Hubbry Logo
Jessica FolckerJessica FolckerMain
Open search
Jessica Folcker
Community hub
Jessica Folcker
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Jessica Folcker
Jessica Folcker
from Wikipedia

Jessica Elisabeth Angelique Folcker (born 9 July 1975), known professionally as Jessica, is a Swedish singer. Her debut album Jessica in 1998 used her mononym, whereas follow up album Dino credited Jessica Folcker. Her following albums På svenska in 2005 and Skin Close in 2007 have used her full name Jessica Folcker. She is best known for her two international hits "Tell Me What You Like" and "How Will I Know (Who You Are)" both in 1998 and for "(Crack It) Something Going On" that featured her vocals and was a big hit for Bomfunk MC's in 2002.

Key Information

Biography

[edit]

Folcker was born as Jessica Elisabeth Angelique Folcker in Täby, Stockholm County, on 9 July 1975. Her mother is Swedish and her father is from Senegal.

Jessica attended Adolf Fredrik's Music School in Stockholm for six years until she was 17.[1] Her big dream of becoming a singer, was fulfilled when she was engaged as a backing singer for Ace of Base and Dr. Alban. She also performed the chorus in Leila K's hit "Electric" and did background vocals for E-Type.

On Jessica's debut album, named simply Jessica and released in autumn 1998, she worked with composer and producer Max Martin, known for having written Britney Spears' Baby One More Time. The album was an instant hit, and Jessica became an international star overnight. As a result, Jessica travelled to Asia for a six-week-long promotional tour across Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand, resulting in high sales in the region, including selling gold. In South Korea, her remake of David Foster classic Goodbye was used as the theme ballad for the movie A Promise, and rapidly became the most frequently played song on South Korean radio.

In Sweden, Jessica peaked the top of the single charts with two singles from the album; How Will I Know (Who You Are) and Tell Me What You like, both selling platinum. She also won two prizes at the awards show of Sweden's major pop radio station, NRJ: New Artist of the Year as well as Swedish Female Artist of the Year. No artist before her had won more than one award until then.

In 2000, two years after releasing her debut album, Jessica's second album came out, called Dino, nicknamed after one of her producers. Besides Europe and Asia, Jessica wanted to conquer the US as well this time around. However, since many Americans pronounced her surname similar to "fucker", she decided to change her name to Folker instead, without the c. Jessica's first single from the album, To Be Able To Love, became a hit in the States, with a remix by DJ Jonathan Peters spending ten weeks on the Billboard top 50 Dance Club Songs chart,[2] and soon Jessica went on a club tour to New York and New Jersey.

Another of Jessica's songs – Lost Without Your Love – once again became the theme tune of another Korean film, Indian Summer. Again, Jessica reached the top of the South Korean airplay chart. In April 2001, Jessica's song Miracles was chosen as the theme melody for the Dutch Fame Academy replica, Starmaker. Due to this, she decided to release the song as her second single from the album, her sixth in total.

Jessica debuted in the Swedish national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005. In Melodifestivalen 2005, she performed Om natten. 2006 she tried again, participating in the third semi final heat of Melodifestivalen 2006 on 4 March with the song When Love's Comin' Back Again. She failed, however, to qualify for the semi-final. She returned to Melodifestivalen 2014 together with Dr Alban where they both performed the duet Around the World, which placed 5th in the heat and did not qualify for the final.

2007 comeback

[edit]

Jessica worked in the studio on her fourth album since 2006. After working with several labels she became signed with Indie Label Cosmos Records. Her album was released in 2007 under the title Skin Close which had an electronic/80's pop sound. It was her first English-record since 2000. The only song of the record that was released as a single was "Snowflakes". The album failed to make an impact on the public.

