Universal Poplab was a Swedish synth-pop band founded in January 2002 by vocalist Christer Lundberg and producer Paul Lachenardière. The band's two members have very different backgrounds: Christer is an old-school synth-pop fan, influenced by acts like Soft Cell and Yazoo, Paul is a classically trained musician with roots in jazz, electronica, trance and techno. Each memberâÂÂs creativity has taken various forms over the years. Christer also hosts his own daytime radio show five days a week on Swedish radio and has produced TV documentaries. Paul creates music and releases records in such varied genres as trance and nu-jazz.
In 2003 Universal Poplab made their live debut at the Scandinavian Alternative Music Awards (SAMA), followed by a number of summer gigs. The SubSpace Encounter in Malmö and the support show for German synth-pop stars Melotron in Gothenburg.
In 2004 their debut album Universal Poplab is released by independent record label SubSpace Communications. On the album, one can find a wide spectre of music, from gentle love songs as âÂÂDice Rollerâ and âÂÂAny More Than Thisâ weaved between electrifying tracks as âÂÂI CanâÂÂt Help Myselfâ (with Paul as the lead vocalist) and âÂÂDays Astrayâ to floor fillers as âÂÂExtasyâ and the first single, the melancholic yet bouncy âÂÂCasanova FallâÂÂ. The record also includes a cover version of MorrisseyâÂÂs âÂÂWe Hate It When Our Friends Become Successfulâ featuring the backing vocals of one of Sweden's most famous pop stars, HÃÂ¥kan Hellström. Lundberg and Hellström have known each other since they were 16, and the song is dealing with the dark side of having famous friends. Universal PoplabâÂÂs single release, "New Baby Boom" (featuring Nina Natri from Homy and ex-Fidget), gained a good grip on Swedish radio playlists.
Following three singles from "Uprising" â Universal Poplab released "Fame and Hate" onto the web with a viral video. The follow-up single "On the Run" is available as a free download from their official website, where the official video can also be viewed.