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Denniz PoP was born April 26, 1963. Most people don't know his real name, which was Dag
Volle, since he mostly was working behind his alter ego and never wanted to stand in the
spotlight himself. Many of us here in Stockholm, Sweden who have been DJ'ing and hanging around
in the record stores remember him as "Dagge". Tragically he left us much too early in
August 30, 1998 after less than a years struggle against his cancer.
"Dagge" started his career as a DJ in the early 80's in the local youth recreation centre in Tullinge, a suburb of Stockholm, Sweden.
He quickly became one of the most well-known DJ's in the Stockholm dance scene and he played in all the famous clubs and he was a great inspiration to many new DJ's and to some he was probably THE reason they wanted to become DJ's - they wanted to do all these great things he was doing.
For example - another famous Swedish DJ - Robert Watz, one half of the successful Rob'n'Raz team who hit it worldwide together with Leila K with their dance tune "Got to get" in 1989, said this about "Dagge"; "When I and Rasmus Lindwall started out as DJ's HE was our inspiration, he was the best discjockey in Sweden!"
In 1985, he - together with some of the other best DJ's in Stockholm - came up with the idea of creating a remix service like DMC (Disco Mix Club - UK) or the US Disconet and Hot Tracks. And in the beginning of 1986 - SweMix was founded by Denniz PoP, René Hedemyr (remixer of Roxette for example), StoneBridge (the guy behind the great "Love 4 love" by Robin S among many others),
Emil Hellman (aka SoundFactory and remixed Army of Lovers, BWO and many others), Rob Below and JJ.
In April 1986 SweMix's first Remixed Records was released, it's said to have been pressed in 300 copies and after the pressing the master discs was destroyed to make it impossible to press any new copies of this classic release. Remixed Records # 1 included the following (now)
classic tracks;
| Mai Tai | "Female intuition" | Denniz PoP |
| E.G. Daily | "Say it, Say it" | StoneBridge & Mopz Below |
| Tourists | "I only want to be with you" | Emil Hellman |
| Prince | "Kiss" | JackMaster Fax (René) |
| Nicole | "Don't you want my love" | Mankie & Snurre |
| medley | "Eurobeat" | Emil Hellman |
| Sheila E. | "Holly Rock" | StoneBridge & Mopz Below |
| SM in DJ-mixing | the Winning mix | Roger Tuuri |
Denniz PoP fast became one of Sweden's most wanted remixers. He always had this ear for how
things should sound to be perfect and in his remixes he could put in a small sample of another
record and it was just perfect but no one else would have come up with the idea. One of these
great remixes was the remix he did of Soul II Soul's "Keep on movin'" in which
he sampled the Donna Summer classic - "Love to
love you, baby". The result is just amazingly BRILLIANT!!!
Another excellent piece of work was the remix of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean"
in which he used time stretching. That's when you slow down the tempo of the song and then bring
it back up to normal again but still keep it in key during the whole tempo change. This was also
something completely new and no one had ever done that before in Sweden.
Or... Check out the remix of Human League's classic "Don't you want me" in which
Dagge changed the order of the man and girl's lines and created a kind of conversation between
them. It's just soooo GREAT!!!
His remixes actually got so famous that Remixed Records released a special 5-track 12" single
with only Denniz PoP remixes, called "Denniz PoP's - Greatest Remixes". Tracks included
was;
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Michael Jackson | "Billie Jean" |
Human League | "Don't you want me" |
Soul II Soul | "Keep on movin'" |
S.O.S Band | "Just be good to me" |
Kraze | "Let's play house" |
Denniz also made famous medley's and megamixes. He made an Earth, Wind & Fire medley
for Remixed Records which got bootlegged all over the world... Along with the work he did for
SweMix/Remixed Records he also made famous DJ promotion only medleys for Swedish compilation
albums like; Dance Explosion and Absolute Dance.
SweMix fast became well-known and record labels and artists soon approached them with their songs
and wanted these successful guys to remix their work. Many new artists also wanted them to have
them produce their songs or give them a record deal. This new demand gave birth to the SweMix
record label.