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
Album and details Peak positions Notes
SWE
[3]
AUT
[4]
NED NOR
[5]
SWI
[6]
Jessica
  • Credited to Jessica
  • First studio album
  • Released: 1 September 1998
  • Label: Jive Records
  • Certified Gold (SWE)
  • Certified Platinum (South Korea)
  • Format: LP, cassette, CD
17 35 30 20 41 Track list
  1. Tell Me What You Like – radio edit
  2. I Do
  3. How Will I Know (Who You Are)
  4. Goodbye
  5. Falling in Love
  6. Tell Me Why
  7. Turned and Walked Away
  8. A Little Bit Longer
  9. If I Ever See Heaven Again
  10. Anywhere Is Paradise
  11. Private Eye
Dino
  • Credited to Jessica Folker
  • Second studio album
  • Released: 26 October 2000
  • Label: Jive Records
  • Format: LP, cassette, CD
26 47 Track list
  1. To be able to love
  2. Missing you crazy
  3. Crash like a wrecking ball
  4. Tonight
  5. If I was your girl
  6. I know love
  7. Been and gone
  8. Love you like a fool
  9. Punk
  10. Miracles
  11. Wish I were the one
  12. Dis-Moi Pourquoi
  13. Lost without your love
  14. I don't wanna talk about it
  15. Love you for all time
På svenska
  • Credited to Jessica Folcker
  • Third studio album
  • Released: 27 September 2005
  • Label: Transistor Music
  • Format: LP, CD, digital downloads
41 Track list
  1. Du kunde ha varit med mig
  2. Vad gör jag nu
  3. Låt mig alltid minnas dig så här
  4. När du vänder dig bort
  5. Om detta är ditt hem
  6. Nu och när
  7. Om du vill in i mitt liv
  8. Kom till mig
  9. Midnatts längtan
  10. Vad gjorde jag fel
  11. En annan sång
  12. Om natten
Skin Close
  • Credited to Jessica Folcker
  • Third studio album
  • Released: 11 June 2007
  • Label: Cosmos
  • Format: LP, CD, digital downloads
Track list
  1. Never Wanna Lose You
  2. Hot Night
  3. Voices of Today
  4. Snowflakes
  5. Lost in Your Eyes
  6. Desperately
  7. Always Something
  8. Spell I'm Under
  9. Me Against the World
  10. On the Run
  11. You Belong to Me
  12. Spell I'm Under Part II

Singles

[edit]

As lead artist

[edit]
Year Single Peak positions Album
SWE
[3]
AUT
[4]
BEL
(Vl)

[7]
FRA
[8]
GER
[9]
NED
NOR
[5]
SWI
[6]
1998 "Tell Me What You Like" 10 13 97 61 16 Jessica
"How Will I Know (Who You Are)" 7 4 13 62 24 6 20 17
"Tell Me Why" 85
1999 "I Do" 38 57 69 46
"Goodbye"
2000 "To Be Able to Love" 17 84 50 Dino
2001 "Crash Like a Wrecking Ball" 16 90
"Miracles" 30
2005 "Du kunde ha varit med mig" 38 På svenska
"Om natten" 25
2006 "When Love's Comin' Back Again" 38 Non-album release
2007 "Snowflakes" Skin Close
2014 "Gravity" Non-album release
Other releases
  • 2001: "Lost Without Your Love"
  • 2005: "Vad gör jag nu"
  • 2005: "En annan sång"
  • 2007: "Hot Night"
  • 2013: "It's All About You"
[edit]
Year Single Peak positions Album
SWE
[3]
AUT
[4]
BEL
(Vl)

