John Martin

Most famous for his vocal contributions to hit singles by the <a href="spotify:artist:1h6Cn3P4NGzXbaXidqURXs">Swedish House Mafia</a> DJ collective, John Martin Lindström grew up in southern Stockholm. Son of a rally driver, Lindström became interested in music at the age of 13 when he formed a <a href="spotify:artist:6olE6TJLqED3rqDCT0FyPh">Nirvana</a> covers band with school friends. By 15 he was fronting a group which performed its own material, but soon became disillusioned with rock music -- and the band template in general -- after being signed and subsequently dropped by a label. He became increasingly interested in electronic music after striking up a friendship with DJ and ex-boy band member Michel Zitron. Zitron was helping Lindström record material in Stockholm's Cosmos Studios when <a href="spotify:artist:6hyMWrxGBsOx6sWcVj1DqP">Sebastian Ingrosso</a> of <a href="spotify:artist:1h6Cn3P4NGzXbaXidqURXs">Swedish House Mafia</a> overheard their work and invited the pair to assist with his project. The result was "Save the World," a summer 2011 anthem co-written by Lindström, Zitron, <a href="spotify:artist:1h6Cn3P4NGzXbaXidqURXs">Swedish House Mafia</a>, and established pop artist Vincent Pontare. Lindström provided a rock-inflected lead vocal to what was essentially a house track, and "Save the World" went on to enjoy sales of circa half a million in the U.S. after reaching the top ten in the U.K. Following this success, <a href="spotify:artist:5baGk14NDI3ZDPbr6wJilc">Tim Bergling</a> of <a href="spotify:artist:1vCWHaC5f2uS3yhpwWbIA6">Avicii</a> fame contacted Lindström and Zitron, and the pair helped to write the lyrics for his <a href="spotify:artist:6rAZ6OYwAXqykSlPxqGy8E">Pengin Café Orchestra</a>-sampling, Swedish Top Five single "Fade Into Darkness." Whereas Lindström's vocal for "Save the World" had gone uncredited, the next single that he co-wrote for <a href="spotify:artist:1h6Cn3P4NGzXbaXidqURXs">Swedish House Mafia</a>, "Don't You Worry Child," included his name on the artwork. It charted in 32 countries, reaching the top spot in the U.K., Sweden, Australia, and Venezuela by the end of 2012. A collaboration with Dutch hardstyle act <a href="spotify:artist:18PNlguj4UWXG46wBu567s">Max Enforcer</a> ensued before Lindström received equal billing on a vocal mix of the <a href="spotify:artist:1h6Cn3P4NGzXbaXidqURXs">SHM</a> track "Reload" early the following year. ~ James Wilkinson, Rovi