Not very surprisingly the first record released on the new SweMix label (actually it still says
Remixed Records on the label - BUT it was the first SweMix records release) was... Yes you're
right, it WAS Denniz PoP with a tune called "Gimme some mo' (bass on me)". It's
a kind of "sample-song", just like the popular Bomb the Bass song "Beat Dis" from
1987.
In 1989 SweMix started to sign own artists and the company was divided into SweMix Records
& Publishing and SweMix Productions. Acts like DaYeene, Kayo and Dr Alban
were signed to the label and in 1990 Dr Alban's debut single "Hello Afrika" became a
worldwide hit and leading the way and opening up the eyes for Swedish dance music.
"Hello Africa" was produced by Denniz and thanks to that song both Dr Alban and Denniz
PoP became famous all over the world. Dr Alban says; "We became famous together,
thanks to 'Hello Africa'. Then we did three albums together. Dag was really determined and could
take the right, fast decisions. He is the biggest producer ever in Sweden and Europe when it comes
to dance music. Without any doubt!".
Already in Dr Alban's song "No coke", which also generate from the first album, Alban
sings/raps a tribute to his friend; "...he's a DJ / Producer of higher quality". And you
should keep in mind that this was already in 1990, so I guess one can say that Dr Alban saw the
potentials of Denniz PoP already back then.
1991 starts with SweMix selling off the Remixed Records DJ Service and concentrates on their
artists and remixes. And in 1992 SweMix splits up even more when Denniz together with Tom
Talomaa starts Cheiron, which is the new name for SweMix Records & Publishing. The other
original SweMix founders keep SweMix Productions and continue as a production company.
Still during 1992 Dagge produces Dr Alban's second album It's my life which also include
the worldwide top hit with the same name. And through the success with Dr Alban he became a big
name in the business and got lots of offers to produce and write music for other artists. It's
now things really gets starting...
'Cause in 1993 he writes a song for a new Swedish band called Ace of Base's debut album;
Happy nation. The song he writes is called "All that she wants" and this song becomes
a hit all over the globe. For the worldwide release of the album some new tracks was added and the
title of the album was changed to - the Sign. Actually the album sold over 22 million
copies, which makes it the best selling debut album ever!!!
Then in 1994 he writes and produces Dr Albans third album Look who's talking along with
the debut albums of both E-Type and Leila K..
If 1994 was a good year for Dagge, then 1995 gets even better. Starting out with producing the
Backstreet Boys self-titled debut album together with friend and colleague Max Martin.
Following up with Ace of Base's second album the Bridge, Papa Dee with the Journey,
Army of Lovers' Sexual revolution and singles by Rednex and German Real
McCoy among others...
The next year he produces Robyn's debut album Robyn is here and E-Type's second
album just to mention a few.
In 1997 Denniz writes some of the songs to the Backstreet Boys' second album Backstreet's
back and he also flies over to Los Angeles to work on Michael Jackson's nephews
3T's debut album Brotherhood. During the work with 3T he also gets the opportunity
to work with Michael Jackson in the studio.
Finally in 1998 he works with the new boy band Five and the girl group Solid Harmonie.
He also works some more with Backstreet Boys and the new talented Swedish singer (and also Denniz'
girlfriend) Jessica Folcker. At the time of Denniz death Jessica's first single "Tell me
what you like" had started moving towards the top of the Swedish charts. Watch out for this lady
who, before her career of her own, have been singing and dancing behind Dr Alban and Ace of Base,
just to mention some.
Jessica's second album out in 2001 is called Dino, a tribute and clear reference to Dagge.
In March 2001, Swedish artist - Meja (who recorded the hit duet "Private emotion"
with Ricky Martin in 2000) - released a new album entitled Realitales. On the album
there's a song called "Land of make believe", a "forgotten" song written by Denniz PoP and
Douglas Carr.
In 1998 he also receives his first Grammy award (Swedish Music Industry Award) together
with Max Martin. They get the jury's "Special Honor Award", for all their great work and
successes which placed Swedish (Dance) music on the world map and have made Sweden the Third
(!!!) largest music exporting country in the world, after the U.S. and the U.K.
Unfortunately Dagge was now too ill by his cancer that he was unable to receive the award in person.
But everyone agrees to the fact he was worth it, people said; "He was THE reason
that the Swedish Dance music became such a big export."