[7]
FIN
[8]
GER
[9]
ITA
NOR
[5]
SWI
[6]
2000 "Trehundra dar"
(Blues feat. Jessica Folcker)
60 Blues album
Ny tid, ny strid
2002 "(Crack It) Something Going On"
(Bomfunk MC's feat. Jessica Folcker)
4 19 31 3 10 15 2 70 Bomfunk MCs album
Burnin' Sneakers
2013 "Strong Enough"
(Barnes & Heatcliff feat. Jessica Folcker)
22
2014 "Around the World"
(Dr. Alban feat. Jessica Folcker)
52
Other releases featured in
  • 1994: "U make me feel alright" (Amadin)
  • 1995: "Electric" (Leila K, chorus)
  • 2013: "Respect Yourself" (DJ Bobo & Jessica Folcker – from DJ Bobo album Reloaded)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Jessica Elisabeth Angelique Folcker (born 9 July 1975) is a Swedish pop and R&B , and former model of Swedish and Senegalese descent. She rose to prominence in the late with her self-titled debut album Jessica, which featured international hit singles including "Tell Me What You Like" (peaking at number ten in and charting in several European countries) and "How Will I Know (Who You Are)" (peaking at number seven in ). Her music, produced by renowned , blended pop with R&B influences and drew comparisons to artists like and Céline Dion. Born in , a suburb of , Folcker began her career as a model in the early before transitioning to music as a backup vocalist for international acts such as and . Her breakthrough came in 1998 when she signed with and released her debut single "Tell Me What You Like", which propelled her to stardom in and established her as one of the country's most successful export artists of the era. The album Jessica was certified gold in and earned her nominations including for the Swedish Best New Artist. Following her debut success, Folcker contributed vocals to the 2000 Dino and released the Swedish-language album På Svenska in 2005, which included the Melodifestivalen entry "Om natten". She later collaborated with on the 2002 hit "(Crack It) Something Going On" from their album Burnin' Sneakers and joined the pop group Afro-Dite in 2015 as a replacement member. Although her international profile waned in the , she remains active in the Swedish music scene, focusing on songwriting, humanitarian efforts, and occasional performances.

Early life

Family background

Jessica Elisabeth Angelique Folcker was born on July 9, 1975, in , a suburb of , . She is the daughter of a Swedish mother named Annette and a Senegalese father named Louis, reflecting her mixed Swedish and Senegalese heritage. Folcker grew up in Täby alongside her brother Isac, in a household shaped by her parents' diverse cultural backgrounds. This multicultural environment contributed to her early years, though she later transitioned to formal musical education.

Education

Jessica Folcker attended (Adolf Fredriks Musikklasser) in , a municipal elementary school renowned for its profile and rigorous musical curriculum, for six years, from the (typically beginning at age 10) until she completed the (around age 15–16). The institution, which admits students through highly competitive auditions starting from year 4 (typically age 10), emphasizes daily music and lessons to develop young talents in vocal and performance. At the , Folcker focused on vocal and musical , participating in the school's core choral program. This structured environment, known for fostering high international standards in music , provided her with essential skills in technique, , and stage presence. Her involvement in these activities built a strong foundation for her future career, igniting a lifelong passion for music that she had first discovered in nursery . The school's reputation for nurturing prominent Swedish artists underscores the quality of Folcker's early training, where she honed her abilities in a supportive yet demanding setting designed to cultivate professional-level musicianship from an early age.

Career

Early career as and model

Jessica Folcker entered the entertainment industry in the as a model in her native , where her distinctive Swedish-Senegalese heritage and striking features quickly garnered attention. She represented in the 1994 Miss Sweden competition, which opened doors to modeling assignments for magazines and designers, establishing her as a recognized in the local scene. Drawing on her early music education, which began at age six and continued through her teenage years, Folcker transitioned into session work as a in the mid-1990s, collaborating with prominent producers at Stockholm's . She provided prominent chorus vocals on Leila K's 1994 single "Electric," a track produced by and that became a notable hit. Her involvement in these sessions helped her forge key industry connections, including with producers who would later support her solo endeavors. Folcker contributed background vocals to several high-profile recordings during this period, including Dr. Alban's 1995 international success "Let the Beat Go On," where she sang alongside Nana Hedin. She also lent her voice to E-Type's tracks, such as background vocals on "I Just Wanna Be With You" (1996) and singing duties on "Calling Your Name" (1996), both produced at Cheiron. Additionally, she served as a backing singer for Ace of Base, contributing to their live performances and studio environment during their peak years. These roles as a session musician exposed her to the demands of professional recording and touring, building her vocal versatility amid the fast-paced Eurodance scene.

