Sahara Hotnights

Biography

Sahara Hotnights are a Swedish rock band from Robertsfors. Since its inception, the band has been composed of lead singer Maria Andersson, drummer Josephine Forsman and sisters Jennie (lead guitar) and Johanna (bass) Asplund. Their style incorporates elements of garage rock, power pop and punk rock. The band scored two top-ten singles and five top-ten albums in their native Sweden during their initial run between 1992 and 2011. The band reformed in 2019, releasing their seventh album Love in Times of Low Expectations×Love in Times of Low Expectations6 May 2022 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Reverie3:402Avalanche3:413Vertigo3:184Predictable3:345Gemini3:156Diving for Pearls3:077Heavy Load3:248Athena4:329Mind Games3:2110Leader5:21 in 2022.

History

The band formed sometime around 1991/1992 "due to boredom". While in Australia, Josephine Forsman bet on a horse named Sahara Hotnights and used the name for the band. Around 1995, they won a "battle of the bands" contest and were rewarded with a chance to record their songs in a studio, including demo cassette "Oh Darcy". Their debut EP, Suits Anyone Fine×Suits Anyone Fine26 May 1997 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Out of My Mouth3:142Suits Anyone Fine4:083Tasty4:244Holding My Own Hand5:16, was released in 1997 to immediate success and critical acclaim in Europe. Soon afterwards, the band signed with the Swedish label Speech Records, and over the next two years released three further singles, "Face Wet×Face Wet1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Face Wet2:582That’s What They Do4:39", "Oh Darling!" and "Nothing Yet×Nothing Yet1 July 1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Nothing Yet3:172Yes, He Is3:23". In 1999, Sahara Hotnights released their debut studio album C'mon Let's Pretend, which earned two Grammis nominations.
The Drive Dead Slow EP appeared in April 2000, released on the BMG label, before the band's second album Jennie Bomb×Jennie Bomb28 May 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Alright Alright (Here’s My Fist, Where’s the Fight?)2:072On Top of Your World3:173Fire Alarm3:084With or Without Control3:345Keep Up the Speed3:076No Big Deal1:557Down and Out2:418Only the Fakes Survive3:439Whirlwind Reaper3:3810Fall Into Line3:2911Are You Happy Now?2:3312Out of the System2:4013A Perfect Mess4:26 (named for Jennie Asplund) was released in 2001 (2002 in the US). The timing of its release coincided with a surge in interest in Swedish rock 'n' roll bands, such as The Hives, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Mando Diao and Hellacopters. The songs "On Top of Your World×On Top of Your World2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1On Top of Your World3:202We’re Not Going Down2:353Now Tonight2:52" and "With or Without Control" were released as singles. "Alright Alright (Here's My Fist Where's the Fight?)" is featured in Cheaper by the Dozen, Stormbreaker, New York Minute and on the Jackass: The Movie soundtrack.
Sahara Hotnights opened for The Hives before releasing Kiss & Tell on the RCA label in 2004. The tour sprouted from a relationship between Maria Andersson and The Hives' frontman Howlin' Pelle Almqvist. "Hot Night Crash×Hot Night Crash12 May 2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Hot Night Crash2:412Model A2:52" and "Who Do You Dance For?×Who Do You Dance For?3 November 2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Who Do You Dance For?2:202The Dogs Don't Want You2:58" were released as singles from the album. "Hot Night Crash" also appears on the soundtrack of Burnout 3: Takedown and Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam. The song "No Big Deal" is played in CKY4.
A new single entitled "Cheek to Cheek×Cheek to Cheek2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Cheek to Cheek3:19" culled from their fourth studio album What If Leaving Is a Loving Thing×What If Leaving Is a Loving Thing18 April 2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Visit to ViennaA2The Loneliest City of AllA3Salty LipsA4Neon LightsA5No for an AnswerB1Cheek to CheekB2Getting Away With MurderB3PuppyB4StaticB5If Anyone Matters It’s You on Stand By Your Band Records was released via the band's MySpace site. The album was released in April 2007. Commenting on the lyrics on the album, songwriter Maria Andersson said: "If you read them you'll understand. The good thing with being able to write lyrics is that you can sit here and shut up about it."
The band's fifth album, Sparks×Sparks25 February 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Wide River2:272In Private3:413Big Me3:594Mess Around3:205Japanese Boy3:446City of Brotherly Love6:107Calm Down3:208Love Will Never Do Without You3:339If You Can’t Give Me Love2:5710Be Forewarned3:25, a covers album, was released in 2009. In 2011, the band released its sixth album, eponymously titled Sahara Hotnights.
During early 2019, band members put out pictures from the studio. A new single Reverie was released on 18 February 2022 and their seventh album Love in Times of Low Expectations×Love in Times of Low Expectations6 May 2022 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Reverie3:402Avalanche3:413Vertigo3:184Predictable3:345Gemini3:156Diving for Pearls3:077Heavy Load3:248Athena4:329Mind Games3:2110Leader5:21 was released on 6 May 2022 supported by a Sweden-only tour during the Summer of 2022.
In 2024, social media posts suggested an eight studio album is being worked on. In February 2026, they released their eighth album, No One Ever Really Changes×No One Ever Really Changes13 February 2026 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Always Like This3:222Vanishing Girl2:283Paper Tiger3:124The Opposite3:145City of Summer Ruins3:046Brilliant Something3:047A Future Without You in It3:278Wreck Song2:339Want You to Want to Get Better3:3410Falling Off Bridges3:56.

Members

Maria Andersson (born 4 December 1981, Umeå) – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Jennie Asplund (born 24 November 1979, Robertsfors) – lead guitar, backing vocals
Johanna Asplund (born 21 September 1981, Umeå) – bass, backing vocals
Josephine Forsman (born 20 May 1981, Umeå) – drums

Albums

C'mon Let's Pretend – 1999 (No. 15)
Jennie Bomb – 2001 Continental Europe / 2002 UK/US (No. 2)
Kiss & Tell – 2004 (No. 4)
What If Leaving Is a Loving Thing – 2007 (No. 5)
Sparks – 2009 (No. 2)
Sahara Hotnights – 2011 (No. 6)
Love in Times of Low Expectations – 2022 (No. 11 Sweden)
No One Ever Really Changes – 2026 (No. 18 Sweden)

EPs

Suits Anyone Fine – 1997
Drive Dead Slow – 2000