# Salem Al Fakir

Lars Salem Al Fakir (Arabic: لارس سليم الفقير; born 27 October 1981) is a Swedish musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He regularly collaborates with Vincent Pontare as the songwriting and production duo Vargas and Lagola. Together, they have worked with many artists, including Avicii, Axwell & Ingrosso, Madonna, Seinabo Sey, Lady Gaga and the Swedish band Ghost. In addition to his songwriting and production work, he releases alternative pop music as Vargas & Lagola.

## Biography
### Early life and artist career

Salem Al Fakir's father Nabil is of Syrian origin and originated from Damascus, whereas his mother, Inger, is from Sweden. Salem is the fourth of six siblings (Aminah, Ayman, Nassim, Salem, Sami and Fares). He learned to play violin at the age of four and subsequently toured Russia as a solo violinist at the age of fourteen, but returned to Sweden to study jazz piano. As a student he attended the Adolf Fredrik's Music School in Stockholm.
In the autumn of 2006, Al Fakir released his first EP Dream Girl. He is most famous for his chart topping albums This Is Who I Am (2007), Astronaut (2009) and Ignore This (2010). At the Swedish Grammy Awards in 2008 he won big – taking home four awards and being nominated in seven categories.
He took part in Melodifestivalen 2010, the Swedish national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, with "Keep On Walking" and finished in second place.

### 2010–present: Songwriting

After his solo career, Al Fakir became more focused on the songwriting. Beginning to collaborate with Avicii on "Silhouettes" in 2012. Among the first co-writes with Vincent Pontare are Avicii's 2013 Billboard Hot 100 single "Hey Brother" and "Younger" by Seinabo Sey.
At the 2014 Swedish Grammy Awards, Al Fakir, Vincent Pontare and Magnus Lidehäll were awarded Composer of the Year after writing for Veronica Maggio's album Handen i fickan fast jag bryr mig and the Petter album Början på allt, and work with artists like Galantis. In 2014 he wrote numerous songs on Mapei's album Hey Hey and Avicii's "The Days" and "Divine Sorrow" (with Wyclef Jean). Al Fakir followed up with another successful year in 2015 co-writing most songs on Seinabo Sey's highly acclaimed debut album Pretend and songs for Madonna's Rebel Heart album.
Vargas & Lagola have co-written some of the biggest hits by Axwell Ʌ Ingrosso – "More Than You Know", "Sun Is Shining", "Dreamer" and more - taken from their 2017 album More Than You Know.
The duo have also contributed to two songs on Swedish rock band Ghost's Billboard 200-charting and Grammy Award-nominated album Prequelle, including the album's second single "Dance Macabre" which topped Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart.
In 2018, the same moment as Vargas & Lagola blazed onto the alternative pop scene with the hit single "Roads", they shared the no.1 spot as Sweden's most streamed songwriters for songs including Avicii – "Without You (feat. Sandro Cavazza)" and "Waiting For Love". After working closely with Avicii for several years, Al Fakir and Pontare played a key role in finishing up the 2019 posthumous Avicii album TIM and are featured artists on three of the album songs. On 5 December 2019, Vargas & Lagola performed at Avicii's Tribute Concert in Stockholm.
Vargas & Lagola's debut album The Butterfly Effect was released in January 2020.

## Discography
### As solo artist
#### Albums

| Year | Album | Peak positions |
| Year | Album | SWE |
| 2006 | Dream Girl (EP) | — |
| 2007 | This Is Who I Am | 1 |
| 2009 | Astronaut | 7 |
| 2010 | Ignore This | 1 |

#### Singles

| Single | Year | Peak positions | Album |
| Single | Year | SWE | Album |
| "Dream Girl" | 2006 | 25 | This Is Who I Am |
| "Good Song" | 2006 | 36 | This Is Who I Am |
| "This Is Who I Am" | 2007 | 43 | This Is Who I Am |
| "It's True" (with Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso) | 2007 | 38 | This Is Who I Am |
| "It's Only You, Part 2" | 2008 | 41 | Astronaut |
| "Astronaut" | 2009 | 34 | Astronaut |
| "Roxy" | 2009 | — | Astronaut |
| "Keep On Walking" | 2010 | 3 | Ignore This |
| "4 O'Clock" | 2010 | 49 | Ignore This |
| "Split My Personality" | 2010 | — | Ignore This |
| "I'm So Happy" (featuring Josephine Bornebusch) | 2011 | — | Ignore This |