Solo debut and breakthrough

Following her experience as a backing vocalist for productions, Jessica Folcker transitioned to a solo artist with the release of her debut album Jessica on September 1, 1998, via . The record, largely written and produced by alongside and , was recorded and mixed at in , . This collaboration yielded a polished sound that blended catchy hooks with dance-oriented rhythms, marking Folcker's emergence as a lead performer. The album's lead single, "Tell Me What You Like," arrived earlier in 1998 and introduced Folcker's smooth vocals over upbeat production co-credited to Martin, Pop, and Lundin. It gained traction across , peaking at number 10 on the Swedish Singles Chart. The follow-up, "How Will I Know (Who You Are)," penned by , Lundin, and Martin and produced by Lundin, became her breakthrough hit, peaking at number 7 on the Swedish Singles Chart and charting for 21 weeks, achieving certification by the GLF (20,000 units). Both singles contributed to the album's commercial momentum, with Jessica itself certified gold in by the GLF (30,000 copies) and in by the RIAK following strong regional sales. Folcker's debut earned critical and industry acclaim, including two NRJ Awards in 1998 for New Artist of the Year and Swedish Female Artist of the Year—honors that underscored her rapid rise, as no prior artist had claimed more than one in a single ceremony. To capitalize on international interest, she embarked on a six-week promotional tour across , visiting , the , , , and , which boosted the album's sales and visibility in those markets. In the , the project saw early traction, paving the way for club performances in New York and .

Mid-2000s developments and Eurovision attempts

Following the international success of her 1998 debut album Jessica, which featured English-language tracks and charted abroad, Folcker shifted her focus toward the Swedish domestic market in the early 2000s, releasing music primarily aimed at local audiences. Her second studio album, Dino, was released on October 26, 2000, by , and marked a continuation of her pop sound with contributions from producers like and . The album entered the Swedish Albums Chart on November 9, 2000, peaking at number 26 and spending two weeks in the top 60. The lead single from Dino, "To Be Able to Love", was released earlier in 2000 and became one of the album's highlights, blending upbeat elements with Folcker's vocal style. It debuted on the Swedish Singles Chart on October 12, 2000, reaching a peak of number 17 and charting for nine weeks, providing moderate in her home market despite limited international promotion compared to her debut era. Other tracks from the album, such as "Missing You Crazy" and "Crash Like a ", received airplay in but did not achieve significant chart impact, reflecting a period of consolidation rather than expansion. By 2005, Folcker embraced her Swedish roots more explicitly with her third studio album, På svenska, released on May 2, 2005, by Transistor Music, featuring entirely Swedish-language tracks that explored ballads and Europop in a more introspective vein. The album debuted on the Swedish Albums Chart on May 12, 2005, at number 41, but dropped off after one week, indicating niche appeal within the domestic scene. Lead single "Du kunde ha varit med mig" entered the Swedish Singles Chart on March 3, 2005, peaking at number 38 for three weeks, while another track, "Vad gör jag nu", contributed to the album's focus on emotional, relationship-themed lyrics tailored for Swedish listeners. This period also saw Folcker's attempts to represent at the through , the national selection process. In 2005, she competed in Heat 3 of with "Om natten", a Swedish ballad co-written by Johan Fransson, Niklas Edberger, Tim Larsson, and Tobias Lundgren; the song placed sixth out of eight, failing to advance to the semifinals and later peaking at number 25 on the Swedish Singles Chart for three weeks. She returned in 2006 for Heat 3 with the English-language entry "When Love's Comin' Back Again", composed by Thomas G:son and Pontus Assarsson, finishing seventh out of eight and again not qualifying; the single reached number 38 on the Swedish charts, charting for five weeks. These bids underscored her growing emphasis on national visibility, though they did not propel her to broader Eurovision success or reverse the modest commercial trajectory of her mid-2000s releases.

