SPOT Festival 2013 - Program UK by SPOT Festival

SPOT FESTIVAL 2013 IS SUPPORTED BY THE DANISH ART COUNCIL AND AARHUS MUNICIPALITY

Y When Saints Go Machine The Break-Through Is an Ongoing Process

Den Sorte Skole brings you three lessons at SPOT

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INFO / band presentation / SPOT VENUES / SEMINARs

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12.04 – 13.09.2013

magteNS korridorer

madS laNger

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Se hele programmet og beStil på rockcruiSe.dk

FOTO: Niko

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Welcome to SPOT 2013 After SPOT last year we received both praise and complaints. A lot of praise for the music and the great atmosphere. However, a lot of people were annoyed that it was difficult to get in to see the concerts they had singled out. The new stages and rooms created bottlenecks to the inconvenience of audience and guests. We are determined to remedy those things this year with bigger rooms and hallway space and more flexible access to the stages between the concerts. Because we would like to show the world once again how much great music we have to offer in Denmark and the Nordic countries.

SPOT is happy about the constantly increasing international interest and endorsement – from those of you who keep returning and the new faces from the international music business, cultural institutions and media Thank you for your interest and our mutual collaboration. We hope that everybody will enjoy the SPOT Festival 2013 and leave with great impressions and new possibilities. Gunnar K. Madsen Head of SPOT Festival

contents 04 Sponsors & partners 05 Info 06 Spot Venues

articles: 08 When Saints Go Machine

The Break-Through Is An Ongoing Process

10 Den Sorte Skole

Expanded curriculum with DJ-commune

12 Penny Police

Auto harp - and a talent for poetry

13 A Modern Requiem

Royal mezzosoprano in interaction with rock musicians, designers, poets and more.

14 The Sound of Danish Folk Music

14 SPOT On Denmark SPOT Festival on tour in Europe

15 Natalie Lafourcade

Million-selling singer on her first visit in Denmark

16 Music, Film & Interactive

SPOT Festival branches out

18 SPOT Mix-Up

An abundance of free pleasures in connection with SPOT

presentation: 19 SPOT Festival

Presentation of this years’ performances at SPOT

34 Seminars

Keynotes, debates etc. about the world of music

A deeper melancholy and a longing for the light

Publisher: GAFFA A/S Vester Allé 15 8000 Århus C

Translation: Daniel Heydorn, Signe Langeberg Pedersen, Søren Bastholm

Editor-in-chief: Peter Ramsdal

Pictures: Morten Rygaard, Nikolaj Lassen Christian Hjorth, Simon Weyhe

Cover photo Morten Rygaard Words: Klaus Thode, GAFFA (unless otherwise stated)

FOTO: Nikolaj Lassen

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SPOT-info: Kasper Rønberg Schultz, Henrik Friis, Jon Hededal, Mikkel Møl Dalsgaard, Daniel Heydorn, Malene Schelde, Søren Jensen Lund.

Festival artwork: Mads Find Design & layout program Martin Ellgaard Frederiksen Nikolaj Lassen The program is subject to alterations

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SPOT FESTIVAL IS ARRANGED BY ROSA – The Danish Rock Council in collaboration with MXD – Music Export Denmark Funded by the Danish Arts Council and the City of Aarhus Main Sponsors: ROYAL BEER ● DFDS SEAWAYS ● MERCEDS-BENZ Partners: DMF – Danish Musicians’ Union ● KODA ● DPA – Danish Auteurs of Popular Music DAF - Dansk Artist Forbund ● GAFFA ● ORA – Organisationen af Rytmiske Amatørmusikere ● RMF SPOT FESTIVAL IS ARRANGED BY ROSA – The Danish Rock Council in collaboration with MXD – Music●Export Denmark ● The Animation Workshop FilmbyAarhus ● Shareplay ● Promus ● JazzDanmark ● DR-P3 Europcar Funded by the Danish Arts Council and the City of Aarhus SPOT FESTIVAL ARRANGED BY Musikparlamentet ● WMD - WorldIS Music Denmark ● The RoyalSPOT Academy Music BY ● Aamer Khan ● Mads Find FESTIVAL ISof ARRANGED ROSA – The Danish Rock Council in collaboration with MXD – Music Export Denmark ROSA – The Danish Rock Council in collaboration with MXD – Music Export Denmark Main Sponsors: ROYAL BEER ● DFDS SEAWAYS ● MERCEDS-BENZ Mikkel Mørk Hegnhøj Kalles Kaffe KarriereKanonen ● Bibzoom ● Volume ● Rhythmic Music Conservatory Funded by●the Danish Arts Council●and the City of Aarhus Funded by the Danish Arts Council and the City of Aarhus Partners: DMF–– Danish Musicians’ Union ● KODA ●Labels DPA – Danish of Popular Music Studenterhuset Aalborg ● DUP Danish Independent ● Auteurs Videnscenter for Musik ● Helsingør Theater Main Sponsors: ROYAL BEERArtist ● DFDS SEAWAYS ● MERCEDS-BENZ Main Sponsors: ROYAL BEER ● DFDS SEAWAYS DAF - Dansk Forbund ● GAFFA ● ORA – Organisationen af Rytmiske Amatørmusikere ● RMF ● MERCEDS-BENZ Culture Works ● Fairbar for● Paradis ● Miracle ● Danish ● The Skanderborg Festival FilmbyAarhus●● Øst Shareplay Promus ● JazzDanmark ● DR-P3 ● Europcar ●Designers The Animation Workshop Partners: DMF – Danish Musicians’ Union● ●WMD KODA ● DPAMusic – Danish Auteurs of Popular Music Partners: DMF – Danish Musicians’ Union ● KODA ● DPA – Danish Musikparlamentet - World Denmark ● The Royal Academy of Music ● Aamer Khan ● Mads Find Auteurs of Popular Music Venues: Musikhuset Aarhus ● Radar ● Scandinavian Congress Center DAF - Dansk Artist Forbund ● GAFFA ORA – Organisationen afKarriereKanonen Rytmiske Amatørmusikere ●●RMF DAF - Dansk Artist Forbund ●Volume GAFFA●●Rhythmic ORA – Organisationen af Rytmiske Amatørmusikere ● RMF Mikkel Mørk●Hegnhøj ● Kalles Kaffe ● ● Bibzoom Music Conservatory FilmbyAarhus ● Shareplay ● Promus ● JazzDanmark ● DUP DR-P3 ● Europcar ● The Animation Workshop FilmbyAarhus ● Shareplay ● Promus ● JazzDanmark ● DR-P3 ● Europcar ● The Animation Workshop Studenterhuset Aalborg ● – Danish Independent Labels ● Videnscenter for Musik ● Helsingør Theater VoxHall ● Atlas ● Godsbanen ● Headquarters Musikparlamentet ● WMD - World Music Denmark Royal Academy of Music ● Aamer Khan ●Designers Mads Find Musikparlamentet ● WMD - World Music Denmark ● The RoyalFestival Academy of Music ● Aamer Khan ● Mads Find Culture Works●●The Fairbar ● Øst for Paradis ● Miracle ● Danish ● The Skanderborg Mikkel Mørk Hegnhøj ● Kalles Kaffe ● KarriereKanonen ● Bibzoom ● Volume ● Rhythmic Conservatory Mikkel Mørk Hegnhøj ●Music Kalles Kaffe ●Congress KarriereKanonen Venues: Musikhuset Aarhus ● Radar ● Scandinavian Center ● Bibzoom ● Volume ● Rhythmic Music Conservatory International Partners: Studenterhuset Aalborg ● DUP – Danish Independent Labels ●VoxHall Videnscenter Musik ● Helsingør Studenterhuset Aalborg ●●DUP –Theater Danish Independent Labels ● Videnscenter for Musik ● Helsingør Theater ● Atlasfor ● Godsbanen Headquarters De Concert (EU) ● Reeperbahn Festival (DE) ● c/o● Danish pop Designers (DE) ● The Skanderborg Festival Culture Works ● Fairbar ● Øst for Paradis ● Miracle ● Danish Designers ● The Skanderborg Culture Works ● Fairbar ●Festival Øst for Paradis ● Miracle International Partners: Venues: Musikhuset Aarhus ● Radar De ● Scandinavian Congress Center Venues: Aarhus Concert (EU) ● Reeperbahn FestivalMusikhuset (DE) ● c/o pop (DE)● Radar ● Scandinavian Congress Center INK Music (AT) ● Boogie Drugstore (FR) ● FACTORY 92 (DE) ● Friendly Fire (NL) ● Lautstark (CH) VoxHall ● Atlas Godsbanen Headquarters VoxHall ● Atlas ● Godsbanen ● (CH) Headquarters INK Music● (AT) ● Boogie●Drugstore (FR) ● FACTORY 92 (DE) ● Friendly Fire (NL) ● Lautstark International Partners: International Partners: Días Nórdicos ● MusicWoche (DE) ●(DE) The North Sea Region (EU) Sea Días Nórdicos (ES) ●(ES)MusicWoche ● The North Region (EU) De Concert (EU) ● Reeperbahn Festival (DE) ● c/o pop (DE) De Concert (EU) ● Reeperbahn Festival (DE) ● c/o pop (DE) INK Music (AT) ● Boogie Drugstore (FR) ● FACTORY 92 (DE) ● Friendly Fire (NL) ●● Lautstark (CH) INK Music (AT) Boogie Drugstore (FR) ● FACTORY 92 (DE) ● Friendly Fire (NL) ● Lautstark (CH) Días Nórdicos (ES) ● MusicWoche (DE) ● The North Sea Region (EU) Días Nórdicos (ES) ● MusicWoche (DE) ● The North Sea Region (EU)

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INFO TICKET SALES

2-day tickets to the SPOT Festival, 3-4 May 2013 are 535 kr. online (+ tax) – at the festival site the price is 550 kr. (+ tax). 1 day tickets for 3rd or 4th of May are 330 kr. online (+ tax) – at the festival site the price is 350 kr. (+ tax). ONLINE PURCHASE: billet.spotfestival.dk

ACCESS TO THE FESTIVAL

Exchange of tickets to wristbands will take place at the arcade by Scandinavian Congress Center’s concert halls. Opening hours: Thursday: 16:00 – 22:00 Friday: 13:00 – 23:00 Saturday: 13:00 – 23:00

SCHEDULE

The schedule for SPOT 2013 will be handed out at the festival entrance. It is available for download from www.spotfestival.dk as well. The schedule is subject to change.

