Peter Svensson and Magnus Sveningsson, both heavy metal musicians, formed the group in 1992 in Jonkoping, Sweden, with drummer Bengt Lagerberg, keyboardist Lars-Olof Johansson and lead singer Nina Persson. Living together in a small apartment, The Cardigans recorded a demo tape which record producer Tore Johansson heard, leading to invitation to record at a studio in Malmö. Their debut album was Emmerdale (1994), which include the Swedish radio hit "Rise & Shine". The album was later voted the best of 1994 by a readers poll in Slitz magazine.
The rest of 1994 was spent touring Europe and recording Life, which was released in 1995. Life became an international success, selling more than a million copies worldwide and achieving platinum status in Japan. They were signed to Mercury Records thereafter, and released First Band on the Moon in 1996 was a marked departure from previous works, including more unusual accompaniment and lyrics with violent themes. "Lovefool" was a hit across the globe, especially in the United States and again in Japan, where the album reached platinum in only three weeks.
1998's Gran Turismo was less popular, and was followed by a long hiatus that ended in 2003 with the quieter, more introspective Long Gone Before Daylight.
Recently, the band has followed a more country music style, perhaps to generate more sales in the USA.