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Dilba
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Dilba
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Key Information

Dilbahar Demirbağ (born 24 November 1971), known as Dilba, is a Swedish pop singer of Kurdish background. Her first album Dilba (1996) reached commercial success.

Early life

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Dilba was born in Kirvan, a village in eastern Turkey, and her family is ethnic Kurd.[1] She immigrated to Sweden when she was only four years old, where she grew up in Karlstad and Uppsala. She has four siblings: Dilşa, Dilnarin, Dilber and Assan.

Dilba was introduced to the piano as early as when she went to kindergarten and is also self-taught in the guitar. She started her career as a DJ and she has also worked as a backup singer for the Swedish pop singers Jennifer Brown and Eric Gadd.

Recording career

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In 1996, Dilba released her debut album Dilba together with the single I'm Sorry. She wrote all the songs by herself. The album was a success, and she was awarded with a Grammy and the Aftonbladet prize Rockbjörnen. The album sold more than 100,000 copies in Sweden.

After a successful summer tour in 1997, it took two years until she released her second album You & I in 1999. It was rewarded with a "five plus" accolade by Aftonbladet and overall acclaim by critics; the disc sold over 20,000 copies in Sweden, reaching gold certification.

Dilba's third album Revolution was released in March 2003, along with the single Every Little Thing, which was a success on the radio. In 2005, Dilba composed the song Miracle, which became the theme score for the Swedish television's TV-series Kommissionen. Also, during the autumn of 2005, Dilba had regular live performances at a club in Stockholm.

Dilba participated in Melodifestivalen 2011, the Swedish selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. She competed in the first semi-final on 5 February 2011 at Coop Norrbotten Arena, Luleå with the song "Try Again" (Pettersson/Sonnvik) but she did not qualify for the next round. The song however became an instant hit, went straight to iTunes number one and Digilistan's second place. An EP of "Try Again" also followed.

Personal life

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In 1998, Dilba met pop singer Martin Svensson at a party, and they later married in the summer of 2000. A divorce was filed in 2002.

In July 2007, Dilba was detained from boarding a plane to the United States after joking that she had some planes to bomb.[2]

Dilba also starred in Let's Dance 2008, but was voted off the show.

Her sisters are dancer Dilnarin Demirbag and journalist Dilsa Demirbag-Sten.

Discography

[edit]
  • Dilba (1996)
  • You & I (1999)
  • Live at Lydmar (2002)
  • Revolution (2003)

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dilba

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Dilba is a Swedish singer-songwriter of Kurdish descent known for her emotive vocal style and her breakthrough in the Swedish pop music scene during the 1990s. Born Dilbahar Demirbağ on 24 November 1971 in Elazığ, Turkey, she immigrated to Sweden with her family at the age of four, where she later developed her musical career. Her self-titled debut album Dilba was released in 1996 and achieved commercial success in Sweden, establishing her as a prominent artist with a focus on personal, storytelling lyrics and expressive performances. Dilba's music spans pop and singer-songwriter genres, often characterized by sensitivity and emotional depth. Throughout her career, she has released several albums and continued to engage with audiences through live performances and occasional television appearances, including competing in Melodifestivalen in 2011. As the sister of dancer Dilnarin "Dee" Demirbag and journalist Dilsa Demirbag-Sten, she comes from a creative family background that has influenced her artistic path. Dilba remains recognized for her contributions to Swedish music in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Early life

Family origins and birth

Dilbahar Demirbağ, known professionally as Dilba, was born on 24 November 1971 in Elazığ Province, southeastern Turkey. She was born into an ethnic Kurdish family in a region often referred to as the Turkish part of Kurdistan or North Kurdistan. Dilba is one of five children in her family. Her siblings include her older sister Dilşa (Dilsa Demirbag-Sten, a journalist and author), Dilnarin (a dancer and singer known as Dee), Dilber, and Assan.

Immigration to Sweden and upbringing

Dilba immigrated to Sweden at the age of four together with her parents and four siblings, fleeing persecution in Turkey after her father, who was politically active, became targeted by authorities. The family first settled in Karlstad before relocating to Uppsala, where she spent much of her childhood and upbringing. Coming from a Kurdish family, Dilba has described her recollections of life in Turkey as fragmentary and largely based on family stories, including their constant movement across the Kurdish mountains amid strong traditions. She has spoken of her first impressions of Sweden as beautiful and still regards the country as a profound idyll. From an early age, Dilba began playing piano and developed a self-directed interest in music, later teaching herself guitar without formal instruction. Her early engagement with music remained informal and self-motivated throughout her childhood.

