Danish Music Wards Jazz coming up this monday at Vega.
The work for the BABEL project is nominated. "Jazz Composer of The Year". Love that the music was noticed and heard. Beautiful company.
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I’m working on the soundtrack for the movie from last week. The theme is ebbs and flows, so I tried to let it rise and fall in terms of tempo and sound complexity. I used my mouth harmonica for the first time—a present I got recently. Here is a peek into the studio, and a raw demo file of what it sounds like right now... very first draft, I need more development and stuff...
Anna
Full sound file:
For those who are new, this is a new place that I'm testing, where I get to share much more about my artistic process than I usually do. I have videos from Essaouira and Marocco of new musical ideas I can't wait to share with you. Please leave a comment to this post if you like, just saying hi there and potentially who you are?
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Mark SolborgHere's a little something - mostly for Danish speaking folks. Godnatkoncerten is a joint venture by writer par excellence Adda Djørup and me. We have collected inspiration from lullabies, fabulating literature, hymns, film noir and more to make a "goodnight concert" for grownups that integrates text, sologuitar and electronics. It is gentle, soft, strange, sorrowful and humoristic while both soothing and slightly disturbing. Credits: Adda Djørup: Text, voice Mark Solborg: Music, guitar and knobs Alma Solborg Burian: Clarinet (part 2) Recording and mix: Peter Barnow and Mark Solborg Master: John Fomsgaard, Karmacrew Artwork: Adda Djørup Layout: Sofie Winding Editor: Julie Paludan-Müller Support: Statens Kunstfond and Autor
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Luna ErsahinAySay’s debut album Su Akar is a vibrant fusion of Danish and Anatolian musical traditions, blending ornamental guitar figures, the saz, and powerful glissandos into a mesmerizing soundscape. Led by Danish-Kurdish artist Luna Bülow Ersahin, the trio—featuring drummer/producer Aske Døssing Bendixen and guitarist Carl West Hosbond—seamlessly weaves languages, styles, and cultures into a singular musical experience. The album’s title, Su Akar (Turkish for “When water flows, it finds a way”), reflects its fluidity, transitioning effortlessly between Danish, Turkish, Kurdish, and even a made-up language with Turkish-inspired tones. Tracks like the titular “Su Akar” showcase this natural flow, combining Danish verses with fiery violin and distorted guitar that rise and fall like gentle waves. Ersahin’s rich, emotive vocals shine throughout the album, from the heartfelt Danish ballad “Guld og Grønne Skove” to the rhythmic and ritualistic “Xong – Bre,” where her gliding glissandos add a unique dynamism. With contributions from guest musicians, including Frederik Snæland on piano and virtuoso baglama player Orhan Özgür Turan, Su Akar balances Nordic mysticism with the funky energy of Anatolian rock. The result is a genre-defying masterpiece that celebrates cultural diversity, storytelling, and the transformative power of music. A standout in the Nordic and world music scenes, Su Akar is as profound as it is innovative, drawing comparisons to acts like Sigur Rós, Sorten Muld, and Kalaha. It’s an ode to connection, identity, and the beauty of bridging worlds.
I had an inspiring meeting with the film director Suvi and got a sneak peek at some scenes from the movie. The story centers on an aid worker in Ethiopia, who shares a beautiful quote that truly resonated with me:
“I feel like a solar panel placed under the sun, destined to help other people. That makes me feel truly fulfilled.”
It’s such a powerful sentiment, and it’s given me inspiration to start composing the score. My aim is to create something subtle—not overly emotional, neither melancholic nor overly joyful. Striking that delicate balance will definitely be a challenge, and I’d love your thoughts as I go.
I’ll share a draft soon—stay tuned!
In the movie editor studio
Last night Max Richter performed at a completely sold out DR Koncerthus!
This amazing venue hosted Max and his 6 musicians, and for me - as a composer writing music not that different from Max’s - it very encouraging that this kind of music has reached this level of popularity 🙂🎶 It gives all of us neo-classical composers hope 🙏🏻
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Randi PontoppidanThe Paper Trio was created when Thomas was asked to play a concert at a Paper Museum/Gallery in the countryside of Denmark. Luck had it that Randi and I became the other two musicians in the band. But the gig had its caveats—we could only get paid if we used actual paper to make our sounds. So we all scrambled to find interesting types of paper in the studio there and briefly practiced incorporating these sounds into our normal trio world. Lo and behold, it worked! The public loved the paper sounds, and the Paper Trio was born. After that concert, we were inspired to take this trio into the studio and capture these sounds, and more. You can hear the recorded sounds of paper stamping machines and other paper fabrication machines being used. Each piece was introduced in the studio simply with a mood or title, and then we started to play. We hope you enjoy this effort as much as we have enjoyed making it.
“I’m not usually into poetry, but I had the most enchanting and uplifting experience last night, where Edith Södergran’s poems were carried straight under my skin — and into the hearts of the entire audience — through Anna’s music and singing, Stina’s beautiful recitations and singing, and Jeppe and Nicholas’ incredible musical virtuosity. And yes, we were all on a first-name basis by the end, because the four of them — along with Edith — managed to create such an intimate space where we could all share in the joy together. Thank you for that — it was a truly special experience!” – KIRSTEN
Playing music is already such a gift in itself — but when it’s clear that it truly touches the audience, it all feels even more meaningful. The organizer was moved to tears, and a member of the audience shared this beautiful message with us…
Excited to share with you our very new album Hippo Road, listen to it here on Sleeve in high quality! I'm curious if the music sparks any thoughts or emotions, you're more than welcome to share in a comment - or maybe you have somebody you know, who you want to share it with?