AdAstra

Founded in Stockholm in 1992, this Swedish pop quartet was formed at the local Music Academy. Adastra comprised Vanna Rosenberg (vocals), Asa Schmalenbach (vocals), Henry Bergström (programming; a former colleague of Georgio Moroder) and Bengt Girell (programming; a former colleague of Europe’s Kee Marcello). They announced themselves with the release of their debut single, ‘Iaonoma’, in 1994. Sadly, compatriots Ace Of Base had beaten them to the title of Abba successors, and Schmalenbach’s songs failed to impress an international audience. In the event, Rosenberg found more profitable employment in her concurrent acting career.