Takykardia – New Danish Talent

 

Even though it's still Thursday, the Danish trio Takykardia has already dropped this week's standout track.

 "You Got Me Feeling Bad" harkens back to the breakbeat sound that dominated airwaves across Europe in the late 90s, offering today's listeners a full Y2K experience. 

"Among the three of us, there's a desire to tap into uncharted energies. Our only limit is our imagination, and as a collective, we aim to grow and maintain a sense of curiosity about the past, present, and future. 

'You Got Me Feeling Bad' is a celebration of independence rather than being in a relationship that undermines my self-esteem and confidence!" says Luna Matz of Takykardia. Takykardia is establishing themselves as one of the most promising acts in Denmark, garnering acclaim from Earmilk, Kaltblut, DMY, VICE, BBC Radio, and Rinse FM.

 Spotify Link

https://open.spotify.com/track/4PfeqR8W6G9eEbYbPRmPsp

Smart Patrulje - more than just pop music

 

Smart Patrulje is a Danish synthpop/indie-pop/electronic project. The band originates from Aarhus, but claims to work across places, time, environments, experience, and age. In its core, Smart Patrulje consist of sound artist/composer/producer Niels Gade, and songwriter, poet and storyteller Clara Locke.

“We like to involve other artists via online collaboration and, have as such, worked with and created music and films with artists from places like Beijing, London, British Columbia, Madrid, Ringe and Aarhus not to be forgotten ;-)”

On their debut album “IDIOSYNCRATIC”, Smart Petrulje dive into storytelling: Their songs explore topics of repeating behaviour patterns, loss, loneliness and becoming an adult. We’ve all heard countless songs revolving around these matters, yet Smart Patrulje sound like more than just pop with indifferent lyrics. They truly build stories and characters that we can relate to and reflect on.

No song is predictable on “IDIOSYNCRATIC”

While listening, “IDIOSYNCRATIC” reminded me of the time I spent in Copenhagen at the beginning of autum. When mornings were misty and mysterious, people biking to work emerged from the fog like ghosts. When the city felt suspended between waking and dreaming. “Copenhagen, where are you, Copenhagen, I miss you” Clara Locke sings in the song titled simply “Copenhagen”. If you ever spent some time in the Danish capital, especially in autumn, you can understand exactly what she means by that phrase. The song is a great example of Smart Patrulje’s sophisticated use of electronics and creation of melodies that can’t be put into the “pop genre” box.

Nothing is as it seems, no song is predictable on “IDIOSYNCRATIC”. When you start to think you figured Smart Patrulje out, they surprise you with an unexpected twist in their music. Inspired by industrial electronics (“Maureen”), jazz (“Copenhagen”) and rock (“You Girl”), Smart Patrulje smoothly lay lyrics over unconventional melodies. Clara Locke’s vocals are like clouds, passing fast in the sky on a windy day. Her voice is dynamic throughout the whole record: She is hitting gentle notes in “Invisible Woman” right after roughing it up in “Maureen”.

Smart Patrulje reminds me of Giana Factory at times, especially in “Here Comes Jo”. Perhaps that is because of the pulsating beat present in many songs on “IDIOSYNCRATIC” and Clara Locke’s vocals.

Smart Patrulje shine with “Darlene”

The highlight of the album is “Darlene”. The song is presented in two mixes and the idea behind this approach is brilliant, executed perfectly by the duo. In their words:

‘”Darlene (1983)” is about the journey from naive youth to adulthood. In the song, Darlene’s naivety is torn from her and, as a result, a part of her is destroyed. She hasn’t yet discovered how to protect herself, or how to put herself back together. Darlene represents the hole in all of us when the veil of childhood is lifted, and we see the world with adult eyes. The hole is forgotten over time, as we get used to and accept this new world.”Darlene (1993)” is the same story as in “Darlene (1983)”, but in a different mix. She has become 10 years older.’

Smart Patrulje present an album that has an exactly correct dose of mystery and ambiguity. They will keep you interested and engaged, but not confused. In the vast sea of “simply pop music”, “IDIOSYNCRATIC” definitely stands out as something more. Dive into it and see what you’ll discover.

Alleged Music Streaming Fraud Case in Denmar

 A 53-year-old Danish man is on trial in Aarhus, accused of making approximately 4.38 million kroner (£502,000) through fraudulent means on music streaming platforms between 2013 and 2019. The prosecution alleges that the streams of 689 music pieces on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouSee Musik were artificially generated.

The defendant faces charges of data fraud, including the unauthorized use of techniques to inflate stream numbers, and breaching copyright by appropriating works from other artists, altering them, and releasing them under his own name.

The trial is the first of its kind in Denmark, with proceedings expected to last three days, and a verdict anticipated the following Tuesday. The defendant has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors are seeking a fine, prison sentence, and the seizure of the defendant's royalties if convicted.

Members of Autor, a Danish association for composers and songwriters, describe the case as unprecedented and global in nature, emphasizing the need for a clear verdict to protect musicians' rights.

