Vincent Pontare

Fred Vincent Pontare (born 13 May 1980) is a Swedish songwriter, producer, and singer.[1] He regularly collaborates with Salem Al Fakir as songwriting, producer, and duo Vargas & Lagola.[2] Together, they have worked with many pre-eminent artists, including: Avicii, Axwell Ʌ Ingrosso, Madonna, and Seinabo Sey. In addition to their songwriting and production work, they release alternative pop music as Vargas & Lagola.[3]

Vincent Pontare
Background information
Birth nameFred Vincent Pontare
Also known asVargas
Born (1980-05-13) 13 May 1980
OriginSolna, Stockholm County, Sweden
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Songwriter
  • producer
  • musician
  • singer
Instruments
  • Vocals
Years active2006–present
LabelsUniversal
Associated acts
Websitevargasandlagola.com

In August 2017, they were featured artists on Avicii's "Friend of Mine" from EP Avīci (01) which they co-wrote.[4]

Career

Vincent Pontare started his musical career a solo artist under the mononym Vincent releasing his debut single “Paradise” in 2006 and the albums Lucky Thirteen (2007) and Godspeed (2011). Other hits as Vincent included "Don't Hate on Me", "Miss Blue" and "Baby Hurricane". In 2008 Pontare won the STIM Platinum guitar prize.[5] His career in writing songs for other artists began to gain momentum in 2012 when he co-wrote Swedish House Mafia’s "Save The World" and "Reload" performed by Sebastian Ingrosso & Tommy Trash.

Among the first co-writes with Salem Al Fakir are Avicii’s 2013 Billboard Hot 100 single "Hey Brother" and "Younger" by Seinabo Sey.[6] On Katy Perry's 2013 album Prism he co-wrote and produced "Love Me" with Bloodshy, Magnus Lidehäll and Camela Leierth.[7]

At the 2014 Swedish Grammy Awards Vincent Pontare, Salem Al Fakir and Magnus Lidehäll were awarded Composer of the Year after writing for Veronica Maggio’s album Handen i fickan fast jag bryr mig and the Petter album Början på allt, and work with artists like Galantis.[8] In 2014 he wrote numerous songs on Mapei’s album Hey Hey and Avicii’s "The Days" and "Divine Sorrow" (with Wyclef Jean).[9] Pontare followed up with another successful year in 2015 co-writing most songs on Seinabo Sey’s highly acclaimed debut album Pretend and songs for Madonna’s Rebel Heart album.[10][11] He also collaborated on David Guetta's single "Bang My Head" with Sia and Fetty Wap.

Vargas & Lagola have co-written some of the biggest hits by Axwell Ʌ Ingrosso – "More Than You Know", "Sun Is Shining", "Dreamer" and more - taken from their 2017 album More Than You Know.[12]

The duo have also contributed to two songs on Swedish rock band Ghost's Billboard 200-charting and Grammy Award-nominated album Prequelle, including the album's second single "Dance Macabre" which topped Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart.[13][14][15]

In 2018, the same moment as Vargas & Lagola blazed onto the alternative pop scene with the hit single "Roads", they shared the no.1 spot as Sweden's most streamed songwriters for songs including Avicii – "Without You (feat. Sandro Cavazza)" and "Waiting For Love".[16] After working closely with Avicii for several years, Al Fakir and Pontare played a key role in finishing up the 2019 posthumous Avicii album TIM and are featured artists on three of the album songs.[17] On December 5, 2019, Vargas & Lagola performed at Avicii’s Tribute Concert in Stockholm.[18]

Vargas & Lagola's debut album The Butterfly Effect was released in January 2020.[19]

Personal life

Vincent Pontare is the son of the renowned Swedish musician Roger Pontare (born Roger Johansson). Vincent has a brother called Viktor Pontare.

Discography

As Vargas & Lagola
Main article: Vargas and Lagola § Discography

Albums
Year Album Peak
position
(SWE)		 Certification
2007 Lucky Thirteen
  • Release date: 7 November 2007
  • Label: Little Stereo Recordings
  • Singles:
    • 2006: "Paradise"
    • 2007: "Don't Hate on Me"
    • 2008: "Miss Blue"
25
2011 Godspeed
  • Release date: 29 August 2011
  • Label: Little Stereo Recordings
  • Distribution: Warner Music Sweden
  • Singles:
    • 2010: "Baby Hurricane"
    • 2011: "The Moment I Met You"
    • 2011: "Put Your Money Where Your Money Is"
 –

Singles
Year Single Peak
position		 Album
SWE
[20]		 FIN GER SWI
2006 "Paradise" 23 –  –  – Lucky Thirteen
2007 "Don't Hate on Me" 7  –  –  –
2008 "Miss Blue" 6 19 39 23
"This Is for You"  –  – 74 – Non album release
2010 "Baby Hurricane"  –  –  –  – Godspeed
2011 "The Moment I Met You"  –  –  –  –
"Put Your Money Where Your Money Is"  –  –  –  –