A friend of mine, who is a music journalist in the U.S., said this to me when he heard of Dag's
death; "His hits have made US radio a lot more tolerable and we'll suffer without
him.".
So there's no doubt his music made a fuzz all over the world.
There is no understatement to say that Denniz PoP was Sweden most successful and well-known producer.
He had the Midas touch - everything he touched turned to gold. He WAS the force behind the huge
Swedish dance music success worldwide and the acts he worked with always sold more than the average
record sales.
This is what Papa Dee had to say about Dagge's work; "He always heard what would
work, what was catchy.".
Other people have said the same, things like; "No one can deny the fact that Denniz
Pop was a genius. No one could decide better than him what bass sound, mixing or chorus hooks that
were needed to make a hit. He had the sharpest version of the record buyers ears." or
"Denniz PoP just know what will work and what won't." and he has also been
called things like "the brain behind DancePop" and "Pop-Genius".
Denniz' friend and colleague, Max Martin said the following after his friend's death;
"I have lost my best friend and it feels like the world has lost a genius."
Even though he was one of the biggest names in the music business, not many people know about him
at all... But that was the way he liked it. He never wanted to stand in the spotlight himself.
He preferred just to know that on a Saturday night millions of people was dancing and partying
to his songs. This shows how modest and generous he was.
Or as E-Type says about his friend; "His thing was to give the artist a break,
then he wanted to find a new artist and help him or her to break instead of producing a whole album -
where the big money is!".
As a tribute to his dear friend Martin "E-Type" Eriksson is recording a tribute song called " PoP
preludium" which will be the last track on his forthcoming album.
It was in December 1997 he got the information that he had cancer and he was operated just weeks
later. He was quite well until July 1998 when he very fast got worse and sadly he passed away on
Sunday August 30, 1998 at Karolinska Sjukhuset (Hospital). He is closest missed by his 11 years
old son, his wife and family.
BUT... He is also very missed by the whole Swedish record industry, the artists he worked with
and fans all over the world. At his funeral on Friday September 11 1998, everybody was there to
honor his memory... All members of Ace of Base, Dr Alban, Robyn, E-Type, Papa Dee, Leila K. and
even the boy group Five who flew in from the U.S., along with representatives from all major Swedish
record companies. During the ceremony Jenny Berggren of Ace of Base sang solo the hymn
"Don't be afraid".
In the Grammis Awards (Swedish Music Industry's - "Grammy award") held in Stockholm February
15, 1999 - The Industry honored Denniz PoP's memory with a very nice summary of his life and career.
E-Type received an award for best Swedish Dance act and in his very short speech he thanked Denniz
and said how much he really missed him!
It very nice to hear how Max Martin keeps Dagge's memory and their special sound alive in worldwide
hits like Britney Spears' "Baby one more time" and other hits by groups like the
Backstreet Boys and N'Sync, among others.
Britney also had the following dedication to Dagge in her album "...Baby one more time"; To Denniz
PoP: Your memory lives on in the beautiful music you wrote for me. Thank you.
During the 1999 MTV European Music Awards the same Britney Spears received several awards,
for example she received the award for best song with "Baby one more time". Of course she thanked
Max Martin, but she also dedicated that award to the loving memory of Denniz Pop.
In the video of Backstreet Boys' "Show me the meaning of being lonely", the boys are singing
about people they're missing and if you look at the destination of the bus - it says DENNIZ ST..
That's the guys' tribute to Denniz PoP.
A German girl - Anna - told me the following about the Backstreet Boys' tribute to Denniz in a concert:
"I was on the Backstreet Boys' concert in Munich, Germany in June '99. Before they
sang 'Show me the meaning of being lonely' they told the crowd about Denniz PoP's death, asked the
people for thinking of Denniz and dedicated the song to him. It was a strange kind of feeling to know,
many thousands of people were thinking about one person at the same moment. I know, it sounds very
pathetic, but I really believed, Denniz was watching all of us at this moment."
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Download the FREE basic RealPlayer...
CLICK to hear some Denniz PoP songs...
