Scan Magazine | Culture Profile | Kongegaarden
Artful harmonies
By Louise Older Steffensen
Just by the Storebælt Bridge lies Korsør, a beautiful little town by the sea that has been an important crossover point between eastern and western Denmark since the 15th century. One of the jewels amongst the town’s historical buildings is Kongegaarden (the King’s Court), which played host to numerous royals and their affairs. Today, it forms the perfect backdrop to art exhibitions and music events. Built in 1761, the house was restored to its former glory in the 1990s and converted into a regional centre for the arts. The bottom floor became the permanent home for the collections of German-Jewish artist, teacher and TV personality Kurt Harald Isenstein, who fled to Denmark in the 1930s. Educated at Berlin’s Academy of Arts, he became acquainted with characters such as Einstein, with whom he played the violin, and one of Isenstein’s most famous works is the Einstein bust now at the Einstein centre in Potsdam. Later well-known works include his Niels Bohr and Queen Margrethe depictions. “We have more than 7,000 Isenstein pieces, from models to drawings to sculptures,” says director Joy Petrowsky. “His warm, classic modern style
really brings out his subjects’ vitality and individuality.” The centre also plays an active role in developing the arts through two resident flats: the resident musician has studio access to the top floor concert hall, which has such excellent acoustics that both residents and international musicians have
Photo: Børge T. Andersen
Scandinavian music Swedish superstar Miss Li has been gone from the scene for an absolute age. But she returns to music now with the release of her brand new single, Bonfire. It is a reggaetinged, retro chic pop number that is ripe for a balmy September. Pure class, but not afraid to let its big ginger bouffant hair down, which is incidentally Miss Li’s new look. Danish duo THANKS is a new act that should be on everyone’s radar. Anders and Anders (both formerly of Alphabeat) have turned Jill Scott’s Golden into a funkedup, souled-out, disco dancefloor banger on new single Livin’ My Life. It has been giving me major feel-good vibes since its release in August, and I reckon it should last for many more weekends to come. Finnish artist Lyel has got herself a new synth-pop stunner out. It is Coming For The Rain – a lush ballad with an electronic soundscape within which there is a great deal to discover. It is the lead single from 110 | Issue 92 | September 2016
used it for professional recordings, and the luscious gardens feature summer concerts for the whole family. The rest of the building hosts changing art exhibitions interplaying with the beautiful old Rococo house, which itself has many stories to tell. King Christian VII enjoyed his own visit in the 1770s, for example, while his queen Caroline Mathilde stayed the night with the king’s scandalous doctor Struensee a few months later… For more information, please visit: www.kongegaarden.dk
Photo: Kongegaarden
By Karl Batterbee
her debut EP, which will be out on 30 September. To hear more from her before its release, check out her previous track, Shadow, which served as an enticing introduction to the new artist. I have yet to recover from the awesomeness of her first single, and am therefore still giving Shoot You Down lots of spins. But regardless, Swedish newcomer Nea Nelson has returned with the follow-up release. It is called Danger Love and is another huge pop number from her: an attitude-laden statement track with an epic chorus that deserves loads of attention from pop fans across the globe. Finally, this is the best chorus I have heard all summer and, thankfully, the rest of the song is pretty amazing too. Behold Tordenkys, the debut single from Danish artist MAIA. She has spent the last few years writing for other artists both in and outside Denmark, but is now fronting
her own songs herself. And what a gem she has held back for her own launch! Tordenkys (meaning ‘Thunder Kiss’, if you were wondering) is a euphoric belter with an infectious and uplifting melody. Some might find the Danish language lends itself a little differently to pop music than, say, the Swedish language. But the appeal of Tordenkys is undeniable.
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