The Sounds

The Sounds hail from Sweden, combining the buzzy keyboards of 1980s new wave with a vaguely garage-rock aesthetic that manages to feel contemporary rather than self-consciously retro. Led by comely lead singer Maja Ivarsson, the Sounds have a sensual, punky sound that emphasizes immediacy, attitude and catchy hooks. The quintet have raised their American profile over the course of two albums and will hope to build on that momentum with their latest album, Crossing the Rubicon.

The Sounds formed at the end of the 1990s. The lineup has remained intact ever since -- vocalist Maja Ivarsson, guitarist Felix Rodriguez, keyboardist Jesper Anderberg, bassist Johan Bengtsson and drummer Fredrik Nilsson. The band came together in Helsingborg, a small town on the southern tip of Sweden. Finding American distribution through New Line, the record label for the now-defunct movie studio, the Sounds set to work on their debut album.

Released in their homeland in 2002 but not reaching North America until the following year, Living in America was a spirited but derivative album. Nearly every single review of the album pointed out the Sounds' reliance on a synthesizer-heavy sound heavily indebted to the Cars and Blondie. Still, Living in America demonstrated that the Sounds had a talent for punk-edged music that straddled rock, postpunk and dance. The title track was a spunky showcase for Ivarsson's snarling, alluring vocals, allowing the Sounds to earn a cult following in America.

2006's Dying to Say This to You was a noticeably more confident and tuneful collection. The Sounds had transformed the crude energy of Living in America into a tight batch of songs that displayed ample sex appeal and new wave attitude. None of the singles from Dying to Say This to You charted in America, but "Song With a Mission" and "Painted by Numbers" were smart, enormously accessible examples of mainstream songwriting. Dying to Say This to You topped Billboard's Heatseekers chart and further increased their visibility.

Crossing the Rubicon, the Sounds' third album, hit stores on June 2, 2009, preceded by the release of the first single, "No One Sleeps When I'm Awake."

Jesper Anderberg - keyboards
Johan Bengtsson - bass
Maja Ivarsson - vocals
Fredrik Nilsson - drums
Felix Rodriguez - guitar

Key Songs by the Sounds:

"Living in America" (Purchase/Download)
"Painted by Numbers" (Purchase/Download)
"Song With a Mission" (Purchase/Download)
"Hurt You" (Purchase/Download)

The Sounds Discography:

Living in America (2002)
Dying to Say This to You (2006)
Crossing the Rubicon (2009)

Maja Ivarsson, on growing up loving Roxy Music.
"Those lyrics from 'Love Is The Drug,' absolutely blew my mind when I was a kid. During those days, everything was about grunge. But when I heard that song, I was like, 'F*** this whole grunge, Pearl Jam, whatever is going on right now, because this is music.' For me, it was. That was a great song for that time."

Felix Rodriguez, on the secret to the band's rising popularity.
"I think it's that we have really hooking melodies, and a lot of energetic songs too. It's just how we write music. We don't think about it, it's just how it comes out."

Maja Ivarsson, on her stage demeanor.
"I make a fool out of myself all the time on-stage and I want the audience to feel like it's OK. You can jump up and down and scream and sing. It's cool and I like it."

Jesper Anderberg, describing a typical day in the studio for the Sounds.
"Coffee, studio, coffee, studio, coffee, studio, meet up with friends, beer, studio, beer, studio, beer, and casino or home to your girlfriend -- in that exact order!"

Maja Ivarsson, who is bisexual, on the Sounds' following in the gay community.
"We have a big gay crowd. I think it's because we look good and we're not one of those sweaty, sweat pants, fat guy, pizza rock kind of bands. It's always been like that in gay culture. They're always a little bit ahead of everything."

The Sounds Trivia:

• Maja Ivarsson has said she's a fan of Slipknot, Britney Spears and Depeche Mode.
• The Sounds have toured with Foo Fighters and the Strokes.
• Maja Ivarsson sang on Cobra Starship's contribution to the Snakes on a Plane soundtrack, "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)."