LIMITED CAPACITY

We encourage everyone to be aware that the SPOT Festival’s stages have limited capacity. It is therefore advised to arrive in due time before show start.

DIFFERENT VENUES, DIFFERENT RULES

Please be advised that the festival is hosted by different concert venues and that varying rules and regulations may occur.

FOTO: Nikolaj Lassen

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COLLABORATIVE SHOWS AT SPOT

SPOT Festival presents concerts in collaboration with the genre organizations: WMD – World Music Denmark and JazzDanmark, SNYK – New Music, ROSA’s Secretariat for Folk Music, DR’s KarriereKanonen, DUP – Danish Independent Labels, Skandinavian Booking Management/We Do Management, Copenhagen Records, Tak Rock!, ORA – Organization of Rhythmic Amateur Musicians.

DANISH-INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY GATHERING

The SPOT Festival and MXD’s big networking event will take place at Trafikhallen, Aarhus City Hall, where approximately 300 Danish and international music industry and media representatives will be meeting on Friday May 3rd, 10:30 (Invitation only)

THE CURATOR GROUP

From the 797 applicants, 50 have been chosen to play at the festival by this group of curators: Tina Krüger, Karsten Kahnke konzertdirektion, booker (de) Andreas Gstettner, the austrian national radio station fm4, journalist (at) Nina Legnehed, nordic by nature, blog (se)

Steffi Von Kannemann, nordic by nature, blog (se) Anders Bøtter, p6 beat, journalist

Simon Christensen, passive/aggressive, blog Signe Palsøe, undertoner, website Bertram Zanjani, train, booker

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SPOT venues

ATLAS

PROMUS

VOXHALL

ATLAS/VOXHALL O ÅB

P GÅRDEN REMISEN KEDLEN

AROS

RYTMISK SAL

KAMMERMUSIKSALEN LILLE SAL

FILUREN

RAA HAL

VOGN 1

FOTO: Nikolaj Lassen

MUSIKHUSET

GODSBANEN

R VA

CAFE SCENEN

KATAPULT

BANK

STORE SAL

ÅBEN SCENE

AL S

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A Daimler Brand

HEADQUARTERS

SCANDINAVIAN CONGRESS CENTER

RADISSON

THIS

THAT

LÈ

FOYER

RADAR

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FOTO: Nikolaj Lassen

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When Saints Go Machine

The BreakThrough Is an Gennembruddet Ongoing Process er en løbende proces While the majority of performers at the SPOT Festival arrive in Aarhus with suitcases full of dreams of the big break, the festival will also see visits from bands that have already been through it all. One of these bands is When Saints Go Machine from Copenhagen. BY Klaus Thodsen Photo: Christian Hjorth

”I was standing in a 7-Eleven one afternoon when one of our songs came on. It was one of the wildest experiences, and I felt like I could walk on water.” When describing the feeling of being discovered, Jonas Kenton doesn’t mention a certain show or a record label sit-down, but being played by radio host Kjeld Tolstrup before the band had even played their first show. “We had only recorded two or three songs at the time. Once you’ve had that experience, you definitely get hungry for more. Soon after, record labels started approaching us, and it felt like we were on our way. We had become actual musicians,” Jonas Kenton explains. When Saints Go Machine was formed in 2007 by Jonas Kenton, Silas Moldenhawer, Nikolaj Manuel Vonsild and Simon Muschinsky and only two years later, the band was the opening act at that year’s SPOT Festival. However, in hindsight they have mixed feelings about that particular show.

“It was a cool experience to get SPOT’s opening slot at that time. We were certainly proud. But we played terribly and even though we were inexperienced, we were well aware that it hadn’t gone as planned. SPOT was only our third or fourth show as a band, and Silas hadn’t played the drums since childhood. We must have been a nuisance to listen to,” says Nikolaj Manuel Vonsild. When Saints Go Machine steadily began to get the hang of playing live and more and more people would pay attention to the band. This increased awareness would reach its peak in 2010, when the quartet was offered the opening spot at Roskilde Festival’s Orange Stage. No more than three years after having first met each other, the four guys took the biggest stage of the country. Yet, pinpointing the exact moment they went from being a promising new band to a part of the established music scene proves difficult.

“Unlike many others, we don’t feel that we had just one single break-through. We never had a huge single. The attention was more so directed at our music as a whole, so perhaps we broke through little by little. Our music is probably more demanding than the average radio hit, which explains why we can’t point out a specific moment. “ Does the path your career has taken surprise you? “Actually, no. It might sound strange, but we’re not completely surprised that things turned out like they did. Much like our breakthrough, our whole career has been moving forward at a steady pace. It didn’t just happen overnight. It was hard work, and when you work hard on something it doesn’t come as a surprise that you improve day by day. We work on our music every day and because we never stop, we never have the time to look back and realize how far we’ve come. Then again, that’s not entirely

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true. When Roskilde Festival called and asked us to open the Orange Stage, we were completely blown away. We thought it was a joke. “ Does it come naturally to keep progressing as a band? “In our band, the biggest rush you can get comes from creating something new that the others are really into. That’s where a lot of our

Resorting to the same processes because they worked the last time becomes boring. For the sake of the audience, and even more so ourselves, we have to keep innovating.“ How do you keep your audience interested? “If you can keep yourself interested, the audience will often remain so as well. It would be patronizing to our audience if we didn’t

“It might sound strange, but we’re actually not completely surprised that things turned out like they did.” drive comes from. You’d love to be the one to show up at the practice space with the greatest melody, or whatever else. If we became complacent and started taking the easy route, that would make it harder on ourselves.

believe they would detect a lack of inspiration on our part. However, when we’re in the studio to record, we aren’t concerned with the listeners. If you create a cookie-cutter product, the audience becomes more important than the

product, and music works opposite of that. We are the biggest filter that the music has to pass through. So, if we believe in a track, it’ll survive. The next filter is the audience. “

WSGM CV When Saints Go Machine released the eponymous debut EP in 2008 to positive reviews. That year the band won the talent award at the p3 award show. In May 2009, the band’s debut album “Ten Makes a Face” was released and a few months later, they had the honor of opening the Orange Stage at the Roskilde Festival. The second studio album, which included their biggest hit, “Kelly,” was released in 2011. When Saints Go Machine have recently finished their third studio album.

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Den Sorte brings you three lessons Skole at SPOT. den sorte skole

Not only is Den Sorte Skole (The Black School) opening SPOT Festival May 2nd 2012. Guests of the festival can prepare for an expanded curriculum when Den Sorte Skole has a long workweekend at SPOT. BY Kasper Schultz

Photo: Simon Weyhe

Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Three lessons. Three totally different experiences. All based on Den Sorte Skole’s upcoming release “Lektion #3”. An album consisting of a vast amount of samples from a growing stockpile of old vinyl. An extreme puzzle.

At SPOT the music is presented at a theater, as a Q&A concert and with freshly made visuals by the artist group Dark Matters in interplay with a tightly coordinated light show. When Den Sorte Skole opens SPOT Festival Thursday the location will be Den Gamle By in Aarhus at Denmark’s oldest market town theater, Helsingør Theater. Here you can hear all of “Lektion #3” in a unique setting. Den Sorte Skole adapts the show for the intimate setting, making the music and the space come together. By then, we will just have started touring, so it will be one of the first times the audience will have the opportunity to listen to the entire lesson, says Aage Jæger, who is looking forward to play in the beautiful theater, when Den Sorte Skole kicks off SPOT Festival 2013 with an evocative opening concert.

sible. Something interesting happens when an oud player from Iraq suddenly is in a band with a tablas player from India and a synthesizer-dude from early 80’s’ Germany, Aage Jæger laughs. All in all, Den Sorte Skole has wanted to sample music you don’t usually hear on mainstream radio. At the Q&A concert at SPOT you will have the chance to understand how they have put the puzzle of thousands of sampled pieces together. For example you can hear how American Malvina Reynold’s guitar is mixed with

Q&A Concert

On Friday Den Sorte Skole will play a concert of a more lecture-ish kind. Den Sorte Skole will go behind “Lektion #3” and play a selection of the vinyl which has been the rawmaterial for the new output, and at the same time show, how they have created the music. During the concert Den Sorte Skole will go into a dialogue with the audience. As all class lectures you just have to put up your hand. There are no stupid questions. There will be plenty of opportunities to get your geek-knowledge about old vinyl from all kinds of genres up-to-date, because during their work with “Lektion #3” Den Sorte Skole has traveled far and wide in the more unknown parts of the music history. From the beginning we have had the vision to mix as many styles and cultures as pos-

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e e

knife sharpening from the French Un Drame Musical Instantané, vocal from West African Les Amazones De Guinée, snaps from Brazilian Guilherme Lamounier, synth bass from German Conrad Schnitzler and whistle from Indonesian Waldjinah.