Later career and collaborations

In 2007, Folcker released her fourth studio album, Skin Close, through the independent label Cosmos Records, marking a shift toward electro-pop and 1980s-inspired sounds after a period of transition between labels. The album featured 12 tracks, including the singles "Snowflakes," which received an official , and "Hot Night." Despite the creative evolution, Skin Close did not achieve the commercial success of her earlier work, contributing to a subsequent hiatus in major releases. A notable collaboration from this phase was her featured vocal appearance on "(Crack It) Something Going On" in 2002, a track that incorporated freestyle and electro elements while sampling prior hits, aligning with her exploration of dance-oriented production. In 2010, she participated in the charity single "Ta Min Hand (En Röst För De Glömda Barnen)," a multi-artist effort benefiting , showcasing her continued involvement in collaborative and philanthropic music projects. Folcker's most prominent later comeback attempt came in 2014, when she teamed up with veteran producer for the duet "Around the World" at , Sweden's national selection for the . Performed in the third heat in , the upbeat dance track placed fifth and failed to qualify for the finals, ending her direct Eurovision aspirations. In 2015, Folcker joined the pop group Afro-Dite, replacing , and remained a member until 2022. Following the entry, Folcker's music entered another extended hiatus, with no new or lead singles released by 2025. She has maintained a presence through occasional live performances and non-musical endeavors, such as becoming an for the Sprinkle Group's IT platform Sprinkle Fusion Model in 2019. This pattern of intermittent revivals amid longer breaks underscores the evolving challenges she faced in the Swedish pop landscape after her early successes.

Personal life

Relationships and children

Jessica Folcker had a long-term relationship with Italian antiques dealer Michele Buzzurro, with whom she shares two children: son , born in 2004, and daughter Carla, born on March 1, 2006. was diagnosed with , a genetic condition that has required ongoing medical management and influenced the family's daily life. In 2010, Folcker married Swedish designer Daniel Heckscher on August 14; the couple welcomed son Otis in 2009 and daughter on July 7, 2011. Their ended in in 2014, after which Folcker has primarily co-parented their children while maintaining a focus on family stability. The demands of raising four children, including managing Antonio's health challenges, significantly shaped Folcker's personal priorities and led to a marked reduction in her professional music activities after 2007, with no new albums released since that time. In a 2012 interview, she described how family responsibilities made it difficult to sustain her earlier career pace, emphasizing a shift toward being more present for her children. This period of scaled-back involvement allowed her to balance motherhood with occasional performances and songwriting.

Discography

Studio albums

Jessica Folcker's debut studio album, titled Jessica and credited under her mononym, was released on 1 September 1998 by . Produced primarily by , , and , the album showcases tracks with influences from , including highlights like the lead single "Tell Me What You Like," "How Will I Know (Who You Are)," and "I Do." It peaked at number 17 on the Swedish Albums Chart and spent 29 weeks in the top 100. Her second studio album, Dino, credited as Jessica Folker, followed on 26 October 2000, also via . Named in tribute to producer , the record explores themes of love and longing through upbeat pop arrangements, featuring tracks such as "To Be Able to Love," "Missing You Crazy," and "Crash Like a Wrecking Ball." It entered the Swedish Albums Chart at number 26, holding the position for two weeks. In 2005, Folcker released På svenska on Transistor Music, marking a shift to singing exclusively in Swedish. The album includes introspective ballads and mid-tempo pop songs like "Du kunde ha varit med mig," "Vad gör jag nu," and "En annan sång," reflecting personal emotions and relationships. It debuted at number 41 on the Swedish Albums Chart for one week. Folcker's fourth and most recent studio , Skin Close, came out on 30 May 2007 under Cosmos Records, evolving toward 1980s-inspired and electro elements. Key tracks include the single "Snowflakes," "Hot Night," and "Never Wanna Lose You," emphasizing a more electronic production style. The did not chart prominently in .