Gimme som mo' (bass on me)
Denniz PoP
All that she wants
Ace of Base
We've got it goin' on
Backstreet Boys
Hello Africa
Dr Alban
It's my life
Dr Alban
No coke
Dr Alban
Sing Hallelujah
Dr Alban
Big funky dealer
Herbie
Don't you want me
Human League
Tell me what you like
Jessica Folcker
Let's play house
Kraze
Billie Jean
Michael Jackson
the Journey
Papa Dee
You've got that something
Robyn
Just be good to me
S.O.S Band
Keep on movin'
Soul II Soul
Click to buy from
C'Est la Vie Always 21
Sign
Beautiful Life
Hallo Hallo
Always Have, Always Will
Love in December
All That She Wants
Living in Danger
Everytime It Rains
Don't Turn Around
Cruel Summer
Happy Nation
Lucky Love
Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry [Long]
Life Is a Flower
Wheel of Fortune
Click to buy from
We've Got It Going On
Anywhere For You
Get Down (You're The One For Me)
I'll Never Break Your Heart
Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
As Long As You Love Me
All I Have To Give
Larger Than Life
I Want It That Way
Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely
The One
The Call
Shape Of My Heart
More Than That
Drowning
Click to buy from
Introduction
It's My Life
One Love
Sing Hallelujah!
Mata Oh a Eh
Reggae Gone Ragga
Om We Rembwe Ike
Hard to Choose
Cash Money
Roll Down Di Rubber Man
It's My Life [Remix]
One Love [Remix]
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During 1999 Max Martin and crew were writing songs and producing for famous acts like
Celine Dion and there were also plans on writing and producing for Tina Turner's new album,
but that partnership never took place.
In late August 2000, almost on the day - 2 years after Denniz' death, Max Martin announced that the
world famous Cheiron studio will be closed down by the end of the year. He told about all the joy and
great times they have experienced through the success of the studio - but also about the sorrow and how
much they all miss its founder - Dag Volle. Max said; "Denniz PoP created the conditions
for the enormous success we have had lately and we would like Cheiron to be remembered for that.".
Even if the Cheiron story will come to an end, I'm sure we haven't heard the last of Dagge's nor
Max Martin's music. Specially not since Max has received the US ASCAP's - Songwriter of the Year
- Award, two years in a row.
In December 31, 2000 Cheiron was closed down, but "the Cheiron people" haven't stopped working because
of this... Max Martin, Rami and Alexandra keep up the work "as usual" in a new studio called Maratone
Studios in 'Soder' in Stockholm.
Max was also on the cover of Time Magazine in March 2001. The magazine refered to him as "the Hit Man".
Per Magnusson, David Kreuger and Jorgen Elofsson have started Aside Productions.
The rest of the guys will work on in the old Cheiron studios but under the name the Location.
So, I'm sure we'll get to hear more from all of these talented writers and producers, who keeps the
beats and memory of Denniz alive.
In 2013 the Denniz PoP Awards was founded
and it's run by former Cheiron members, co-workers, friends and family with the goal of helping new songwriters,
producers and artists continue the legacy Denniz Pop once started.
Every year the Award is given to aspiring talents in the music industry.
And... (Finally!), in 2016 Denniz PoP was honored and elected into the Swedish Music Hall of Fame. The Jury
motivated the election;
"Denniz Pop : Sweden has during the past 25 years positioned itself as the world's leading country
for pop music along with the US and Britain . A large part of this development can be traced to one single person: Dag
"Denniz Pop" Volle (1963-1998) from Botkyrka Municipality.
Denniz Pop was a record store clerk and disc jockey who transfered his youths intensive music listening (what makes
certain songs catch?) and dance floor studies in the field (what makes people dance?) to, without playing any instrument,
start creating his own music with the help of initially record players and then computers.
Dennis Pop created a new way to make music. A non - hierarchical teamwork with different specialists called in. An
operation method that changed and shaped today's international pop music. One of Denniz Pop proteges, Martin "Max Martin"
Sandberg, became the most successful pop-maker in the world since Paul McCartney and John Lennon.
Everywhere on the radio today, echoes are heard of Denniz Pop."
This was how Dag Volle from Stockholm, Sweden became Denniz PoP with the whole
world. Even though he died much too early at the young age of 35, he was already the biggest
guy within the Swedish dance music scene.
Long live Denniz PoP - We miss you...
Your memory will live forever!
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