Petra Marklund
A Swedish pop powerhouse who turned infectious dance beats into a soundtrack for European clubs and radio waves for over a decade.
Born 1984 (age 42)·Swedish singer, songwriter and television presenter·Birthday: September 12·Millennials
Biography
Petra Marklund's voice found its way into recording studios when she was barely a teenager, setting the stage for a career that would define a certain strand of 2000s Europop. Adopting the moniker September, she broke through with the irrepressibly catchy "La La La," a song that announced her talent for crafting euphoric, floor-filling anthems. Over the next ten years, she released a string of albums that cemented her status in Sweden and beyond, her music a blend of pulsing synths and heartfelt, direct lyricism. While the September project concluded in 2012, Marklund seamlessly transitioned, using her birth name for more personal songwriting and stepping into the role of a television host, proving her artistic versatility extends far beyond the DJ booth.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Petra was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Petra Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Petra's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Her single 'Cry for You' became a massive international hit, reaching the top ten in over fifteen countries.
- She released five studio albums under the September alias, with several achieving gold status in Sweden.
- She successfully reinvented her career as a solo artist under her own name after retiring the September project.
Did You Know?
She began recording in professional studios at the age of twelve.
Her stage name 'September' was chosen by her first producer, Jonas von der Burg.
She co-hosted the Swedish television show 'Så mycket bättre' (So Much Better).
“A good pop song should feel like a burst of light in a dark room.”
