Tommy Sparks

Falling somewhere between Calvin Harris and Junior Senior, dance-pop singer Tommy Sparks broke through in 2009 with the slick club cut "She's Got Me Dancing." Born in Gothenburg, Sweden, but raised in Stockholm, Sparks first fell in love with hip-hop before gravitating toward the alternative rock of the Pixies and Sonic Youth. By the end of his teens he fell in love with dance music thanks to his new favorite group, the Prodigy. When he moved to London he formed the group Vatican DC. After two years of gigs, singles, and EPs, the group broke up, launching Sparks' solo career in the process. He got to work with his idols in early 2009 when he contributed vocals to the Prodigy B-side "Wild West." In May he did the same for Filthy Dukes, although this time "Messages" would be the A-side and the centerpiece of the group's Nonsense in the Dark album. Soon after, Sparks' own hit single "She's Got Me Dancing" landed on the Island label, with his self-titled debut album following in August.