#### Uncredited vocal work

| Single | Year | Peak positions | Certification | Album |
| Single | Year | SWE | Certification | Album |
| "Silhouettes" (Avicii) | 2012 | 11 | GLF: 3× Platinum ARIA: Gold BPI: Silver | Non-album single |
| "You Make Me" (Avicii) | 2013 | 1 | GLF: 4× Platinum ARIA: Platinum FIMI: Gold IFPI NOR: 2× Platinum BPI: Gold RIAA: Gold | True |
| "Something New" (Axwell Λ Ingrosso) | 2014 | 20 | GLF: 2× Platinum FIMI: Gold | More Than You Know |
| "On My Way" (Axwell Λ Ingrosso) | 2015 | 18 | GLF: 2× Platinum | More Than You Know |
| "Sun Is Shining" (Axwell Λ Ingrosso) | 2015 | 1 | GLF: 4× Platinum FIMI: Gold ZPAV: Gold | More Than You Know |
| "Renegade" (Axwell Λ Ingrosso) | 2017 | — | | More Than You Know |

#### Songwriting and production credits

| Year | Artist | Title | Album |
| 2012 | Avicii | "Silhouettes" | Non-album single |
| 2013 | Avicii | "You Make Me" | True |
| 2013 | Avicii | "Hey Brother" | True |
| 2014 | Galantis | "Smile" | Galantis (EP) |
| 2014 | Galantis | "Help" | Galantis (EP) |
| 2014 | Mapei | "Blame It On Me" | Hey Hey |
| 2014 | Mapei | "As 1" | Hey Hey |
| 2014 | Mapei | "Second to None" | Hey Hey |
| 2014 | Mapei | "Step Up" | Hey Hey |
| 2014 | Wyclef Jean | "Divine Sorrow" (featuring Avicii) | Non-album single |
| 2014 | Avicii | "The Days" | The Days/Nights |
| 2015 | Madonna | "HeartBreakCity" | Rebel Heart |
| 2015 | Madonna | "Wash All Over Me" | Rebel Heart |
| 2015 | Madonna | "Messiah" | Rebel Heart |
| 2015 | Madonna | "Rebel Heart" | Rebel Heart |
| 2015 | Galantis | "Kill 'Em with the Love" | Pharmacy |
| 2015 | Galantis | "Call If You Need Me" | Pharmacy |
| 2015 | Avicii | "Waiting For Love" | Stories |
| 2015 | Seinabo Sey | "Younger" | Pretend |
| 2015 | Seinabo Sey | "Poetic" | Pretend |
| 2015 | Seinabo Sey | "Hard Time" | Pretend |
| 2015 | Seinabo Sey | "Easy" | Pretend |
| 2015 | Seinabo Sey | "Words" | Pretend |
| 2015 | Seinabo Sey | "Sorry" | Pretend |
| 2015 | Seinabo Sey | "Still" | Pretend |
| 2015 | Seinabo Sey | "Ruin" | Pretend |
| 2015 | Seinabo Sey | "Burial" | Pretend |
| 2015 | Seinabo Sey | "Pistols At Dawn" | Pretend |
| 2016 | MishCatt | "Another Dimension" | Highlighter |
| 2017 | Johnossi | "On A Roll" | Blood Jungle |
| 2017 | Avicii | "Friend Of Mine" (featuring Vargas & Lagola) | Avīci (01) |
| 2017 | Avicii | "Without You" (featuring Sandro Cavazza) | Avīci (01) |
| 2017 | Toby Randall | "Hold Me Down" | ONE. |
| 2017 | Axwell Λ Ingrosso | "More Than You Know" | More Than You Know |
| 2017 | Axwell Λ Ingrosso | "Something New" | More Than You Know |
