# Vargas and Lagola

Vargas & Lagola are a Swedish songwriting and production duo of Vincent Pontare and Salem Al Fakir.
They have worked with many artists, including Avicii, Axwell & Ingrosso, David Guetta, Galantis, Madonna and Seinabo Sey. In addition to their songwriting and production work, they release alternative pop music.

## Career

Vincent Pontare and Salem Al Fakir have gone from successful solo artists to Swedish Grammy Award winning songwriters and producers. Among the first co-writes together are Avicii’s 2013 Billboard Hot 100 single "Hey Brother" and "Younger" by Seinabo Sey.
At the 2014 Swedish Grammy Awards Vargas & Lagola 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 they wrote numerous songs on Mapei’s album Hey Hey and Avicii’s "The Days" and "Divine Sorrow" (with Wyclef Jean). Vargas & Lagola 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
### Albums

| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Details | SWE |
| The Butterfly Effect | Released: 31 January 2020 Label: Salem Al Fakir AB / Baby Hurricane AB, Universal Music Format: Digital download, streaming | 16 |
| Mount Alda | Released: 30 October 2020 Label: Salem Al Fakir AB / Baby Hurricane AB, Universal Music Format: Digital download, streaming | 24 |

### Singles
#### As lead artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Title | Year | SWE | Certifications | Album |
| "Rolling Stone" | 2017 | — | | Non-album single |
| "Dolores (The Awakening)" | 2017 | — | | Non-album single |
| "As Long As I Have To" | 2017 | — | | Non-album single |
| "Sun Is Shining (Band of Gold)" | 2017 | — | | Non-album single |
| "More Than You Know (Acoustic)" (featuring Agnes) | 2017 | — | | Non-album single |
| "Roads" | 2018 | 17 | GLF: Gold | Non-album single |
| "Selfish" | 2019 | — | | Non-album single |
| "Shores" (with Seinabo Sey) | 2019 | 61 | | Non-album single |
| "Since 99" | 2019 | — | | The Butterfly Effect |
| "Forgot to Be Your Lover" | 2019 | — | | The Butterfly Effect |
| "Somebody That Understands Me" (featuring Ludwig Göransson) | 2020 | — | | The Butterfly Effect |
| "Hurts to Be Hurt" | 2020 | — | | The Butterfly Effect |
| "Always" | 2020 | — | | Mount Alda |
| "Suddenly" | 2020 | — | | Mount Alda |
| "Big Hearted" | 2021 | — | | Mount Alda |
Notes
* ↑ "Hurts to Be Hurt" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number eight on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.

#### As featured artist

List of songs, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | SWE | US Dance | Album |
| "Friend of Mine" (Avicii featuring Vargas & Lagola) | 2017 | 5 | 44 | Avīci (01) |
| "Lev nu dö sen" (Petter featuring Vargas & Lagola) | 2018 | — | — | Lev nu |
| "Peace of Mind" (Avicii featuring Vargas & Lagola) | 2019 | 17 | 22 | TIM |
| "Tough Love" (Avicii featuring Agnes, Vargas & Lagola) | 2019 | 2 | 9 | TIM |
| "Excuse Me Mr. Sir" (Avicii featuring Vargas & Lagola) | 2019 | 30 | 34 | TIM |

### Songwriting and production credits

| Year | Artist | Title | Album |
| 2012 | Swedish House Mafia | "Save The World" | Until Now |
| 2012 | Sebastian Ingrosso & Tommy Trash | "Reload" | Non-album single |
| 2012 | Dada Life | "Kick Out The Epic Motherf**ker" | Non-album single |
| 2012 | Nause | "Hungry Hearts" | Non-album single |
| 2012 | Avicii | "Silhouettes" | Non-album single |
| 2013 | Katy Perry | "Love Me" | Prism |
| 2013 | Avicii | "You Make Me" | True |
| 2013 | Avicii | "Hey Brother" | True |
| 2014 | John Martin | "Anywhere For You" | Non-album single |
| 2014 | Galantis | "Smile" | Galantis (EP) |
| 2014 | Galantis | "You" | Galantis (EP) |
| 2014 | Galantis | "Help" | Galantis (EP) |
| 2014 | Dada Life | "Born To Rage" | Non-album single |
| 2014 | Dada Life | "One Smile" | Non-album single |
| 2014 | Mapei | "Blame It On Me" | Hey Hey |
| 2014 | Mapei | "As 1" | Hey Hey |
| 2014 | Mapei | "Second to None" | Hey Hey |
| 2014 | Mapei | "Believe" | Hey Hey |
| 2014 | Mapei | "Step Up" | Hey Hey |
| 2014 | Mapei | "What's Innit 4 Me" | Hey Hey |
| 2014 | Wyclef Jean | "Divine Sorrow" (featuring Avicii) | Non-album single |
| 2014 | Avicii | "The Days" | The Days/Nights |
| 2014 | David Guetta | "Bang My Head" (with Sia) | Listen |
| 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 | "Gold Dust" | Pharmacy |
| 2015 | Galantis | "Dancin' To The Sound Of A Broken Heart" | Pharmacy |
| 2015 | Galantis | "Kill Em' With The Love" | Pharmacy |
| 2015 | Galantis | "Call If You Need Me" | Pharmacy |
| 2015 | Galantis | "You" | 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 |
| 2016 | Miike Snow | "Heart Is Full" | iii |
| 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 Radall | "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 |

#### 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 |
| 2014 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Composer of the Year | Vincent Pontare, Salem Al Fakir & Magnus Lidehäll | Won |
| 2014 | The Swedish MPA Awards | International Success of the Year | Vincent Pontare, Salem Al Fakir & Magnus Lidehäll | Nominated |
| 2015 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Composer of the Year | Vincent Pontare, Salem Al Fakir & Magnus Lidehäll | Nominated |
| 2015 | The Swedish MPA Awards | International Success of the Year | Vincent Pontare and Salem Al Fakir | Nominated |
| 2016 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Composer of the Year | Vincent Pontare, Salem Al Fakir, Magnus Lidehäll & Seinabo Sey | Nominated |
| 2018 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Composer of the Year | Vargas & Lagola | Nominated |
| 2018 | The Swedish MPA Awards (together with STIM) | Most Played Song 2017 | Axwell Ʌ Ingrosso – "More Than You Know" | Won |
| 2018 | The Swedish MPA Awards | Song of the Year | Avicii - "Without You" (feat. Sandro Cavazza) | Nominated |
| 2019 | The Swedish MPA Awards (together with STIM) | Most Played Song 2018 | Avicii - "Without You" (feat. Sandro Cavazza) | Won |
| 2020 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Producer of the Year | Tim Bergling, Vincent Pontare, Salem Al Fakir, Albin Nedler, Kristoffer Fogelmark, Carl Falk, Lucas von Bahder, Marcus Thunberg Wessel | Nominated |
| 2020 | Swedish Grammy Awards | Composer of the Year | Tim Bergling, Vincent Pontare, Salem Al Fakir, Albin Nedler, Kristoffer Fogelmark, Isak Alverus, Carl Falk, Joakim Berg, Lucas von Bahder, Marcus Thunberg Wessel, Martin Svensson | Nominated |