Yaki-Da

The Yaki-Da project was formed in February 1994, initially conceived by Jonas Berggren of the group Ace of Base as a female solo project. However, meeting Marie Knutsen and Linda Schönberg turned the idea into a duo.

The name Yaki-Da, meaning “cheers” or “to your health” in Welsh, was chosen for the duo. They recorded their first album “Pride” at Tuff Studio. The first single, Show Me Love, released initially only in Scandinavia, became a success. It was followed by I Saw You Dancing, which was distributed in continental Europe.

The album “Pride” had a worldwide release and was particularly successful in South Korea (approximately 400,000 copies sold), as well as in the Far East, South America, and South Africa. The music on this album is often described as a mix between the sounds of Ace of Base and the singer Ofra Haza.

A legal constraint regarding the use of the name Yaki-Da, already registered by a nightclub in Gothenburg, forced the duo to change their name in Sweden. At the same time, Jonas Berggren, very busy with the international success of Ace of Base, no longer had time to write or produce a second album for them.

Under the new name Y-D (pronounced “why-dee”), Marie Knutsen and Linda Schönberg prepared their second album “A Small Step for Love” with several renowned Scandinavian producers, such as Douglas Carr, Ole Evenrude, Jonas von der Burg, Candy Hill, and Remee. The resulting album sold very well in South Korea but was not distributed in continental Europe.

The project is also known under several spelling variants, including Yaki Da, Y-D, Ya Ki Da, or Yakida.