The Last Lesson

The third and last concert will be on Saturday in Musikhuset’s Store Sal. Here Den Sorte Skole unfolds the visual side of “Lektion #3”. With competent help from the visual forces in

have jointly made it all play together, Aage Jæger tells.

“Will you ever make your own tracks?”

Prior to the work with the visual staging of “Lektion #3” is a massive work-load. We have spent 2½ years on the album. The first year we spent listening to old vinyl, cutting them and systematize them in an archive. We listened to 50-70 records a week and ended up with around 4000 samples. With this starting point we began to put together

“We listened to 50-70 records a week and ended up with around 4000 samples.” Dark Matters – who has previously delivered large interactive light installations for Roskilde Festival and has worked with artists such as Trentemøller, Mew and Kashmir – Den Sorte Skole will present a thoroughly composed show where music, visuals and light show will melt into one organism. Basically we have been fascinated with what Dark Matters does. Because “Lektion #3” consists of a very cinematic sound universe, it seemed obvious to make a visual side. We have been working with the music as one long process, and we wanted the visual side to support this. Besides, Dark Matters has created a scenography that gives the audience a spatial visual experience, so we avoid pacifying people with a “dead” video feed on screens. But we won’t reveal too much, says Aage Jæger. Our light engineer Frederik Heitmann has worked closely with Dark Matters. The light has an ability to reach out into the room in another way than video projections, so they have worked with a complete expression. They have been there for the last couple of months of the creation of “Lektion #3” so we

the puzzle, Aage Jæger continues. If you think you cannot make authentic music by recycling other’s recording, think again. Often people ask if we will make our own tracks this time. We feel, we always have. But this time things have been taken more out of context. A passage of three minutes can consist of hundreds of pieces from 17-18 old records

Study your 10-digit-code All three lessons by Den Sorte Skole are included in the ticket for SPOT Festival, but to access the opening concert at Helsingør Teater you need to do some homework. There is only room for 200 guests so you have to have an extra ticket. You get this with the link www.spotfestival.dk/dss where the extra tickets are made available on Monday April 15th. You have to have bought your regular two-day ticket for SPOT Festival before Sunday April 14th at 23:59. Because you need the long 10-digit-code found at the tickets barcode, if you want to get access to the opening concert. The free extra tickets are handed out first come, first served, so be quick.

cut up and put back together. So we feel that it is a very distinctive and authentic sound universe we have created, Aage Jæger says. It has taken an insane amount of time to put this together. Everything has to fit in rhythm, tempo, feel, sound image and not least key. The latter is especially challenging when you sample music from parts of the world to different as we have done. In some musical cultures they use other notes than we do in the west, like quarter tones. Something that might sound off key in our ears can actually be completely in tune. It is an enormous amount of work to find things that fit together, Aage Jæger finishes

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Penny Police

Don’t forget to mention the Autoharp Among the acts making their SPOT debut this year is Penny Police, who arrives at SPOT with plenty of critical acclaim By Klaus Thodsen

Armed with an Autoharp and a talent for poetic folk, Penny Police, whose real name is Marie Fjeldsted, has established herself in the Danish underground scene over the last couple of years. With Penny Police, the music often takes its point of departure in a seductive and melancholy lyrical space that deals with the darker sides of her own life. “There are times when my world gets a bit gloomy and melancholy, and then I think a lot about life. It’s hard for me to write music in these periods, but a lot of my music still originates from these dark times because I reflect on them a lot afterwards” Although the interest in music has been there since she was a child, Marie Fjeldsted finds it difficult to see where the interest comes from. In her childhood home, the music collec-

tion did not amount to more than ten to fifteen CDs. However, eventually Marie Fjeldsted points to her grandparents and their fondness for Højskolesangbogen (a songbook and by far the most popular of its kind in Denmark. It includes ballads, folk songs, hymns as well as more modern songs). Whatever the roots, she has gradually evolved into the gifted singer/ songwriter we know today. Penny Police first entered the Danish music scene more than two years ago with the EP “Thieves Like Us”. Last year came the criti-

“Therefore, it feels like an obvious next step to finally play at SPOT. It has been underway for a couple of years, where I have been hoping to get an invitation. It’s cool that it has finally happened now!” She makes no secret of her ambition to make SPOT the next step up the career ladder. At the same time it is no going to be at any price, and Penny Police is not going to take just any offer she might get. “Whether or not I get, say, a German booker doesn’t determine my success at SPOT. I

“Of course I’d like to tour Europe” cally acclaimed “The Broken, The Beggar, The Thief”. “Obviously I’m really pleased with the good reviews. At the same time I was so proud of that album that I wasn’t all that surprised by the reception”. Actually, it is not just her releases that the reviewers have praised enthusiastically. When playing at last year’s SPOT Festival she wasn’t part of the official line-up, but she was nevertheless mentioned as one of the festival highlights by music magazine Mojo.

don’t feel that way. It’s not just about getting some kind of breakthrough, but getting the breakthrough that suits me. But of course I would very much like to get out and play in Europe. That is after all my big goal. In March, Penny Police released the EP “Sink & Sail”, six songs expanding on the theme of seizing one’s own life. On this EP, she put down the Autoharp for a while but with a promise of its imminent return

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YOUROLAND

equal extent, life,” explains one of the creators, Christoffer Møller. A mass of the dead wasn’t what he and the opera singer Andrea Pellegrini originally had in mind, when they first met and discussed a collaborative project. “At first we tried playing classical arias in a different way – for example by fusing the works of Tchaikovsky and Bach. It sounded good, but… we realized that a new and original experience was necessary. And soon we began focusing on the European melancholy, which is a constant theme in the lives of so many people. After that, a requiem didn’t seem like a huge stretch. We want to give the

– a modern mass of the dead during SPOT

“We hope to hit the audience like a fist and offer them a place in the music. A forgotten place within themselves.”

YOUROLAND is a collaborative effort between the classical and rhythmical tradition spearheaded by the royal mezzo-soprano Andrea Pellegrini and the composer and keyboard player Christoffer Møller. It involves rock musicians, a classical ensemble, poems from six “random” Europeans, a Danish author, a lighting technician and more, in a powerful piece which will see its first performance at SPOT. BY Klaus Thodsen

The co-creators include the guitar player Lars Skjerbæk, the experimental classical ensemble Lydenskab and the interactive media designer Signe Klejs who’ll be in control of the visual side of the performance. Five different Europeans have written poems drawing on

the Latin mass of the dead, which have been interpreted by the author Josefine Klougart. “It’s a requiem, yes. But it doesn’t adhere to the tradition of classical music. It’s a modern requiem written for modern people, and it might make us think of death, but also, to an

audience the experience that they are not just witnessing a concert, but are placed in a kind of borderland, where they have a personal experience involving all their senses. We hope to hit the audience like a fist and offer them a place in the music. A forgotten place within themselves.” Christoffer Møller describes the creational process as a form of deconstruction – one that reflects the theme of death. “Almost every sound I’ve created for the piece is recorded with my own small piano. It’s a deconstruction of the instrument that’s always been a part of my life. I’ve been acting as an anti-musician of sorts – and then recreated everything on a computer. In a way, it’s a form of recreation. Writing for an operatic singer has been a study in itself, and the project ended up summarizing everything I’ve been through as a musician – pop, avantgarde, simplicity, church organ, rock, classical, chaos.” YOUROLAND will also be working on travelling internationally with their music. “We’d love to travel with this, and we don’t see the music as typically Danish, but typically European. It is certainly niche music, but we believe it might spark an interest with both churches and the world of classical music,” says Christoffer Møller with reference to not merely the Nordic region, but also the catholic countries where the Latin tradition is an important aspect of life 13

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A NORDIC SOUND

The Sound of Danish Folk Music

Dreamers Circus will be accompanied by Kristian Leth of the indierock band The William Blakes. An odd match? Let’s see.