Music career

Pre-solo work and breakthrough

Dilba began her professional music career by working as a DJ in Stockholm's club scene, where she gained initial experience in the music industry. She later provided backing vocals for several Swedish artists, including Jennifer Brown and Eric Gadd. In 1995, Dilba released her first single as a lead artist, "Not Directly", on the EMI label, which served as her entry into solo recording. This release built anticipation for her forthcoming debut album and represented her breakthrough into the mainstream Swedish music scene as a singer-songwriter. Her early work in support roles and the single helped establish her presence in the industry before her self-titled debut album appeared the following year.

Debut album and 1990s success

Dilba released her self-titled debut album Dilba in 1996, with all songs written by the artist herself. The lead single "I'm Sorry" was also released that year and marked her entry into the mainstream Swedish music scene. The album's introspective lyrics and soulful pop style resonated with audiences, establishing Dilba as a prominent new voice in Swedish music. The album achieved significant commercial success in Sweden, selling over 100,000 copies. In recognition of her debut work, Dilba was awarded a Grammis as well as the Aftonbladet Rockbjörnen prize in 1996. She performed "I'm Sorry" live at the Grammisgalan in 1997, highlighting the song's lasting impact from the period. Subsequent singles in the late 1990s included "I'll Catch A Star" in 1996, followed by "Raindrops" and "We'll Stay" in 1997, which continued to build on her early momentum and maintained her presence on Swedish charts. These releases solidified her position as a key figure in the Swedish pop landscape during the decade.

2000s albums and releases

Dilba's second studio album, You & I, was released in 1999 and sold approximately 20,000 copies in Sweden. The album garnered positive critical reception, including a "five plus" rating from Aftonbladet. From the album, the singles "You And I" and "The One" were released in 1999. In 2002, she issued the live album Live at Lydmar, capturing her performances during that period. Her third studio album, Revolution, followed in 2003, with the lead single "Every Little Thing" enjoying notable radio success upon release. Additional singles from the album included "Diamonds And Motorcars" in 2003 and the promotional "Maybe" in 2003. In 2005, Dilba released the single "Miracle", which she composed specifically as the theme music for the SVT television series Kommissionen.

Later career and Melodifestivalen participation

In 2008, Dilba released the single "Easy" as a digital track, marking a continuation of her solo output following her earlier albums. The song was distributed through labels associated with her brand and made available on platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify. She returned to the spotlight in 2011 by participating in Melodifestivalen, Sweden's pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song "Try Again". Written by Niklas Pettersson and Linda Sonnvik, the track was performed in the first semi-final on 5 February 2011 at Coop Norrbotten Arena in Luleå. Dilba finished 8th in the heat and did not advance to the final or second-chance round. The song achieved immediate digital success, reaching number 1 on the Swedish iTunes sales chart and number 2 on Digilistan. An accompanying EP, "Try Again - Remix", followed on 5 April 2011 via X5 Music Group. Dilba's activity since then has been more limited in terms of new releases, though she has maintained a presence through occasional live performances. No major new studio albums or further Melodifestivalen entries have been documented in prominent sources post-2011.

Acting and soundtrack contributions

On-screen roles

Dilba's on-screen work has been limited compared to her music career, with her primary acting credit coming in a scripted television role. She portrayed Mamma in the SVT miniseries Älskade Samir (2023), marking her debut in dramatic acting on screen. Dilba has expressed interest in expanding into more acting projects following this role. She has also made numerous appearances as herself across television programs, documentaries, and specials, totaling 14 such credits. One notable example is her appearance as herself in the documentary Fuck You, Fuck You Very Much (1998), which focuses on events in the Swedish music scene including a high-profile award competition. These self-appearances often relate to her music activities or guest spots on variety and talk shows.

Soundtrack and theme work

Dilba has contributed songs to several Swedish film and television productions as a performer and songwriter. She performed and wrote "Could It Be" for the youth series Eva & Adam (1999), where it featured in two episodes. "Exception" was her contribution to the soundtrack of the crime drama film Exit (2006). Her song "Miracle" was selected as the theme music for the SVT political drama series Kommissionen (2005). In addition, she performed her entry "Try Again" during the Melodifestivalen 2011 broadcasts. These works highlight her occasional role in supplying original music for media outside her main discography.

Personal life

Marriage and relationships

Dilba met pop singer Martin Svensson at a party in Stockholm in 1998. They married in the summer of 2000 after a proposal about a year into their relationship. The wedding took place at a private location followed by a reception at restaurant Riche in Stockholm, and Dilba took Svensson as her surname effective July 13, 2000. The couple separated in early 2003. Following the separation, Dilba stated that they remained good friends. Later in life, Dilba has a daughter named Astrid and lives with her partner Christian in Vaxholm.

