Laban

Laban was a Danish pop group formed in 1982 by singers Ivan Pedersen and Lecia Jønsson, who emerged from the Danish music scene after a manager suggested a Danish version of an Italian hit. Their debut single "Hvor ska' vi sove i nat?" was released in March 1982 and sold over a million copies, quickly establishing the duo as a leading act in Denmark. The success of the single led to the release of their self‑titled album Laban in October 1982, which went gold on its first day and was followed by Laban 2 (1983) and Laban 3 (1984), both achieving platinum status in Denmark. In 1985 the duo signed with Mega Records, expanding their sound with synthesizers and releasing Laban 4 (1985) and the single "Kold som is" (1985). Their breakthrough into the international market came with the English‑language album Caught by Surprise (1986), featuring the hit "Love in Siberia" which entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number 88, and reached number 38 on the U.S. Dance Chart. A second international album, Roulette (1987), followed, though it did not match previous chart success. The final Danish album, Laban 5 (1987), was released before the duo disbanded in 1988 after a brief tour. Since the split, both members pursued solo projects, and a comprehensive box set Komplet & Rariteter was issued in 2010, preserving Laban’s catalog.