| 2017 | Axwell Λ Ingrosso | "This Time" | More Than You Know |
| 2017 | Axwell Λ Ingrosso | "Renegade" | More Than You Know |
| 2017 | Axwell Λ Ingrosso | "Sun Is Shining" | More Than You Know |
| 2017 | Axwell Λ Ingrosso | "On My Way" | More Than You Know |
| 2017 | Axwell Λ Ingrosso | "Dreamer" | More Than You Know |
| 2017 | Axwell | "Barricade" | More Than You Know |
| 2018 | Seinabo Sey | "I Love You" | I'm a Dream |
| 2018 | Seinabo Sey | "Never Get Used To" | I'm a Dream |
| 2018 | Seinabo Sey | "I Owe You Nothing" | I'm a Dream |
| 2018 | Seinabo Sey | "Breathe" | I'm a Dream |
| 2018 | Seinabo Sey | "Good In You" | I'm a Dream |
| 2018 | Ghost | "Dance Macabre" | Prequelle |
| 2018 | Ghost | "Life Eternal" | Prequelle |
| 2018 | MagnusTheMagnus | "It Don't Impress Me" (featuring Madi Banja) | Non-album single |
| 2018 | MagnusTheMagnus | "Calling" (featuring KIDDO) | Non-album single |
| 2018 | David Guetta | "Light Headed" (with Sia) | 7 |
| 2018 | RØMANS | "Glitter & Gold" | Non-album single |
| 2018 | Salvatore Ganacci | "Kill A Soundboy" (featuring Nailah Blackman) | Non-album single |
| 2019 | Gryffin | "You Remind Me" (featuring Stanaj) | Gravity |
| 2019 | Frank Walker & Astrid S | "Only When It Rains" | Non-album single |
| 2019 | PRETTYMUCH | "Eyes Off You" | Phases - EP |
| 2019 | Avicii | "Peace Of Mind" (featuring Vargas & Lagola) | TIM |
| 2019 | Avicii | "Tough Love" (featuring Agnes, Vargas & Lagola) | TIM |
| 2019 | Avicii | "Excuse Me Mr Sir" (featuring Vargas & Lagola) | TIM |
| 2019 | Otto Knows | "About You" | Non-album single |
| 2019 | Ghost | "Kiss The Go-Goat" | Seven Inches of Satanic Panic |
| 2019 | Ghost | "Mary On A Cross" | Seven Inches of Satanic Panic |
| 2019 | Agnes | "Intro" | Nothing Can Compare |
| 2019 | Agnes | "I Trance" | Nothing Can Compare |
| 2019 | Agnes | "Not Dangerous" | Nothing Can Compare |
| 2019 | Agnes | "Interlude (What Is Wrong)" | Nothing Can Compare |
| 2019 | Agnes | "Limelight" | Nothing Can Compare |
| 2019 | Agnes | "Interlude (I Like To Sing)" | Nothing Can Compare |
| 2019 | Agnes | "Nothing Can Compare" | Nothing Can Compare |
| 2019 | Mapei | "Ether" | Sensory Overload |
| 2020 | Galantis | "Steel" | Church |
| 2020 | Galantis | "Unless It Hurts" | Church |
| 2020 | Galantis | "Never Felt A Love Like This" (with Hook n Sling featuring Dotan) | Church |
| 2020 | Agnes | "Goodlife" | Non-album single |
| 2020 | Lady Gaga | "Sine from Above" (with Elton John) | Chromatica |
| 2022 | Ghost | "Twenties" | Impera |
| 2025 | Ghost | "Satanized" | Skeletá |