Public incidents

In July 2007, Dilba was denied boarding on a US Airways flight from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to Philadelphia after making a joke about bombing planes during check-in. She explained that she felt singled out and discriminated against due to her appearance, as security staff asked her more questions than other passengers, prompting her frustrated response: "Jag har några plan att bomba på vägen hem" ("I have some planes to bomb on the way home"). The comment led to her immediate removal from the check-in line along with her travel companion, and she was informed that she was banned for life from flying with US Airways. Dilba described being treated "som en terrorist" ("like a terrorist") and expressed feeling insulted by the handling of the situation. She subsequently apologized to anyone offended by her remark, stating she wanted to "be alla som tagit illa vid sig om ursäkt" ("apologize to everyone who took offense"). She rebooked her travel with SAS the same day and considered reporting US Airways for discrimination. The airline maintained that it contacts authorities when concerns arise about a passenger and denied any discrimination.

Discography

Studio albums

Dilba's self-titled debut studio album, Dilba, was released in 1996 and marked her breakthrough in the Swedish music scene. The album sold more than 100,000 copies in Sweden and received a Grammis award along with the Rockbjörnen prize from Aftonbladet. Her second studio album, You & I, appeared in 1999 and sold 20,000 copies. Dilba released the live album Live at Lydmar in 2002, capturing performances from her shows at the Lydmar venue in Stockholm. Her third studio album, Revolution, followed in 2003.

Singles and other releases

Dilba has released a number of singles across her career, often tied to her studio albums or as standalone efforts, with some gaining notable attention in Sweden. Her first single, "Not Directly", appeared in 1995 via WEA Records. This was followed by "I'm Sorry" in 1996, which served as the lead single from her self-titled debut album and peaked at number 3 on the Swedish singles chart, spending 30 weeks on the chart. In 1997, she released "Raindrops" through the same label. Her 1999 single "You And I" aligned with her second album of the same name. In 2003, Dilba issued "Every Little Thing" and collaborated with Stephen Simmonds on "For Father". That same period saw her participation in the charity single project Artister För Amnesty in 1998, featuring multiple Swedish artists including Dilba. She released "Miracle" in 2005, which served as the theme song for the Swedish television series Kommissionen. "Easy" followed in 2008 on X5 Music Group. In 2011, Dilba competed in Melodifestivalen with the single "Try Again", where it reached number 1 on iTunes Sweden upon release. The song was performed in the first heat on February 5, 2011, but finished eighth and was eliminated.

References

  1. https://www.thelocal.se/20070703/7776
  2. https://www.last.fm/music/Dilba
  3. https://www.discogs.com/artist/578784-Dilba
  4. https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/dilba
  5. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7EIe1Y7mnJmzqQ3OzrDHWq
  6. https://musicbrainz.org/artist/cb099ac2-0782-4a11-b635-aebb94a8a2d9
  7. https://www.allas.se/noje/dilba-ar-tillbaka-efter-utbrandheten/140090
  8. https://stadsevent.se/artist/Dilba
  9. https://www.nwt.se/2020/11/05/dilba-ater-aktuell-ochquotskapa-musik-lika-sjalvklart-som-att-ata-och-andasochquot-55ae3/
  10. https://www.etc.se/inrikes/dilba-star-upp-kurderna
  11. https://www.discogs.com/artist/272706-Dilba?noanv=1&type=Credits
  12. https://www.discogs.com/master/351308-Dilba-Dilba
  13. https://www.discogs.com/release/942713-Dilba-Im-Sorry
  14. https://www.last.fm/music/Dilba/+wiki
  15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdNAbtTaoEg
  16. https://www.discogs.com/release/2982387-Dilba-You-And-I
  17. https://music.apple.com/gb/album/easy-single/288971442
  18. https://open.spotify.com/track/6P9sdXC1inZePpnDqn7pKA
  19. https://eurovisionworld.com/national/sweden/melodifestivalen-2011/dilba-try-again
  20. https://www.shazam.com/song/430565263/try-again-original-version
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21929228/fullcredits/
  22. https://www.expressen.se/noje/dilbas-brollopsplaner-med-fastmannen-nya-karriaren/
  23. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1472516/fullcredits/
  24. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0384113/
  25. https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/a/XwqPPE/dilba-och-martin-gar-skilda-vagar
  26. https://www.femina.se/nostalgi/sa-gick-det-for-martin-svensson-och-dilba-efter-krossade-aktenskapet/7732270
  27. https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/jag-blev-behandlad-som-en-terrorist/
  28. https://bestsellingalbums.org/artist/3280
  29. https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Dilba&titel=I%27m+Sorry&cat=s
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