BY Søren jensen lund

“A lot of amazing folk music comes from USA, but I think we set ourselves a part here in the North because we add something new. A deeper melancholy and a longing for the light.” The words are those of Ida Wenøe, singer in the Danish trio Boho Dancer, who is one of the many Danish artists who are inspired by the American indie-folk wave, but who at the same time adds the well-known American traditions a Nordic sound. The same goes for CODY and Echo Me, who develop the American alternative country and mix it with elements from indie-rock, but at the same time with a distinct Nordic sound which also characterizes large Nordic successes such as First Aid Kit, The Tallest Man on Earth and Of Monsters And Men. It can be difficult to explain “the Nordic sound” in the music and point to what exactly makes it Nordic. But if you listen to Grieg, Carl Nielsen and other Nordic composers you can

sense the same longing. The folk music trio Dreamers Circus is inspired by both Nordic classical composers and the traditional Danish and Nordic folk music, which is currently very popular on folk-stages around the world. At SPOT Festival Dreamers Circus goes on stage with Kristian Leth from the indie-rock band The William Blakes. On the surface an odd match, but Kristian Leth is inspired by the Danish-Nordic folk music. It is the same tendency as in the early- and mid-sixties, we are currently experiencing in Denmark; an American folk music revival that has spread around Denmark and is inspiring

SPOT on Denmark on tour

young musicians to seek their Danish-Nordic roots. Back then it was icons such as Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, and today it Bon Iver and Mumford & Sons and the likes, that inspires. Mads Beldring is one of the young singersong-writers that musically borrows from the American folk music, but with his Danish lyrics and the ambience-filled sound he makes the music his own and creates a unique folk music expression Photo: Christian Hjorth Bon Homme

BY Henrik Friis

SPOT Festival does not take place only once a year in Aarhus. When the two days of music are over, SPOT heads to various destinations around Europe in the following year, to present the best of Danish music. Chosen by juries from the various destinations. After last years’ festival in Denmark there were 1000 people in the audience – sold out – during the Montreux Jazz Festival, when Giana Factory, Bon Homme and Asbjørn comprised the strong line up in July 2012. Asbjørn was even part of a documentary made by the the festival. In December in Cologne CODY, Linkoban and I Got You On Tape helped draw in a large audience at the venue Stadtgarten. While the Vienna-industry

and –press chose The Eclectic Moniker, Broken Twin and Rangeklods to play at the large venue WUK and, with over 600 in the audience. set the preliminary SPOT On Denmark-record in Austria. After this years’ SPOT Festival it is for now decided that SPOT On Denmark is going to Cologne for the third year in a row and Paris for the first time since 2009. Juries from both cities will be in place during SPOT. And a couple more destinations are in the works. SPOT On Denmark is created in collaboration between SPOT Festival and MXD – Music Export Denmark

Cody

Rangleklods

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Natalia Lafourcade

A shoebox of rejected love songs sparked a career Usually, accomplishments and familiarity go hand in hand, but Natalia Lafourcade isn’t the usual SPOT performer. Despite the fact that she is one of the most accomplished acts on the poster, and undoubtedly one of the most popular, a large part of the Danish audience has yet to experience the Mexican songstress. BY Daniel heydorn

In her home country, her albums have gone platinum several times over. Her YouTube account is overflowing with views, and her fragile indie pop has achieved several Grammy nominations. Moreover, several media powerhouses have shown interest in Natalia. Both New York Times and L.A. Times have written extensive articles on the singer, who has also toured on both sides of the Atlantic.

Danish-Spanish collaboration

The SPOT visit stems from an ongoing collaboration between SPOT and the Spanish culture festival Días Nórdicos, whose musical program is planned collectively with ROSA and SPOT. This partnership has now brought the simultaneously renowned and unfamiliar artist across the pond for a show at SPOT. After relocating from her place of birth, Mexico City, Natalia Lafourcade grew up in a small town in Mexico as the daughter of two musicians. “My father crafts harpsichords and gives piano lessons and my mother created a sophisticated method for teaching music to children. Most of the time I was surrounded by music and making songs was one of my favorites hobbies when I was little, and still is now.”

She began writing songs at the age of 14 – addressed to her first boyfriend who would receive a new song every week. When their relationship ended, a shoebox full of cassette tapes was returned to Natalia, and she realized that turning this debris into an album was

She’s a star in Mexico and her past involves singing in a mariachi band, but her own sound reveals a mixture of influences from several different regions. The psychedelic Brazilian tropicalia – with artists such as Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso – and indie favorites like

“I believe love is the most important thing and it is also what makes me write a song.” a real possibility. Only three years later, she signed her first record deal with Sony Music.

The inspiration remains the same

Even though she’s come a long way from cassettes of love songs, the inspiration remains the same: “I get inspiration from almost everything, but I believe love is the most important thing and it is also what makes me write a song. I pay a lot of attention to the way the songs are recorded and also the instrumentation that we add to the song in order to make the perfect dress for it. Not too complicated, but emotional: a mix of a psychedelic, melancholic, and musical dreams.”

Surfjan Stevens and Feist have all left their mark on Natalia’s music. At SPOT, Natalia will focus on material from her latest album “Mujer Divina,” and with only two participants, it’s promising to be an intimate performance. “It is going to be very magical. I’m bringing my guitar player, who is also doing the backing vocals and plays the guitar and ukulele. I’m going to be playing with my looping pedals, a keyboard and percussion. I really like playing acoustic shows. I think it gives you the chance to connect with people in a better way.”

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SPOT festival

SPOT Music, Film & Interactive SPOT Festival’s goal to create the North’s strongest festival for new Scandinavian music, is this year spread out to several platforms. In part with a two-day film festival in the Aarhus cinema Øst For Paradis on May 1st-2nd - and in part with an Interactive conference at Godsbanen on 2 May. BY Klaus Thodsen

The idea of a collective festival for these three areas is due to the fact that music, film and interactive has long since broken the genre frames and are already working in criss-cross: Movies and games use music. The music uses animation and visuals. There are constantly emerging new forms of interaction as musicians, moviemakers, designers and others borrow and share their material with each other. Mutual for all three parts of the festival is that it occurs with Nordic talent and Nordic innovation as a starting point. 2013 will be sort of a test-year for the project which, if all goes well, in time will be a regular part of the festival’s program

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SPOT Interactive

While SPOT Film is for both the industry people and the audience, SPOT Interactive Conference has a more industry-oriented profile. The event is hosted by Shareplay - an ambitious trans-media venture launched by the Central Denmark Region and the North Denmark Region. “SPOT Interactive Conference” is held on May 2nd at Godsbanen with both innovative Danish and international speakers, who will try to put into focus how interactive media experiences can reach new and wider target audiences and establish a breeding ground for services and new branding- and income-opportunities. “At the conference the main theme will be “how?”: How do you reach a new target audience, how do you develop your brand and how do you actually take that next step. “says Mette Marcussen, Network Coordinator at Shareplay.

SPOT Film

Liana Brazil

Russ Rive

Jack Horner

Tickets

The SPOT Interactive Conference is part of the SPOT Festival 2013. Therefore the ticket for the SPOT Interactive Conference also gives you access to lots of good music at the SPOT Music Festival. The price for a combo ticket is DKK 795 excl. VAT. If you have an accreditation for the SPOT Music Festival 2013 you can buy a supplementary ticket for the SPOT Interactive Conference. The price for this ticket is DKK 195 excl. VAT.

SPOT Interactive Conference 09.00 a.m.: Arrival, registration & breakfast 09.30 a.m.: Welcome & introduction 09.45 a.m.: Keynote: Liana Brazil & Russ Rive, SuperUber 10.30 a.m.: Break 11.00 a.m.: Sneak Peek Interactive 12.00 p.m.: Lunch 01.00 p.m.: Interactive Case Study with Christian Fonnesbech 01.30 p.m.: Keynote: Jack Horner, FRUKT 02.15 p.m.: Break 02.45 p.m.: Keynote: Per Pedersen, Grey (NY) 03.30 p.m.: Panel Debate: “How to engage and maintain an audience” 04.00 p.m.: The End

SPOT Music

The musical part of SPOT presents more than 120 official concerts, apart from the off-events, seminars etc. After a – in some areas – spatially tight 2012 the festival opens up this year with two new big stages in Scandinavian Congress Center, six stages in Musikhuset Aarhus, Headquarters and the venues Voxhall, Atlas and Radar – and then the large Godsbane-area where there will be several activities. Both musical and genre crossing.

Just like the musical part of SPOT Festival, SPOT Film has the purpose of bridging the gap between the Nordic talents and the movie industry. In those two days, the cozy Aarhus cinema Øst For Paradis will be the frame of a movie festival where a number of new talented Nordic movie makers will show their works. There will be a special focus on the cross field between movies and music and there will be shown movies about the Swedish music scene, the Danish hip hop underground and Icelandic lo-fi. Several of the movie experiences will be joined by the movies’ directors. SPOT Film will furthermore have master classes with promising directors who could become big names in the Nordic movie production in the near future. We are not talking about a movie festival per se. There will be no looking back at the best movies of the year and giving out awards. SPOT Film will take a forward-moving look, aiming to present new talent to both the audience and the industry. If you have bought a regular SPOT ticket, it comes with full access to SPOT Film after the principle first come, first served.