 The Danish Rights Alliance flagged the case in 2018, highlighting the challenges posed by artificially generated plays that breach streaming service terms and may allow for unjust royalty collection.

The case underscores growing concerns about fraudulent practices in music streaming, potentially affecting the livelihoods of artists and the integrity of the music industry as a whole.

• 
  

5 Danish Artists Who Made It To The Billboard Hot 100

 

Even though Denmark is a tiny country, we still have some impressive musicians. It is, of course, a proud feeling to see Danish artists on the big international top charts.

This article will focus on five brilliant Danish artists who made it to the top 20 on the American Billboard Hot 100.

• Lukas Graham (with “7 Years”) ...
• MØ (Feat. ...
• Aqua (with “Barbie Girl”) ...
• Mike Tramp (with “When the Children Cry”) ...
• Bent Fabricius-Bjerre (with “Alley Cat”)

Danish Pop Songs to Know

 While Denmark might not have quite as much internationally iconic music as its neighbor to the north, Sweden, it’s still got plenty of great songs from legendary artists. Danish pop music found its heyday in the 1970s with breakout acts such as Gasolin’, TV-2 and Anne Linnet, who remained popular largely only in Denmark.  

In 2005, Music Export Denmark (MXD) launched. A non-profit aimed at promoting Danish music around the world, MXD has been successful in helping a long line of Danish acts reach international audiences.  

Every country has their list of pop songs that are ubiquitous, playing in the background at family gatherings and being hummed gently in the shower. Knowing those songs brings you a bit closer to the culture and, hopefully, introduces you to a few artists you didn’t know before. These are the Danish songs that (almost) everyone at the party will know:


    
Otto Brandenburg – To lys på et bord….


Gasolin’ – Kvinde Min


C.V. Jørgensen – Costa del Sol


Kim Larsen – Midt Om Natten


Lars Hug – Elsker Dig For Evigt


Anne Linnet – Tusind Stykker


Laid Back – Baker Man


Thomas Helmig – Stupid Man


Olsen Brothers – Fly On The Wings Of Love


Aqua – Barbie Girl


Whigfield – Sexy Eyes

Malk De Koijn – Vi Tager Fuglen På Dig

Tv-2 – De Første Kærester På Månen

Nik & Jay – Lækker

Alphabeat – Fascination

Rasmus Seebach – Engel

Medina – Velkommen Til Medina

Oh Land – White Nights

MØ – Don’t Wanna Dance

Fallulah – Perfect Tense

One of the secret Danish music legends has passed away

 Morten Munch died with his daughter by his side last Sunday morning in Copenhagen. Morten was in a very bad condition due to many years of Alzheimer's, which struck him at a very early age.

 

 

 

 

 

He had some amazing peaks in his career, reaching the stars with silver and gold records, topping the album charts and even a grammy. Morten was part of the Danish metal band Skagarack from 1986 to 1991 on Bass. Skagarack was successful in Denmark, Germany and UK

 

From the end of the 80s to 2015 Morten became a producer and sound engineer for well-known bands and performers in the industry.
Worked on 2 albums with Michael Learns To Rock: Colours and Nothing To Lose
and on releases with: Kick The Kangaroo, Hopscotch, Cut N´ Move, Den Gale Pose, Sticks N´ Fire, Emotions, Bonnie Tyler, Pretty Maids, Østkyst Hustlers, Anders Mattesen (Terkel I Knibe), Marie Key band, Ivan Petersen, Sweethearts, Lars H.U.G & Dr Baker

And probably the best selling Christmas record in Denmark “The Julekalender” with “De Nattergale” from 1991.
Morten had the best of both worlds, he was a gifted musician and a really skilled sound engineer, 

 Morten's funeral has taken place.

VOLBEAT's MICHAEL POULSEN Launches New Death Metal Band ASINHELL

Volbeat's frontman, Michael Poulsen, is no stranger to the world of death metal. In the '90s, Poulsen played in the band Dominus and has always been vocal about his love for the genre. Now, Poulsen is diving back into death metal with his new band, Asinhell. Their first single, "Fall Of The Loyal Warrior," pays tribute to the bands that have influenced Poulsen, such as Bolt Thrower, Entombed, Autopsy, Grave, and Darkthrone.

"We're very excited to share the first taste of Asinhell with 'Fall of the Loyal Warrior,'" says Poulsen. "The song is kind of a tribute to bands I love... They're the reason why we can do this in the first place, and we're proud to wear our influences on our sleeve."

Asinhell, consisting of Poulsen on guitar, Marc Grewe on vocals (formerly of Morgoth and Insidious Disease), and Toft Hansen on drums (from Raunchy), will release their debut album, Impii Hora, on September 29. The album draws inspiration from the old-school death metal of the late '80s and early '90s, with a particular focus on the legendary band Death, fronted by Chuck Schuldiner.

Metal Blade Records will be releasing Asinhell's album, and Poulsen couldn't be more thrilled about it. "It's such a dream come true for me

SEE MUSIC VIDEO