Songwriting and production credits
Year Artist Title Album
2005 Agnes "I Believe" Agnes
2009 Matt Dusk "Don't Hate on Me" Good News
2011 Agnes "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" Non-album single
2012 Swedish House Mafia "Save The World" Until Now
Sebastian Ingrosso & Tommy Trash "Reload" Non-album single
Dada Life "Kick Out the Epic Motherfucker" The Rules of Dada
Nause "Hungry Hearts" Non-album single
Agnes "All I Want Is You" Veritas
"Human Touch"
"Got Me Good"
"Nothing Else Matters"
2013 Katy Perry "Love Me" Prism
Avicii "You Make Me" True
"Hey Brother"
2014 John Martin "Anywhere For You" Non-album single
Galantis "Smile" Galantis (EP)
"You"
"Help"
Dada Life "Born To Rage" Non-album single
"One Smile"
Mapei "Blame It On Me" Hey Hey
"Believe"
"What's Innit 4 Me"
Wyclef Jean "Divine Sorrow"
(featuring Avicii)		 Non-album single
Avicii "The Days" The Days/Nights
David Guetta "Bang My Head"
(with Sia)		 Listen
2015 Madonna "HeartBreakCity" Rebel Heart
"Wash All Over Me"
"Messiah"
"Rebel Heart"
Sharks "The Rebel" Non-album single
Galantis "Gold Dust" Pharmacy
"Dancin' To The Sound Of A Broken Heart"
"Kill Em' With The Love"
"Call If You Need Me"
"You"
Avicii "Waiting For Love" Stories
Seinabo Sey "Younger" Pretend
"Poetic"
"Hard Time"
"Sorry"
"Ruin"
"Pistols At Dawn"
2016 MishCatt "Another Dimension" Highlighter
Miike Snow "Heart Is Full" iii
2017 Johnossi "On A Roll" Blood Jungle
Avicii "Friend Of Mine"
(featuring Vargas & Lagola)		 Avīci (01)
"Without You"
(featuring Sandro Cavazza)
Toby Radall "Hold You Down" ONE.
Axwell Ʌ Ingrosso "More Than You Know" More Than You Know
"Something New"
"This Time"
"Renegade"
"Sun Is Shining"
"On My Way"
"Dreamer"
Axwell "Barricade"
2018 Seinabo Sey "I Love You" I'm a Dream
"Never Get Used To"
"I Owe You Nothing"
"Breathe"
"Good In You"
Ghost "Dance Macabre" Prequelle
"Life Eternal"
MagnusTheMagnus "It Don't Impress Me"
(featuring Madi Banja)		 Non-album single
"Calling"
(featuring KIDDO)
David Guetta "Light Headed"
(with Sia)		 7
RØMANS "Glitter & Gold" Non-album single
Salvatore Ganacci "Kill A Soundboy"
(featuring Nailah Blackman)		 Non-album single
2019 Gryffin "You Remind Me"
(featuring Stanaj)		 Gravity
Frank Walker & Astrid S "Only When It Rains" Non-album single
PRETTYMUCH "Eyes Off You" Phases - EP
Avicii "Peace Of Mind"
(featuring Vargas & Lagola)		 TIM
"Tough Love"
(featuring Agnes, Vargas & Lagola)
"Excuse Me Mr Sir"
(featuring Vargas & Lagola)
Otto Knows "About You" Non-album single
Ghost "Kiss The Go-Goat" Seven Inches of Satanic Panic
"Mary On A Cross"
Agnes "Intro" Nothing Can Compare
"I Trance"
"Not Dangerous"
"Interlude (What Is Wrong)"
"Limelight"
"Interlude (I Like To Sing)"
"Nothing Can Compare"
Mapei "Ether" Sensory Overload
2020 Galantis "Steel" Church
"Unless It Hurts"
"Never Felt A Love Like This"
(with Hook n Sling featuring Dotan)
Agnes "Goodlife" Non-album single

Songwriting and production credits for local Swedish artist
Year Artist Title Album
2007 Danny "If Only You" Heart Beats
2008 Amanda Jenssen "Do You Love Me?" Killing My Darlings
2010 Andreas Grega "Dom hade mycket att säga" En sak i taget
2013 Veronica Maggio "Sergels torg" Handen i fickan fast jag bryr mig
"Jag lovar"
"Hela huset"
(featuring Håkan Hellström)
"Va kvar"
"Låtsas som det regnar"
"Hädanefter"
"Dallas"
"Bas gillar hörn"
"I min bil"
Petter "Mighty"
(featuring Newkid)		 Början på allt
"Början på allt"
(featuring Eye N'I)
"April"
"Håll om mig"
(featuring Daniel Adams-Ray)
"Tills döden skiljer oss åt"
"King"
(featuring Lilla Namo)
"Maj"
"Arbete"
"Alla vet"
(featuring Agnes)
"Fristad"
"Juni"
"Sitter på en dröm"
"Minnen del II"
"Släpp mig fri"
Rasmus Seebach "I min t-shirt" Ingen kan love dig i morgen
2016 Veronica Maggio "Den första är alltid gratis" Den första är alltid gratis
"Vi mot världen"
"Pang pang"
2018 Petter "Kliv på!"
(featuring Eye N'I)		 Lev nu
"Lev nu dö sen"
(featuring Vargas & Lagola)

