Basic Element

Biography

Basic Element is a Swedish Eurodance hip-hop group formed in 1992 in Malmö, Sweden. The group originally consisted of rapper/singer Peter Thelenius (Petrus), keyboardist Cesar Zamini, and accordion and vocalist Zetma Prenbo.
Later vocalists were Saunet Sparell, Marie Fredriksson (not to be confused with the Roxette singer Marie Fredriksson).
Currently, the band consists of the original member and founder Peter Thelenius, along with his wife Linda Thelenius and Jonas Wesslander.

History

Peter Thelenius and Cesar Zamini began the group in 1992, searched for a singer through the employment office and found Zetma. In 1993, they made a record deal with EMI Records, releasing their first single "Move Me×Move Me1994 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Move Me3:452Move Me (extended version)6:533Move Me (old school version)3:454Move Me (instrumental)3:45". In 1994, "Move Me" was followed up by "The Promise Man×The Promise Man1993 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1The Promise Man3:552The Promise Man (Extended Club Mix)7:123The Promise Man (Instrumental Version)3:554Move Me (Old School Version)3:45", which reached No.1 in the Swedish singles chart.
In 1995, Zetma left the band (because of her pregnancy) and Saunet Sparell replaced her. The new album "The Ultimate Ride×The Ultimate Ride14 June 1995 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1The Fiddle3:522This Must Be a Dream3:493Spit It Out3:364The Ride4:085Respect3:226Vision of My Mind3:587Revolution4:288Somebody Watchin'3:359Queen of Love4:1610The Cross4:4211Who's That Boy5:0412The Ride (Sex-Ride mix)5:4113The Fiddle (Rippin' Fiddle mix)6:07" (including the singles "The Ride×The Ride23 March 1994 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1The Ride (Sex-Ride mix)5:40A2The Ride (instrumental)4:08B1The Ride (radio edit)4:08B2The Ride (a cappella version)1:56" and "The Fiddle×The Fiddle1995 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1The Fiddle (Radio Edit)3:532The Fiddle (Rippin' Fiddle Mix)6:053The Fiddle (A Cappella)2:364The Cross4:42") was released. Peter and Caesar started to have disagreements about the band's future, and as a result Cesar left the band. The group's third album, "Star Tracks×Star Tracks1996 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Boys4:112Shame4:023Take Me Up4:114Talk to Me4:105Night Eyes4:226If I Had Wings4:117Rule Your World4:048Give Me the Vibes4:119Heaven Can't Wait4:5010Can't Forgive You4:1111Shame (Dog Shit Nasty Club mix)5:46", had a more 1970s disco sound. Sparell subsequently left the band because she thought that Thelenius only cared about being famous, and so the project was put on ice.
In 1997, Peter released a solo album, "Trust Then Pain", under the name "Petrus". In 1998, Basic Element returned with a new album (with the original Eurodance sound) with Marie Fredriksson as the new singer, but from 1999 the two members went on a hiatus..
In 2005, the group returned with a remake of their 1995 hit "This Must Be a Dream×This Must Be a Dream13 July 1995 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1This Must Be A Dream (Album Version)3:482This Must Be A Dream (Extended Version)7:003This Must Be A Dream (A Cappella)2:204This Must Be A Dream (Instrumental)3:48" and Mathias Olofson as a new member. In February 2006, they released a new single, "Raise the Gain×Raise the Gain2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Raise the Gain (radio edit)3:242Raise the Gain (extended version)7:093Raise the Gain (Punkstar-Raise the Pain mix)6:33", featuring Charlie King and with a slightly different sound. On 7 February 2007, the group released its comeback album "The Empire Strikes Back×The Empire Strikes Back7 February 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Intro (Intro-Wire)1:032I'll Never Let You Know3:503Entourage3:364Raise the Gain3:245To You3:106Nowhere to Run4:017Devotion4:128Why4:189Out of This World3:3410Change3:4411Alive4:5812Hot Wire3:1513The Empire Strikes Back Mix-Tape (Basic Element vs. Alex Moreno)9:25". Later in 2007, Marie Fredriksson left the group and was replaced by Andrea Myrander as the singer and Jonas Wesslander as the producer and rapper. In 2008, the album "The Truth×The Truth2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1The Truth Interlude1:072Touch You Right Now3:143Rage2:324Game Over2:555Turn Around3:076Not With You3:257Feelings3:238You're Gone3:569The Bitch3:0810To You 20083:0911I'll Never Let You Know3:4812Raise The Gain 20083:2113The Truth3:37" was released in cooperation with the producer Tomas Kollder. The band released a new song, "Got You Screaming", in 2010. In January 2011, it was announced on the group's home page that Andrea Myrander had officially left. A few months later, in May 2011, a new single, "Turn Me On", was announced during a concert. It was posted on YouTube on 27 May.
In April 2012 Basic Element signed a deal with the Swedish record label Family Tree, and on 24 April, a song called "Shades" (featuring Max C and Taz) was posted on YouTube. Without a female singer, the songs featured only male vocals, and represented a further change in style since their 2005 comeback. A YouTube commenter described it as a mixture of Avicii, Swedish House Mafia and "We Found Love" by Rihanna and Calvin Harris. Vocalist Max C was featured on Swedish House Mafia member Axwell’s single "I Found You".
In 2014 Andrea Myrander rejoined the band for around one year, and they released a new single, "Someone Out there", featuring UK rapper Taz; this was performed for the first time during a "We love the 90s" live show in Helsinki, Finland.
In 2016 Peter and Jonas collaborated with Dr. Alban on a new single, "Good To You", with another change in sound and a different producer.

Albums

Basic Injection (1994)
The Ultimate Ride (1995)
Star Tracks (1996)
Trust Then Pain (Peter's solo album) (1997)
The Earthquake (1998)
The Empire Strikes Back (2007)
The Truth (2008)