#### Songwriting and production credits for local Swedish artists

| Year | Artist | Title | Album |
| 2013 | Veronica Maggio | "Sergels torg" | Handen i fickan fast jag bryr mig |
| 2013 | Veronica Maggio | "Jag lovar" | Handen i fickan fast jag bryr mig |
| 2013 | Veronica Maggio | "Hela huset" (featuring Håkan Hellström) | Handen i fickan fast jag bryr mig |
| 2013 | Veronica Maggio | "Va kvar" | Handen i fickan fast jag bryr mig |
| 2013 | Veronica Maggio | "Låtsas som det regnar" | Handen i fickan fast jag bryr mig |
| 2013 | Veronica Maggio | "Hädanefter" | Handen i fickan fast jag bryr mig |
| 2013 | Veronica Maggio | "Dallas" | Handen i fickan fast jag bryr mig |
| 2013 | Veronica Maggio | "Bas gillar hörn" | Handen i fickan fast jag bryr mig |
| 2013 | Veronica Maggio | "I min bil" | Handen i fickan fast jag bryr mig |
| 2013 | Petter | "Mighty" (featuring Newkid) | Början på allt |
| 2013 | Petter | "Början på allt" (featuring Eye N'I) | Början på allt |
| 2013 | Petter | "April" | Början på allt |
| 2013 | Petter | "Håll om mig" (featuring Daniel Adams-Ray) | Början på allt |
| 2013 | Petter | "Tills döden skiljer oss åt" | Början på allt |
| 2013 | Petter | "King" (featuring Lilla Namo) | Början på allt |
| 2013 | Petter | "Maj" | Början på allt |
| 2013 | Petter | "Arbete" | Början på allt |
| 2013 | Petter | "Alla vet" (featuring Agnes) | Början på allt |
| 2013 | Petter | "Fristad" | Början på allt |
| 2013 | Petter | "Juni" | Början på allt |
| 2013 | Petter | "Sitter på en dröm" | Början på allt |
| 2013 | Petter | "Minnen del II" | Början på allt |
| 2013 | Petter | "Släpp mig fri" | Början på allt |
| 2016 | Veronica Maggio | "Den första är alltid gratis" | Den första är alltid gratis |
| 2016 | Veronica Maggio | "Vi mot världen" | Den första är alltid gratis |
| 2016 | Veronica Maggio | "Pang pang" | Den första är alltid gratis |
| 2018 | Petter | "Kliv på!" (featuring Eye N'I) | Lev nu |
| 2018 | Petter | "Lev nu dö sen" (featuring Vargas & Lagola) | Lev nu |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Awards | Category | Nomination | Outcome |
| 2007 | The Swedish MPA Awards | Best Newcomer | Himself | Won |
| 2007 | The Monica Zetterlund Scholarship | Young and Promising Artist | Himself | Won |
| 2007 | SKAP Anniversary Award | - | Himself | Won |
| 2008 | Expressen Kultur - Spelmannen | - | Himself | Won |
| 2008 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Composer of the Year | Himself | Won |
| 2008 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Male artist of the Year | Himself | Won |
| 2008 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Producer of the Year | Himself | Won |
| 2008 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Newcomer of the Year | Himself | Won |
| 2008 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Song of The Year | "Good Song" | Nominated |
| 2008 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Album of The Year | "This Is Who I Am" | Nominated |
| 2008 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Lyricist of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2008 | P3 Guld | Best Male Artist | Himself | Nominated |
| 2008 | P3 Guld | Best New Artist | Himself | Nominated |
| 2010 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Composer of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2010 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Male Artist of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2011 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Song of the Year | "Keep On Walking" | Nominated |
| 2011 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Male Artist of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2014 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Composer of the Year | Himself (with Vincent Pontare & Magnus Lidehäll) | Won |
| 2014 | The Swedish MPA Awards | International Success of the Year | Himself (with Vincent Pontare & Magnus Lidehäll) | Nominated |
| 2015 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Best Children's Album | Himself (with Glada Hudik-Teatern & Pontus De Wolfe) | Won |
| 2015 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Composer of the Year | Himself (with Vincent Pontare & Magnus Lidehäll) | Nominated |
| 2015 | The Swedish MPA Awards | International Success of the Year | Himself (with Vincent Pontare) | Nominated |
| 2016 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Composer of the Year | Himself (with Vincent Pontare, Magnus Lidehäll & Seinabo Sey) | Nominated |
| 2018 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Composer of the Year | Vargas & Lagola | Nominated |