Singles as lead artist

Jessica Folcker's career as a lead artist began with her self-titled debut album in 1998, which spawned several singles that achieved notable success on the Swedish . Her early releases, produced by prominent Swedish songwriters like and , blended pop and dance elements, helping establish her in the late-1990s scene. Subsequent singles from later albums and independent efforts continued to appear on domestic charts, often tied to her participation in national competitions like . "Tell Me What You Like," released in August 1998 as the lead single from her debut album Jessica, peaked at number 10 on the Sverigetopplistan and spent 22 weeks on the chart. The track featured multiple remixes, including club and radio edits by producers such as StoneBridge, contributing to its dancefloor appeal across Europe. "How Will I Know (Who You Are)," the album's second single released in November 1998, reached number 7 on the Sverigetopplistan, charting for 21 weeks. It became one of her biggest international releases, entering the top 10 in Austria and charting in several European countries, with versions adapted for markets like Japan and South Korea. "To Be Able to Love," from her second album Dino (2000), was issued in October 2000 and peaked at number 17 on the , remaining on the chart for 9 weeks. The single's club mixes, including a Jonathan Peters radio edit, supported its promotion in dance-oriented markets. "Om natten," a Swedish-language entry for Melodifestivalen 2005 where it placed fifth in the first semi-final, was released in March 2005 and peaked at number 25 on the for 3 weeks. "Around the World," a collaboration with performed at (finishing fifth in the third heat), was released in February 2014 under joint billing and reached number 25 on the , charting for 3 weeks. Other notable lead singles include "I Do" (1999, peak #38, 6 weeks), "Crash Like a " (2001, peak #16, 15 weeks), "When Love's Comin' Back Again" (2006, peak #38, 5 weeks), "Snowflakes" (2007, from Skin Close, no major chart entry), and "Who Am I" (2013, feat. , no major chart entry), all from her early albums or standalone releases.
YearTitleAlbumPeak (SWE)Weeks on ChartNotes
1998Tell Me What You LikeJessica1022Remixes by StoneBridge; international release
1998Jessica721Top 10 in ; adapted versions for
1999I DoJessica386Ballad single
2000To Be Able to LoveDino179Club mixes prominent
2001Crash Like a Dino1615Rock-influenced pop track
2005Om nattenPå svenska253Melodifestivalen 2005 entry (5th place)
2006When Love's Comin' Back AgainStandalone385Promotional single
2007SnowflakesSkin CloseLead single from album
2013Who Am I (feat. )StandaloneComeback single
2014Around the World (with )Standalone253 heat (5th place)
Jessica Folcker's contributions as a featured artist on singles span her early career as a through later collaborations, often highlighting her in , hip-hop, and pop genres. Her most prominent featured role came in 1995 on Leila K's "Electric," where she performed the chorus, helping the track achieve significant chart success in . Subsequent features included hip-hop and electronic tracks, with varying degrees of commercial impact. In 2000, Folcker provided vocals for Swedish hip-hop group on "Trehundra dar," a single from their album Ny tid, ny strid, which entered the Swedish Singles Chart at number 60 for one week. Her collaboration with Finnish group on "(Crack It) Something Going On" in 2002, a remix-inspired track from their album Burnin' Sneakers, marked one of her highest-profile features. The single peaked at number 4 on the Swedish Singles Chart, spending 15 weeks in the top 100, and reached number 10 on the German Singles Chart for two weeks, with a total of 17 weeks on the chart. In 2010, Folcker joined a ensemble of Swedish artists—including Alcazar, Anna Sahlene, Darin, and others—for the charity single "Ta Min Hand (En Röst För De Glömda Barnen)," benefiting . Released as a on Held & Bäck Records, the track supported efforts but did not achieve notable chart positions. A later feature appeared in 2013 on DJ BoBo's "," from his Reloaded, where Folcker contributed vocals to the track. While the album charted in several European countries, the single itself saw limited independent release and no major chart entries. Earlier in her career, Folcker sang lead vocals on Amadin's 1994 Eurodance single "U Make Me Feel Alright," produced by and released on Logic Records, though it did not chart prominently. She also provided chorus vocals for Leila K's 1995 hit "Electric" from the album Manic Panic, produced by and ; the single peaked at number 8 on the Swedish Singles Chart and number 2 on the Finnish Singles Chart. More recent collaborations include "Waiting" (2021), featured on tracks by Horny United and Zito (with various remixes released through 2023), which did not achieve major chart positions.
YearSingleMain ArtistNotable Charts
1994"U Make Me Feel Alright"Amadin
1995"Electric" (chorus)Sweden: #8; : #2
2000"Trehundra dar": #60
2002"(Crack It) Something Going On": #4 (15 weeks); : #10 (17 weeks)
2010"Ta Min Hand (En Röst För De Glömda Barnen)"Various artists (charity)
2013"Respect Yourself"
2021"Waiting"Horny United / Zito

References

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.