SPOT film Program

SPOT Film-programmet i Øst For Paradis 1.-2. maj. Wednesday May 1: 17.00 M asterclass: The Art Of The Music Video (Sal A) 17:00 T he Rocka (Sal C) 17:00 R oland Hassel (Sal E) 19:30 T he Deep (Sal A) 19:30 K idd (Sal C) 19:30 Grandma lo-fi + First You Close Your Eyes(Sal B) 21:30 L as Palmas and Puppetboy - the Art of Johannes Nyholm (Sal A) 21:30 F rom Lobster Love to Battle of the Sexes - the Films of Anssi Kasitonni (Sal C) 21:30 M oody Melodies - a mixtape of Nordic Beats (Sal B) Thursday May 2: 17:00 M asterclass: Kristian Eidnes Andersen - The Music of Film (Sal A) 17:00 L as Palmas and Puppetboy - the Art of Johannes Nyholm (Sal C) 17:00 R oland Hassel (Sal E) 19:30 I Lossens Time + intro by Søren Kragh-Jacobsen (Sal A) 19:30 The Weight Of Elephants (Sal C) 19:30 F rom Lobster Love to Battle of the Sexes - the Films of Anssi Kasitonni (Sal B) 21:30 G randma Lo-fi + First You Close Your Eyes (Sal A) 21:30 T he Rocka (Sal C) 21:30 M ousse (Sal B)

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DJs, animations, bicycle polo, audio poetry, sound installations and gigs. This year, you may enjoy the festival atmosphere for free when the SPOT Festival and Godsbanen (The Freight Yard) put the collaboration on a new, fascinating track. Transcending art forms, educational institutions, the cultural industries, the new initiative SPOT Mix-Up takes place on May 3-4 during the SPOT Festival. – “SPOT Mix-up is a match made in heaven, because it is indeed a mix of our two worlds. We‘ve designed the project and its content together, and we are anxiously holding our breaths awaiting its realisation. Another good thing about SPOT Mix-Up is that it’s open to everybody”, says head of the Godsbanen Kim Bisgaard. In keeping with the spirit of Godsbanen, SPOT Mix-Up will work across traditional boundaries between music, design, poetry, education, and industries, etc. Here, you may get a sense of what the SPOT Festival is, and at the same time the festival is taken in new directions. Live music in the Tak Rock! Area Among the many new events, there will be music on two stages in “Den Rå Hal”. The concert area will be renamed “Tak Rock! Area”, and there will be concerts from 4 PM to midnight on both festival days. Under the heading Blue SPOT, the acts playing on Friday will be selected by ORA – the Association of

Amateur Musicians, while Saturday’s gigs will be handpicked by the Way Up North Festival and Studenterhuset Aalborg.

Poetry and music On Friday night at 7 PM, Vogn 1 will set the stage for a fusion of music and poetry when crime writer and poet Christian Dorph will host a reception for his new collection of poems En drøm om kærlighed (A dream of love). As part of the reception he will play a concert with recitations, songs and audio poetry together with singer, composer and guitarist Morten Bo. Furthermore, Mouritz/Hørslev Duo will also play an exclusive gig.

Art and chitchat The interactive designer Signe Klejs is going to make video projections in which she and poet Hanne Viemose transform the passerby’s chitchat to the video- and text-based art work “Respit”, which will keep evolving in the Godsbanen foyer.

Day Party featuring Ane Trolle, CTM, etc. On Saturday from noon till 4 PM, students from the Music Management education at Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen will host an outdoor Day Party. Among the special guests are Ane Trolle, CTM, Ice Cream Cathedral and Shiny Darkly.

The man behind “The Killing” score, bicycle polo, animations, etc. You’ll also get the chance to meet film composer Frans Bak, known for the score for “The Killing”, bicycle polo hosted by local bike enthusiasts Los Pedalos, the dance event Flavour Of The Month Vol. 7 organised by Urban Event Aarhus, a solo concert for enhanced percussion, DJs, animations and music videos. All this and much more make up “SPOT Mix-Up”

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BAND PRESENTATIONS

Masser af gratis oplevelser

125 ACTS ARE READY FOR SPOT EVERYTHING IS SET FOR THE 19th EDITION OF THE SPOT FESTIVAL At SPOT 2013, good music across genres and borders are abound. You will find plenty of concerts, various musical projects and that familiar, cozy festival atmosphere – all taking place in the middle of Aarhus. The program for the two days of music will be handed out at the SPOT entrance – and is available at www.spotfestival.dk beforehand.

PHOTO: Nikolaj Lassen

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BANDS A-C PHOTO: Lasse Fløde

Abbaz

A-laget (NO)

Jonas Alaska (NO)

Abbaz is the most unfamiliar member of Cheff Records, which is largely due to the fact that he ditched his former alias A-dobbel-B. That name had already brought Abbaz an impressive number of YouTube views, but with his new, brutally honest rap style, the name change was necessary. This is R&B inspired singing and emotional street rap backed by Cheff’s visionary team of producers.

Following a string of mixtapes and spectacular live shows, the three rappers and a dj in Norwegian A-laget have built a large and loyal fan base and evolved from underground phenomenon to cult status. Last year saw their first official release with the EP “D E D D GÅR I” to much praise. The language is all Norwegian, but the sound is influenced by both rainy days in Bergen and bassheavy southern rap.

In his home country, he is referred to as the Norwegian equivalent to Bob Dylan. He belongs in the intersection of americana and folk with roots in cold Scandinavia. The Danes really took notice of the young folk talent when he played a critically acclaimed concert at SPOT 2012. Since then he has played support for his fellow countryman Thomas Dybdahl in Denmark, and a new album was released on April 29th.

Kamilia Amélie

Artificial Brothers

Ásgeir Trausti (IS)

“Amazing Danish soul-pop talent.” That is what Gaffa wrote in their five-star review of Kamilia Amélie’s debut “Come What May”. She is an enchanting singer that brings soul and a warm-hearted feel to the ultra-cool and luxurious productions. Kamilia Amélie has been a steady warm-up act for Lukas Graham, and she collaborated with Wafande on her track “Back”.

In 2009, these Jutlanders participated in the finals of the competition Karrierekanonen, but opted to spend three years refining their emotional and melancholic sound. It remains unknown if the sedate temperament, which their home region is famous for played a role, but on last year’s “Make Our Hearts Sway”, the already seasoned performers of this quintet sounded as if they spent that time wisely.

The soft guitar and the passionate outbursts have made people compare Ásgeir Trausti with Justin Vernon. The music is folky, but has the electronic elements which Iceland has long been a hotspot for. The debut «Dýrð í dauðaþögn» was praised as one of last year’s best Nordic releases and lead to a lot of festival activity. And on his home-island the album was sold out a week after the release.

Baby In Vain

Tomas Barfod

Before The Show

In the male dominated genres of stoner rock and grunge, it’s somewhat of a rarity to see three teenage girls, such as Baby In Vain, creating the heavy riffage. Their music bears an odor more akin to motor oil than French perfume. Grimy and powerful. The lyrics draw upon noir-like atmospheres with dames in distress and men carrying guns. The band has previously supported The Floor Is Made Of Lava.

The producer Thomas Barfod visits SPOT with his solo project. His experience counts a carrier in both Denmark and internationally as a DJ, remixer and in different band constellations such as WhoMadeWho, Filur and Jatoma. Solo, Barfod delivers music for the electronic club scene. House is the focal point, and he mixes the acoustic with the synthetic and creates a lively feeling.

Before The Show’s second album has reaped great reviews, especially in Germany, and they have been called a mix of early Peter Gabriel and Sigur Rós – not too bad since these are two of the band’s own favorite artists. 4 out of 5 stars in German Rolling Stone and 5 out of 5 in Intro speaks for itself. Things are looking good!

Genre: Rap, R&B Latest album:Career began: 2010

Genre: Hiphop, rap Latest album: D E D D GÅR I, ep (2012) Formed: 2006

Genre: Pop, americana, folk Latest album: If Only As A Ghost (2013) Career began: 2011

PHOTO: Marie Louise Munkegaard

Genre: Nu-soul Latest album: Come What May (2012) Career began: 2009

Genre: Alternative rock Latest album: Make Our Hearts Sway (2012) Formed: 2007

Genre: Folk, indie, electro Latest album: Dýrð í dauðaþögn Career began: 2012

PHOTO: Tue Blichfeldt

Genre: Stoner grunge Latest album: Sweetheart Dreams, single (2012) Formed: 2010

Genre: Electronic Latest album: Salton Sea (2012) Career began: 2012

Genre: Prog-pop Latest album: Years&Years&Years (2012) Formed: 2009

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PHOTO: EyDun Müller Thomsen

PHOTO: SigríDur Ella Frímannsdóttir

Mads Beldring

Benjamin (FO)

Bloodgroup (IS)

As an educated drummer from the conservatoire, Mads Beldring has recorded with such names as Källing, Laura Mo and De Glade Sømænd, but now he has switched his drumsticks with hard-hitting Danish lyrics concerning life’s big questions. Crooked Brooklyn tones, peaceful countryside idyll and the pounding turmoil of Nørrebro make up the contrasts in Mads Beldring’s moody and poetic folk universe.

After a stay among the Paraguayan Indians, it was obvious to Faroese Benjamin that he had completed a spiritual journey and had now been reborn as a true rock Messiah. Benjamin plays voodooinfected pop with catchy melodies and raw energy. He already has a foothold in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, and his debut album «Ghost With Skin» has now been released internationally.

Using mainly electronic sources of sound, the Icelandic quartet Bloodgroup creates chilly shades of pure synthpop. The vocal melodies are accompanied by intense grooves, loads of digital effects and catchy synth riffs. In 2009, the group won the Icelandic Kraumur Award for the album «Dry Land» and since then they have spent their time playing shows extensively and recording another album.

