Sweetbox is a German-based pop music project formed in 1995 by executive producer Heiko Schmidt and music producer Roberto "Geo" Rosan. Pineda started writing and recording for her first studio album in September 2007, the same month she turned 19. Unlike the previous singers of the project, Pineda co-wrote around the globe with several writers for her debut album including Georgie Dennis, Toby Gad and Derek Bramble, who would go on to produce Pineda's first Sweetbox album.

After almost two years in the works, the album's lead single "We Can Work It Out" was released to Japan in April 2009. The album, titled The Next Generation, was released in Japan under the Warner Music Japan label in June 2009 and in South Korea under the Sony BMG label in November 2009. The Next Generation was well received in Japan, where two singles were released and had greater success in South Korea, where three singles were released. In Japan the album hit #4 on the Oricon International Charts and in Korea it hit several charts including a 4-week stay on Bugs and 5 other #1's on Soribada, Mnet, Daum, Naver and SKT NATE RT.

In January 2010, Schmidt announced that Pineda had finished writing for the album and that the second release from Pineda would be recorded in the coming months and would be released in the second quarter of 2010. He stated that the new album would feature "more uptempo and high energetic songs" then the projects previous release. In February 2010, Pineda traveled to Sweden and began work on the album. That May it was announced via Pineda's Twitter that the album would be released in September 2010. The album release was subsequently postponed. On February 23, 2011, Pineda announced via her Facebook page that her new album, Diamond Veil, will be released physically on April 27, 2011, in Japan. The album received mainly positive reviews but failed to chart well. Pineda left Sweetbox quietly in 2012.

Miho Fukuhara and LogiQ Pryce

Auditions, Reveal and #Z21

In the Fall of 2012, the Sweetbox website reported with a message that there would be an open casting call to find a Japanese female artist to front the project. The project called upon fans to create their own music video – the winning contestant then was flown out in April to be a part of a music video shoot. It was announced in May 2013 that Japanese singer-songwriter Miho Fukuhara would join Antiguan vocalist/hip hop artist-songwriter LogiQ Pryce, making it the first time that two individuals would lead Sweetbox and also the first time that a male vocalist would be included.

Along with the reveal, the title of the album #Zeitgeist21 respective #Z21 was revealed.

On July 3, 2013, Sweetbox's 9th studio album #Z21 was released in Japan as well as digitally worldwide. The album was the lowest selling album in Sweetbox history.

Jade Villalon and Saint Viv

Da Capo

Discography

  • Sweetbox (1998)
  • Classified (2001)
  • Jade (2002)
  • Adagio (2004)
  • After The Lights (2004)
  • Addicted (2006)
  • The Next Generation (2009)
  • Diamond Veil (2011)
  • #Z21 (2013)
  • Da Capo (2020)

Awards

  • 1998 Japan Gold Disc Award - New Artist of the Year (International Division)

References

  • Official Sweetbox Website