Twelve (stylized as 12welve) is an Ålandic electronic dance music band and production team, formed in 1989 in Mariehamn, Åland Islands. The founding members are Nils Åkerström (born May 15, 1960), Gert Risberg (born August 1, 1961), and Christian Sollander (born July 22, 1961). Swedish rapper/singer-songwriter Charle "Captain V" Vikström (born February 5, 1962) joined in 1991, and Filipino-American DJ/producer Donovan "4-Squared" Tarrayo (born August 18, 1972) joined in 1997. Twelve teamed up with Norwegian producer Kåre Berrefjord, and together they found credibility as a credible rock/rap/dance crossover act, often receiving the nickname of "the Åland Islands' greatest export."
Twelve owns their personal Twelveland Studio in Saltvik and the Twelveland dance club in Mariehamn.
History[]
1983-1989: Pre-Twelve[]
1983-1986: "Red Soldiers"[]
In 1983, Gert Risberg was a member of an Åland Islands-based anarcho-punk band named Red Soldiers. The band was active for three years recording and releasing songs through Alaco Records, a label based in Saltvik that the band was signed to. They achieved popularity in Sweden and Finland when their Swedish-language cover of the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen", entitled "Kungen är i oordning" (The King's in Disorder), received airplay and charted in both countries, peaking at number 13 on the Finnish charts and number 20 on the Swedish charts. In 1997, some of Red Soldiers' songs were released on the compilation album "Gert Was An Anarchist" - these songs included "Det onda i de rika" (The evils of the wealthy), "Marx, vår frälsare" (Marx, our savior), and "Förstör samhällsklasser" (Destroy the social classes)
1986-1989: Post-Red Soldiers & Gert's Solo Career[]
Alienated by the anarchist and Communist ideologies, Risberg left Red Soldiers, causing the band to break up (another contributing factor was the arrest of drummer Axel Cederblom by Swedish intelligence on charges of spying for the Soviet Union). Risberg decided to forge a new career as a Eurodisco artist. Risberg composed and performed the songs with the English lyrics being written by Alaco Records co-owner Erik Widforss. Risberg's song "The Good Family" along with the associated album "Standards" was licensed by Alaco to ZYX Music, and the song became a hit in Italy and Germany.
1988-1989 Christian and Nils' "Purse"[]
In 1988, Christian Sollander and Nils Åkerström formed a rap/Hi-NRG crossover duo named Purse. They also recorded for Alaco Records at the company's Saltvik studio. Their song "Det är bara magi" (It's only magic) was a hit in Sweden, charting at #10.
1989: Merger of Purse & Gert's Solo Act[]
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1989-1990: Look Out, It's Twelve![]
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1991-1994: Captain V joins and Don't Stop Now[]
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1995-1999: Production work and Get Up & Dance[]
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2000-2002: Twelveland opens and The Powers of Love[]
The Powers of Love was released in 2002. It was recorded at Twelveland Studio and Heart Beat Studios, and featured collaborations with several artists including Tionne Watkins, Ric Ocasek, Kylie Davenport, Arban Feng, MC Lyte, Method Man, DMX, Mike Shinoda, Keith Flint, Michael Cretu, Monkey Boy, Missy Elliott, Damon Albarn, and Nick Carter. Watkins and Ocasek were featured on the album's title track, while DMX, Elliott, Lyte and Shinoda were featured on the album's lead single "Against Dat Wall". The third track "Beware (Black Friday)", which sampled "Black Friday" by Steely Dan, featured vocals from Cretu and Flint. The album began the Twelveland mythos created by the group and Swedish fantasy writer Ulf Björnstjerna.
Band members[]
Current[]
- Christian Sollander - vocals (1989-present)
- Captain V - rapping, vocals (1991-present)
- Gert Risberg - keyboards, samples, turntables, keyboard talkbox (1989-present)
- Nils Åkerström - keyboards, samples (1989-present)
- 4-Squared - keyboards, samples, turntables, vocals, keyboard talkbox (1997-present)
Touring[]
- Rachel Newhook - bass guitar, guitars, guitar talkbox (2015-present)
- Mårten Bergroth - electro-percussion (1994-present)
Discography[]
Main article: Twelve discography
- Look Out, It's Twelve! (1990)
- Don't Stop Now (1994)
- Get Up & Dance (1999)
- The Powers of Love (2002) (Twelveland Pt. 1)
- Run Far Away (2004) (Twelveland Pt. 1)
- Head-On Collision (2005) (with Slipknot and various artists)
- Hey, Everybody! (2007) (Twelveland Pt. 1)
- C'mon (2011)
- TwelveToTwelve (2017) (Twelveland Pt. 2)
- TBA (2022; upcoming)