Genre: Protest song, alternative folk Latest album: Hør Nu Her (2012) Career began: 2008

Genre: Alternative pop Latest album: Ghost With Skin (2011) Career began: 2011

Genre: Alternative electronic pop Latest album: Tracing Echoes (2013) Formed: 2006

PHOTO: Niels Christensen

Boho Dancer

Broke

Broken Beats

Even before the release of their debut EP, Boho Dancer performed at SPOT, Northside and Smukfest, where Ida Wenøe seduced the crowd with her powerful voice. Together with Asker Bjørk and Símon Mohr, Wenøe has the American folk wave as her starting point, and with an inherent Nordic melancholy, Boho Dancer has created a modern folk sound that has gained international attention through several European tours.

Broke is dystopic dance music for a generation without hope – post-punk with frayed edges. They describe the music as «pictures of great machines, torched forests, and airplanes plunging towards the ground.» An inferno which the two members MA/DZ and Simonicius control with superior coolness. The duo has gathered acclaim from both Spleen United and Mø and just finished touring Europe with Reptile Youth.

The Broken Beats are back with the paradoxical single ”So tell me”. A single that acts as a precursor to forthcoming EP and album releases and marks the return of the band, which has singer and songwriter Kim Munk as its only constant member. With this release, the critically acclaimed and award nominated band adds a certain Jutlandic whimsy to their already extensive inspirational palette.

Genre: Alternative folk pop Latest album: Gemini (2013) Formed: 2010

PHOTO: Mie Brinkman

Genre: Darkcoloured disco Latest album: Lifestyle Mixtape (2012) Formed: 2010

Genre: Latest album: Only Love Formed: 2001

PHOTO: Søren Rønholt

Broken Twin

By The Patient

Camilo & Grande

«Broken Twin is the most arrestingly beautiful songwriter we’ve heard in aeons.» wrote NME after Broken Twin’s performance at EuroSonic earlier this year. Broken Twin is Majke Voss Romme – a young woman with great stories to tell and a magical way of doing it. Last year, the EP «Hold On To Nothing» was released. Here, the mix by Sleep Party People’s Brian Batz accentuated the gloomy universe of Broken Twin.

The Danish death metal scene is alive and kicking, and By the Patient is among the most prominent new bands with several big festival gigs. Their brutal metal is technical, epic, pitch black and overflowing with blast beats, double pedal, deep growls and high-pitched shrieks. The Mayans may have been way off, but this grim foursome remains convinced that the Day of Judgment is indeed near.

These boys met in Aarhus in the summer of 2008 through house parties, late night beach-chills and a love for reggeatón. Since then, they have lived in different parts of Latin America where they have moved sweaty dance floors and played with the rhythms of the continent. They have now hooked up with the producer team Andy & Gonzo to create the genre «Danish reggeatón» and shape it with gentle strokes. Presented by KarriereKanonen

Genre: Singer-songwriter, indie Latest album: Hold On To Nothing, ep (2012) Career began: 2012

Genre: Black metal, death metal Latest album: Premonitions (2012) Formed: 2008

Genre: Reggaetón Latest album: Formed: 2011

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BANDS c-E PHOTO: Stefan Bjoerklund

Cancer

Genre: Easy listening, soundtracks, drone, rock Latest album: Formed: 2012 Lead singer of When Saints Go Machine, Nikolaj Manuel Vonsild, and guitarist and singer of Chorus Grant, Kristian Finne Kristensen, have formed Cancer. The name is serious and everything is at stake. With two vocals and well-orchestrated guitar playing, Cancer evoke a universal epidemic from the shadows and shed light upon it from their foundation of fierce and beautiful futuristic ballads.

PHOTO: Christian Klintholm

City Syd

CODY

City Syd oozes of 80’s love for the grand pop from a lost time. They devote themselves to a solid mix of melancholy and humor. Pastels, Rugsted, Kreutzfeldt, Sneakers. None of these lived in vain, because here comes City Syd. It is the kind of music that hammers through an apartment at a private party with songs like «Ridder Lykke» and «Vi maler byen rød». Presented by KarriereKanonen

Gaffa awarded five stars for CODY’s live show this February, but their folky pop sound also reaches beyond the Danes. In 2011, CODY played at the showcase festival SXSW and 2012 saw them play several large festival gigs in Denmark and internationally. The latest album «Fractures» was released in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands where CODY have also played a string of live shows. Presented by ROSA’s Secretariat for Folk Music

Genre: Pop Latest album: Formed: 2012

PHOTO: Andreas Gundtoft

Genre: Americana, folk Latest album: Fractures (2012) Formed: 2007

PHOTO: Luca Berti

Complexity

Complicated Universal Cum

CTM

This hip hop band of six members was in May last year crowned as the winner among 54 bands at the Aftryk Festival. The prize: a slot at this year’s SPOT. Complexity’s starting point is in genres such as balkan, soul and jazz, but they convert the diverse impressions to a form of experimental hip hop. The music is hand played with guitar, drums, bas and trumpet, and a rapping and singing duo in front. Presented by Aftryk Festival

In writing, the most striking quality about this project, aside from the peculiar moniker, is Frederik Valentin’s background in Rock Hard Power Spray. Musically, it’s rather how much it differs from previous feats. In 2012, Valentin continued his exploration of the drug-induced peripherals such as kraut and space rock and developed his distinct sound on no less than two separate releases.

With her band Chimes and Bells, Cæcilie Trier explored the dark corners of electronic music. She has brought the melancholy with her into her solo project CTM, but now it is surrounded by friendly beats and synth layers with links to Roxy Music and the New Romantic wave of the 80s. The EP «Variations» was released in 2012 through Tambourhinoceros, and the next EP is expected to land in the spring of 2013.

Genre: Experimental hiphop Latest album: Formed: 2012

Genre: Space rock, electropunk, noise, krautrock Latest album: Hello Exit Harmony / Before F After C (2012) | Formed: 2010

PHOTO: Peter B. Christiansen

Genre: Pop, rock Latest album: Variations, ep (2012) Career began: 2012

PHOTO: Peter Svendsen

Dad Rocks!

Dangers of the Sea

Darling Don´t Dance

The folk-pop group Dad Rocks! has already toured extensively in both Europe and America, where the band has put more than 150 concerts behind them. The Danish-Icelandic lead man, Snævar Njáll Albertsson, gives the soft melancholic songs a personal touch, and the acoustic and harmonious songs are supplemented with wind instruments, violin and piano and more.

«Super group» is a phrase that keeps cropping up when people talk of Danger of the Sea, and there is something to it as Andreas Bay Estrup has compiled a line-up of people from Efterklang, Saybia and Slaraffenland. The inspiration comes from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young as well as Midlake and Dry the River. On the debut album, released in February, Dangers of the Sea was assisted by Nikolaj Nørlund.

Noise rock in high heels – a simple way to describe Darling Don’t Dance. The band balances between the feminine and raw in dresses and with Big Muffs. The set-up is subject to a contrasting rock explosion. The three women in front and the powerful guy behind the drums have toured since the beginning in 2007, both home and abroad, with their reckless charisma and international rock sound.

Genre: Orchestrated folk pop Latest album: Mount Modern (2011) Career began: 2010

Genre: Nordic americana, folk, indie Latest album: Dangers of the Sea (2013) Formed: 2010

Genre: Noise rock Latest album: City Ghosts (2012) Formed: 2007

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PHOTO: Baijie Curdt-Christiansen

Dead Young Oaks Genre: Pop, indie, folk Latest album: Formed: 2012

There is some dejection about the name Dead Young Oaks. But even though the music contains some longing, Dead Young Oaks is full of warmth. You are sent into a warm tree cabin with a hot cup of black coffee when you listen to this group’s music, which is primarily carried by fine melodies spiced with a little auto tuner, wind blowers and a nice amount of folk atmosphere. Presented by KarriereKanonen

Deathcrush (NO)

Genre: No wave, noise rock Latest album: Lesson #13 for Nanker Phelge / single (2013) Formed: 2010 The three Norweigans in Deathcrush celebrate both Snoop Dogg and the black metal icons of Mayhem, and they aren’t too shy to whip out the corpse paint or employ sexually explicit language themselves. Their momentarily catchy noiserock explores noise in both a song-based context and through various abuses of instruments. And the brutally inciting live performance wins them new disciples at every show.

Death Valley Sleepers

Genre: 60s pop, noise pop Latest album: Death Valley Sleepers (2012) Formed: 2008 Death Valley Sleepers represents a mature approach to an otherwise often recklessly youthful combination of subgenres. The effects are wellproven: Jazzmaster guitars, Be My Baby beats, sugary choruses and hints of eastern instrumentation, but here the dosing is unusually precise. The tightly orchestrated, upbeat pop song remains the centerpiece, but with excursions into guitar noise and psychedelia.

PHOTO: Sebastian Reed

Den Fjerde Væg

Den Sorte Skole

Alina Devecerski (SE)

With great melodious panache and half-crazy arrangements, Den Fjerde Væg manage to write songs that are a bit quaint yet overwhelmingly elegant. Despite the at times somewhat cryptic song structures, the music invariably comes across as spontaneous and catchy, refreshing and full of surprises. The band’s debut album «Drengekys» reaped several five- and six-star reviews in Danish media.

Vinyls will fly around your ears when Den Sorte Skole visits this year’s SPOT Festival, where they will give three lectures; An opening concert taking place in The Old Town at the beautiful Helsingør Theater. A Q&A concert where the audience can ask questions about the new output, «Lektion #3», and a fully composed performance where music, visuals by Dark Matters and light show merge into one organism.

