Photo courtesy of A*Teens
The Swedish pop band A*Teens is composed of Sara Lumholdt, Amit Paul, Dhani Lennevald and Marie Serneholt.

For anyone who grew up in the early 2000s, the name A*Teens carries a very specific kind of electricity — the kind that lived on burned CDs, bedroom stereos, mall clothing stores and the soundtrack of a generation that danced its way into the new millennium.

Now, after more than 20 years away from the studio, the Swedish pop group is stepping back into the spotlight with “Iconic,” a new single that blends nostalgia with a modern dance-floor pulse.

The release marks the group’s first new music in more than two decades, a comeback that longtime fans once considered impossible.

For a new generation discovering early-2000s pop through streaming and social media, it’s an introduction to a group whose sound helped define an era.

Pop phenomenon reborn

Formed in 1998, A*Teens — Marie Serneholt, Sara Lumholdt, Dhani Lennevald, and Amit Paul — exploded onto the international scene with “The ABBA Generation,” a debut album that reimagined ABBA classics for a new audience. The record sold more than 2 million copies worldwide and went Gold or Platinum in over 22 countries.

Their follow-up hits, including “Upside Down,” “Halfway Around the World,” and the club-ready “Floorfiller,” cemented them as one of Sweden’s most successful pop exports.

They toured with Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, landed songs in major films like “Lilo & Stitch” and “The Princess Diaries,” and became staples of early-2000s pop culture. Then, at the height of their fame, the group stepped away — a hiatus that stretched into two decades.

But the spark never fully faded. In 2024, the group reunited for a 25th-anniversary medley performance that blended their own hits with ABBA favorites. The crowd’s reaction was explosive, and the band later admitted that the moment planted the seeds for something bigger. ‘

“We didn’t know it then, but the response we received after our interval act became the starting point for our comeback,” the group said. Over the next two years, they toured internationally, reconnecting with fans from Chile to the UK and performing at events like Stockholm Pride.

New era begins with “Iconic”

Their comeback single, “Iconic,” is exactly what its title promises — a high-energy dance track that fuses the group’s signature pop sound with modern EDM influences. The song was crafted by an award-winning team that includes writers behind Loreen’s Eurovision-winning hit “Tattoo,” giving the track a contemporary edge while preserving the melodic hooks that defined the A*Teens sound.

The song opens with a vocal mix reminiscent of “Floorfiller,” then drops into a pulsing beat that feels tailor-made for clubs, festivals, and nostalgic living-room dance parties.

Lyrics like “We’re gonna reach for the starlight, dance the night away, make it iconic” capture the group’s trademark optimism — the same energy that once made them global teen-pop royalty.

A*Teens themselves describe the track simply: “Iconic has a chorus that sticks after the first listen, a banger that ties together ATeens then and now. The song is what it says — iconic.”

Why their return matters

For fans who grew up with the group, the comeback is more than a musical release — it’s a time capsule. A*Teens were part of a wave of early-2000s pop that blended bubblegum melodies with dance-floor beats, a sound that defined school dances, summer vacations, and the early days of digital music. Their return taps into that nostalgia while offering something fresh enough to resonate with today’s listeners.

But the comeback also reflects how pop culture cycles. The early-2000s aesthetic — from fashion to music — has surged back into relevance, embraced by Gen Z and younger audiences who weren’t alive when A*Teens first topped charts. “Iconic” bridges those worlds, giving longtime fans a rush of familiarity while offering new listeners a polished, contemporary dance track.

Nostalgic future

After 20 years, A*Teens are stepping back into a world that has changed dramatically — but their music still carries the same spark. “Iconic” is both a throwback and a fresh start, a reminder of the joy they once brought to millions and a promise of what might come next.

For fans who once danced to “Upside Down” in their bedrooms, and for new listeners discovering the group for the first time, A*Teens’ return is a reminder that pop music — at its best — is timeless.