Awards and nominations
Year Awards Category Nomination Outcome Ref.
2008 Swedish Grammy Awards Best Newcomer Himself Nominated [21]
Producer of the Year Himself
Best Dance/Hiphop/Soul Himself
2014 Swedish Grammy Awards Composer of the Year Himself (with Salem Al Fakir & Magnus Lidehäll) Won [22]
The Swedish MPA Awards International Success of the Year Himself (with Salem Al Fakir & Magnus Lidehäll) Nominated [23]
2015 Swedish Grammy Awards Composer of the Year Himself (with Salem Al Fakir & Magnus Lidehäll) [24]
The Swedish MPA Awards International Success of the Year Himself (with Salem Al Fakir) [25]
2016 Swedish Grammy Awards Composer of the Year Himself (with Salem Al Fakir, Magnus Lidehäll & Seinabo Sey) [26]
2018 Swedish Grammy Awards Composer of the Year Vargas & Lagola [27]
The Swedish MPA Awards (together with STIM) Most Played Song 2017 Axwell Ʌ Ingrosso – "More Than You Know" Won [28]
The Swedish MPA Awards Song of the Year Avicii - "Without You" (feat. Sandro Cavazza) Nominated [29]
2019 The Swedish MPA Awards (together with STIM) Most Played Song 2018 Avicii - "Without You" (feat. Sandro Cavazza) Won [30]
2020 Swedish Grammy Awards Producer of the Year Himself Tim Bergling, Salem Al Fakir, Albin Nedler, Kristoffer Fogelmark, Carl Falk, Lucas von Bahder, Marcus Thunberg Wessel Nominated [31]
Swedish Grammy Awards Composer of the Year Himself, Tim Bergling, Salem Al Fakir, Albin Nedler, Kristoffer Fogelmark, Isak Alverus, Carl Falk, Joakim Berg, Lucas von Bahder, Marcus Thunberg Wessel, Martin Svensson [32]

References
  1. "Grammisvinnarna genom åren". www.grammis.se (in Swedish).
  2. "Den stora omvandlingen". www.musikforlaggarna.se (in Swedish). 15 January 2015.
  3. "Production Duo Vargas & Lagola launch themselves with party-house banger "Rolling Stone"". 27 January 2017 – via www.thelineofbestfit.com.
  4. "Avicii's 'Friend of Mine' Video Will Warm Your Winter". www.Billboard.com. 2 January 2018.
  5. "Mottagare av Platinagitarren" (in Swedish) – via www.stim.se.
  6. "Avicii Chart History" – via www.billboard.com.
  7. "Katy Perry 'Prism' includes tracks by UMP writers" – via www.umusicpub.com/se.
  8. "Grammis 2014". 20 February 2014 – via www.umusicpub.com/se.
  9. "Wyclef Jean and Avicii team up for "Divine Sorrow"". 19 November 2014 – via www.mynewsdesk.com/dk.
  10. "Seinabo Sey releases debut album 'Pretend'". 23 October 2015 – via www.umusicpub.com/se.
  11. "Madonna releases new album 'Rebel Heart'". 9 March 2015 – via www.umusicpub.com/se.
  12. "Axwell Λ Ingrosso – More Than You Know" – via www.discogs.com.
  13. "Kanye West Earns Eight no. 1 album on Billboard 200 Chart with 'Ye'". 6 October 2018 – via www.billboard.com.
  14. "Ghost Waltzes to Third Mainstream Rock Songs No. 1 With 'Dance Macabre'". 14 February 2019 – via www.billboard.com.
  15. "GRAMMY Award Results for Ghost" – via www.grammy.com.
  16. "Vargas & Lagola är de- mest populära låtskrivarna 2017". 23 February 2018 – via www.musikforlaggarna.se.
  17. "'I had to honour him': the friends who finished Avicii's final album". 6 June 2019 – via www.theguardian.com.
  18. "Avicii Tribute Concert" – via www.aviciitributeconcert.com.
  19. "ALBUM: Vargas & Lagola - 'The Butterfly Effect'" – via www.scandipop.co.uk.
  20. Swedishcharts.com: Vincent discography
  21. "Nominated 2008" (in Swedish).
  22. "Nominated 2014" (in Swedish).
  23. "Nominerade till Musikförläggarnas Pris 2014" (in Swedish). 29 September 2014.
  24. "Nominated 2015" (in Swedish).
  25. "Nominerade till Musikförläggarnas Pris 2015" (in Swedish). 28 September 2015.
  26. "Nominated 2016" (in Swedish).
  27. "Nominated 2018" (in Swedish).
  28. "Årets vinnare på Musikförläggarnas Pris" (in Swedish). 9 November 2018.
  29. "Nominerade till Musikförläggarnas Pris 2018" (in Swedish). 5 October 2018.
  30. "Årets tio mest spelade låtar 2018" (in Swedish).
  31. "Nominated 2020" (in Swedish).
  32. "Nominated 2020" (in Swedish).

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