In May 2012, the single «Flytta På Dej» was released. Here, Swedish Alina Devecerski is having a blast with heavy trance beats and cheeky humour. The song was a massive hit and track of the week on Danish radio channel P3. On the debut «Marathon» Devecerski demonstrated great depth in the personal lyrics, and Christoffer Wikberg’s playful production made room for experiments far beyond the usual pop clichés.

Genre: Indie pop, rock Latest album: Drengekys (2012) Formed: 2009

Genre: None and everyone Latest album: Lektion #2 (2008) Formed: 2003

Genre: Electro, pop Latest album: Marathon (2012) Career began: 2011

PHOTO: Katrin Björk

Dinner

Genre: Indie, L.A. meets Liechtenstein Latest album: Girl, ep (2013) Career began: 2012 The international feel is well-known from Anders Rhedin’s previous projects such as Moon Gringo or Jong Pang. And in Dinner, the baritone voice is once again clad in an enchanting aural aesthetic. The off-kilter pop experiments of the loosely connected scene in L.A., where Rhedin has his base, shine through in the synth-heavy compositions and are contrasted by the familiar new-romantic touch.

Dreamers Circus feat. Kristian Leth

Echo Me

Genre: Folk, classical, experimental | Latest album: Dreamers Circus, ep (2010) | Formed: 2009

Genre: Alternative folk, pop Latest album: Echo Me (2012) Career began: 2010

It is going to be a truly unique experience when Kristian Leth enters the stage with the folk trio Dreamers Circus. Normally, Leth is known as the lead singer from The William Blakes, but on his solo album «Hjemad», he embraces his mother tongue and the Nordic folk traditions. With wavy and crooked folk tunes, Dreamers Circus shows what the Nordic folk scene is capable of at the moment.

With members of CODY, Murder and Slaraffenland as part of his backing band, Jesper Madsen’s debut under his Echo Me alias was a particularly convincing display of modern, impassioned pop rock. Madsen’s superior vocal range imbued the folky and occasionally country-tinged songwriting with a delicate fragility, not to mention that he has an exceptional ear for writing extremely catchy choruses.

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BANDS E-H PHOTO: Knattrup Jensen

PHOTO: Casper Balslev

Eggs Laid By Tigers

Fallulah

Far Away From Fiji

«Eggs laid by tigers,» wrote the poet Dylan Thomas with reference to his own agile way with words. And as with the words of Thomas which constitute the lyrics of their debut, this trio draws upon a diverse collection of influences. They were praised on the influential TV show Smagsdommerne for their jazzy ballads and acoustic folk waltzes and deliver the weighty words through polyphonic vocal harmonies.

With the album debut in 2010, Fallulah quickly cemented herself as a well-known name with several radio hits and great reviews. The singer, songwriter and self-willed artist has wholly or partially produced all tracks on her new album. She stubbornly seeks the personal tone and tests a more subdued expression, yet with great vividness and a strong vocal to match her sharp charisma.

Far Away From Fiji play longing dream pop where the visual is explored on equal terms with the music. The band has released three EP’s, which can be downloaded for free from the band´s website. Music videos have been made for all the songs with «Far Away From Fiji» as the overall theme. Far Away From Fiji work completely conceptual and one dares to expect that their SPOT concert will be something unique.

Genre: Folk, rock, pop, poetry Latest album: Under The Mile Off Moon (2012) Formed: 2009

Genre: Experimental pop Latest album: Escapism (2013) Career began: 2009

Genre: Dreamy and noise-tinged pop songs Latest album: What Was Lost, ep (2012) Formed: 2011

PHOTO: Rasmus Weng Karlsen

The Floor Is Made Of Lava

Flødeklinikken

Folkeklubben

The Floor Is Made Of Lava play rock. It’s about doing it without looking back, and about trusting your own judgment, because in the end there is no one else to fulfill your wishes. The résumé contains a Gold Record («Howl at the Moon», 2010), nominations for Danish Radio’s “P3 Hittet” and “P3 Guld”, and shows at Roskilde Festival and the German festivals, Hurricane and Southside.

The hip hop tradition of Aarhus is long and proud, but over just a few years Flødeklinikken have both established their name and set themselves apart from that tradition with their hand played and song oriented hip hop hybrid. There are seven members in the group, who’s amassed more than 600.000 YouTube views with the song «Piger Med Pistoler». Flødeklinikken has just released the album «Syv Sind».

1965 saw the release of «En Aften i Folkeklubben» featuring the folk veterans Povl Dissing, Cæsar and Per Dich, and this is where Folkeklubben have found their name and inspiration. With a tight expression and addictive pop songs, Folkeklubben disproves any prejudices their name might trigger. The EP «Popsang» is an earful to the Danish public, but delivered with a folksy twist that makes it appetizing.

Genre: Rock Latest album: Kids And Drunks (2012) Formed: 2006

PHOTO: Peter Svendsen

Genre: Hip hop Latest album: Syv Sind (2013) Formed: 2006

Genre: Folkpop Latest album: Nye Tider (2013) Formed: 2010

PHOTO: Simon Skipper

Fossils

Foyn Trio

Ginger Ninja

Once a drum-bass duo makes other instruments seem superfluous, you know they have the right recipe. And for people who experience Fossils’ instrumental madness that’s not an unlikely conclusion. It’s energetic, abrupt and filled with rhythmic complexity. Add an overwhelming heaviness and it sounds like you accidentally played your stoner record on 45 rpm and feels like a hammer of meat to the forehead.

Danish-Norwegian Foyn Trio is jazz with hints of indie and electronica elements delivered with loop pedals and a clear vision. It is pop with an improvisational edge, a playful voice at the center of the soundscape and vocal harmonies in layers. They were nominated at lasts year’s DMA where singer Live Foyn Friis received the award for Young Jazz Composer of the Year and was called a rising star. Presented by JazzDanmark

Ginger Ninja has played at SPOT several times and is a band with a lot of experience. They make music for a growing audience with energy that gives the pop rock life – and makes you smile and dance. Three years after their debut they are releasing a new album in the late summer, recorded in collaboration with Joshua (Kashmir, Kent et.al). Perhaps, the SPOT audience will get a taste of what´s to come.

Genre: Uptempo rock with inspiration from metal and punk | Latest album: The Veal Thing, ep (2013) Formed: 2010

Genre: Indie jazz, pop, electronic Latest album: Joy Visible (2013) Formed: 2009

Genre: Electro rock, pop Latest album: Wicked Map (2010) Formed: 2007

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PHOTO: Casper Lind Christensen

PHOTO: Doc

PHOTO: Paw Ager

Go Go Berlin

Golden Kanine (SE)

The Good The Bad

Five young, bad motherfuckers with a considerable amount of experience playing live as well as respect from exactly those you’d want to gain respect from. Now, add roots in energetic, no BS rock music and a recently recorded debut album. Inevitably, you’ll get a massive amount of attitude, best experienced in the group’s live performance. «Yeah, we’re the best live band in Denmark,» they confirm.

Something happens when you add a spoonful of Nordic coolness to deep American folk traditions. For First Aid Kit and The Tallest Man On Earth, it has meant a lot of international attention, and now Golden Kanine follow in their compatriots’ footsteps. In 2011 came «Oh Woe» through German Glitterhouse Records, and in the summer of 2012 they played the big German festivals Southside and Hurricane.

Neither prairie plains nor the shoreline seem distant when The Good The Bad merge surf guitar with atmospheres reminiscent of the great Italian spaghetti westerns and their scores. They have played over 200 shows all over Europe and USA, including SXSW and Roskilde. The band continuously chase the perfect riff throughout the effective instrumentals and the result is dubbed new school surf and flamenco.

Genre: Beat rock Latest album: Raise Your Head, single (2013) Formed: 2011

PHOTO: Robert McTaggart

Genre: Indie, folk, rock Latest album: Oh Woe (2011) Formed: 2006

Genre: Surf rock Latest album: From 034 To 050 (2012) Formed: 2007

PHOTO: Eija Måkivuoti

Halasan Bazar (DK/NO/AU/UK)

Hamferð (FO)

Helhorse

Despite the ethnic ring of their name, Halasan Bazar find inspiration in the folky psych-pop of the 60s, focusing on harmonies and rich choir arrangements. Halasan Bazar are based in Copenhagen and consist of members from Denmark, Norway, Australia and England. The band revolves around songwriter Fredrik Eckhoff and his vision of combining a sorrowful folk sound with simple and catchy psychedelia.

With inspiration from the surrounding nature and the darker parts of Faroese history, the winners of Wacken Metal Battle, Hamferð, is a dragging, melancholic metal variant. Doom metal is the term and it comes in the form of long, crushing and epic pieces. You probably won’t experience anything heavier at this year’s SPOT than this heavy congregation and their Nordic musical apocalypse.

Referring to the «helhorse» of Danish author Steen Steensen Blicher, this is Nordic myths that meet North American sludge metal. It is the story about dying love affairs, the fulfillment of expectations, escapism through alcohol, and philosophical reflections on human self-destruction. Helhorse’s SPOT concert marks the beginning of a European tour through Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and others. Presented by Tak Rock!

