Teddybears

Teddybears Artistfacts

  • 1991-
    Patrik ArveVocals
    Joakim ÅhlundGuitar
    Klas Åhlund Guitar, production
  • Teddybears were formed in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1991 by Patrik Arve and brothers Joakim and Klas Åhlund. The band started as Teddybears STHLM, playing grindcore and their early albums sounded more like Slayer than Daft Punk. The shift to electronic pop was gradual, but complete.
  • The band members often perform in fuzzy bear masks or robotic headgear. The visuals play into their genre-defying aesthetic: pop music dressed up in punk costumes.
  • Teddybears are the kind of group that can get Iggy Pop, CeeLo Green, and Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne on the same playlist. Joakim Åhlund said their guiding principle for guest features is simple: "The voice has to hit you in the gut."
  • Rock'n'Roll Highschool earned the group four Swedish Grammis Awards in 2001, including Album of the Year and Pop/Rock Group of the Year
  • Featuring Jamaican dancehall artist Mad Cobra, their song "Cobrastyle" has been used in everything from Gossip Girl to FIFA video games to Taco Bell commercials. It's reggae-inflected electro-pop with teeth, and a perfect example of Teddybears' cut-and-paste approach to genre.
  • Their 2006 version of "Punkrocker," featuring Iggy Pop, became a cult favorite after being used in a Cadillac ad campaign. It's also the end credits song in the 2025 film Superman.
  • Joakim Åhlund has co-written and co-produced songs for artists like Robyn ("With Every Heartbeat") and Kelly Clarkson ("I Want You"). He also co-founded the glam-pop band Caesars (remember "Jerk It Out"? That iPod ad jam? Yep, same guy).
  • Teddybears blend garage rock, hip-hop, reggae, synth-pop, punk, and even bubblegum into a neon-colored Frankenstein of sound. As Åhlund once put it, "We don't care about genres - we just like when music makes you feel something."

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