the limelight courtesy of a memorable run on the 2004 season of Pop Idol, Darin Zanyar, known simply as Darin, was one of Scandinavia’s hottest chart phenomena of the early 2000s. Coming in as a close second to Daniel Lindström in the Swedish Pop Idol finale, Darin nonetheless managed to sweep the pop charts in the following year. The teen shot to number one on the charts in 2005 with his debut single, “Money for Nothing,” a tune penned by pop veteran Robyn. Darin’s debut album, The Anthem, and three more Top Ten hits followed that year, including “Step Up,” “Why Does It Rain,” and “Who’s That Girl,” leading up to the release of Darin’s self-titled platinum-selling sophomore effort. The 18-year-old Darin had a good year in 2006, with a pair of Top Ten singles, “Want Ya!” and “Perfect”; another number one album, Break the News; and two Swedish Grammys. His winning streak continued into 2007 with the release of another number one hit, “Desire.” The following year, he returned with the album Flashback, which showcased a more mature, sophisticated dance club sound. In 2010, Darin delivered his fifth studio album, Lovekiller, which included the single “You’re Out of My Life” as well as a cover of Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida.” For his sixth studio album, 2013′s Exit, Darin spent time writing and recording with producers in the United States, including Jim Beanz, the Jackie Boyz, Victoria Horn, and others. Included on the album were the singles “Nobody Knows,” “Playing with Fire,” and “Check You Out.” In 2015, Darin released the single “Ta Mig Tillbaka” (Take Me Back), the first song off his forthcoming album, his first to be sung entirely in Swedish. ~ Matt Collar