Genre: Psych pop Latest album: Space Junk (2013) Formed: 2010

Genre: Doom metal Latest album: Vilst er síðsta fet, ep (2010) Formed: 2008

Genre: Rock, metal, sludge Latest album: For Wolves And Vultures (2011) Formed: 2006

PHOTO: Hilde Mesics Kleven

Helmet Compass

Helsinki Poetry

HighasaKite (NO)

The lo-fi scene of the 90’s inspires Helmet Compass. A «knife-to-the-throat»-like pace of work characterizes the music, and in the past two years, the band has released 6 EPs. Their 7th is titled «Beautiful High», and will be released on cassette tape through Raum Eins Records. The EP is mostly about girls and mind-expanding drugs, but it also includes some of the band’s strongest melodies. Presented by KarriereKanonen

That an ill-matched couple can create marvelous results is proven by this Danish duo, whose one half, Ebbe Frej, works with dark noise sounds, while Rune Vigil practices light poetic brushes with distinctive noise pop as the result. To gain common ground, despite the differences, metropolises around the world make up the dogmatic framework that their debut album from March 2013 revolves around.

After the debut «All That Floats Will Rain» from February 2012, HighasaKite have been on a roll. International music blogs and magazines have hailed the Norwegian group, and they have played at Øya Festival, Berlin Festival and Icelandic Airwaves. Ingrid Helene Håvik’s zither has a prominent role, and the quaint instrument adds a distinctive color to HighasaKite’s semi electronic indie pop universe.

Genre: Psychedelic rock Latest album: Beautiful High (2013) Formed: 2011

Genre: Shoegazing electro-pop Latest album: Transport (2013) Formed: 2009

Genre: Indie pop Latest album: All That Floats Will Rain (2011) Formed: 2010

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BANDS H-L PHOTO: Dennis Morton

Christian Hjelm

Ice Cream Cathedral

Ilang

With the album «Før Vi Blev Lette» from 2012, Figurines’ lead singer Christian Hjelm stepped onto the stage as a solo artist with a collection of Danish songs that traces back to a classic pop rock tradition. Hjelm’s characteristic voice is the center of a playful and airy sound scape, where he sings about melancholic love in a naïve and poetic play with the Danish language.

The dream pop of Ice Cream Cathedral draws upon a number of carefully fused and eclectic sources: pop songs from the glory days of moon landing, ethereal guitar noise of the early 90s and contemporary synth explorations. It is galactic, gloomy, innocent and – most importantly – catchy. The distinct voice of Anja Lahrmann is often the link that creates homogeneity and ensures the anchoring in the songs.

Ilang plays gentle and nice pop music. And he recognizes this. He does not pretend when he opens up for well-written pop tunes of the kind that sticks. Ilang has played and performed his entire life, and you can definitely tell by his flow. Notice how Ilang’s crispy voice flows on a song like «Eyes Wide Open». Presented by KarriereKanonen

Genre: Pop, rock Latest album: Før Vi Blev Lette (2012) Career began: 2012

Genre: Space pop Latest album: The Drowsy Kingdom (2013) Formed: 2010

PHOTO: Jakob Birgens

Genre: Pop Latest album: Career began: 2012

PHOTO: Joachim Adrian/POLFOTO

Indians

Ivory & Gold

Jeppe Just Instituttet

Indians’ debut was released in January through the British label 4AD, but already back in 2012, Søren Løkke Juul, who is the man behind Indians, toured in the US supporting acts like Beirut and Other Lives. Indians has been compared to Animal Collective and Bon Iver, but has created a personal expression, where the sensitive vocals are supported by open guitar harmonies and electronic soundscapes.

On the new release from the soul duo Ivory & Gold, you find a dark and gloomy electro pop universe. The producer Ronni Vindahl and singer-songwriter Karen Marie Groth have found a common expression and create serious, melancholic lyrics mixed with optimistic and catchy melodies. The inspiration from the mystical and dark Swedish woods is for example noticeable on the single «Nothingness».

With love for musical trash aesthetics and metallic energy bursts, the trio blends arcade music and 70-80s synths. The inspiration comes from everything from barrel organs to children´s songs. They play on home made instruments made out of percussion, hardware, kitchen tools, iron bars, wires and ladders. The band has a predilection for musical saw and toy instruments. Presented by SNYK - new music & Wundergrund On Tour

Genre: Pop, singer-songwriter Latest album: Somewhere Else (2013) Career began: 2011

PHOTO: Anders Kirkegaard

Genre: Electro, pop, soul Latest album: Burst (2013) Formed: 2010

Genre: Experimental Latest album: 100 Vinylplader (2012) Formed: 2012

PHOTO: Carolina Segre Høyer

Kadie Elder

Amin Karami

Kejthåndet

A new music project has seen the light of day in the form of the band Kadie Elder, which is centered on singer, songwriter and folk musician Anders Rask. Accompanied by musical friends from the Danish scene, the folk music is tucked away in favour of an electro pop sound. A sophisticated, melancholic expression characterizes the music, which creates an intense atmosphere with its fast electronic beats. Presented by Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium

A new wave of well-produced Danish urban is on its way. The musician Amin Karami is one to notice. His music is an inspiring, evocative and emotional affaire. Look at the track «Ser dit ansigt» where longing and rainy days are in perfect harmony. The song contains a large portion of melancholy backed beautifully by Amin’s voice and the nice production. Presented by KarriereKanonen

Two singer songwriters with a lot to give. It is everyday poetry of the best kind with lots of pain and broken dreams of love. Kejthåndet has looked at Danish troubadours such as C.V. Jørgensen, Steffen Brandt and the likes. It sounds a bit like «when dad was young» according to the band. But with an updated sound that is very incisive and reflects the text universe they feel. Presented by KarriereKanonen

Genre: Electropop Latest album: Formed: 2011

Genre: Urban Latest album: Career began: 2012

Genre: Singer-songwriter, pop, alternative Latest album: Formed: 2012

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Marie Key

Kiki Pau (FI)

Kinck

With a nearly sold out spring tour ahead, the singer, musician and songwriter Marie Key has already cemented herself as one of the few originals of the pop world. In her electronic pop, you find personal and clear-cut songs in a harmonious blend of tangy sweetness. Marie Key has a unique ability to make the most of the little things and masters the Danish language with intensity and an unimpressed ease.

Over three albums, the Finnish quartet has delved increasingly deeper into a dark, yet alluring rabbit hole. Last year’s «Pines» didn’t stop at momentary departures, but showed a complete disregard for conventional song structure. To some extent, the man who mixed the record, Dungen frontman Gustav Ejstes, serves as a musical reference point. However, expect a far more trance-inducing trip from Kiki Pau.

Here we are talking about urban with an international sound. Santigold, Purity Ring and Major Lazor are some of the inspirations, but Kinck also borrows from M.I.A.’s edgy pop and Robyn’s nose for hits. All of it is mixed into Kinck who has her very own set of characteristics. It is pop music that bites back with a distorted vocal, hard beats and heavy, heavy bass that keeps you from sitting still. Presented by KarriereKanonen

Kissaway Trail

Kites and Komets

Natalia Lafourcade (MX)

For Kissaway Trail, a lot has changed. The noisepop group has shrunk from five to three members and on the third album «Breach,» the group rediscover youth: «Back when you weren’t afraid to sing about feelings,» says Thomas Fagerlund. «Breach» will be released in May in both Denmark and USA (it was recorded during hurricane Sandy) and every ambition – internationally as well – remains intact.

Kites and Komets is an indie pop project founded in 2010 by Michael Kærsgaard. The sound varies from extrovert, catchy, refreshing and danceable pop tunes to more contemplative and yearning songs. In 2011 the band won the Danish national radio’s competition, Karrierekanonen, and released their self-titled debut EP in the summer of 2012, which was at the top of iTunes’ pop album chart for several days.

Young, beautiful and Mexico’s indie pop darling! The platinum selling songwriter Natalie Lafourcade visits SPOT with the album «Mujer Divina», which is a special tribute to the deceased composer and crooner, Mexican Agustín Lara. In spite of her young age, she already has a music career spanning ten years behind her and she embraces a diverse sound that borders on the sweet yet interesting. Presented in collaboration with the Spanish festival Días Nórdicos.

Genre: Danish electro pop Latest album: De Her Dage (2012) Career began: 2002

Genre: Rock, noise pop Latest album: Sleep Mountain (2010) Formed: 2005

Genre: Space rock, cosmic music Latest album: Pines (2013) Formed: 2007

Genre: Indie pop Latest album: Kites and Komets, ep (2012) Career began: 2010

Genre: Pop, urban, electro, dub Latest album: Career began: 2012

Genre: Latin pop | Latest album: Mujer Divina (2012) | Career began: 2000

PHOTO: Rasmus B Lind

Sebastian Lind

Linkoban

Lulu Rouge

Sebastian Lind is a singer-songwriter who couches his songs in warm electronic beats and catchy pop melodies. That can be heard on the radio hit «Never Let Go», which, in 2011, helped Lind break through to a wider audience. Subsequently, the album «I Will Follow» placed in the Top 10 on the German iTunes chart, which enabled Sebastian Lind to go on an extended tour in Germany.

Linkoban is a sparkling talent from Lucy Love’s record company Superbillion Records. She has, despite of a short career, already managed to perfom in and become banned from China as well as deliver an impressive performance at last year’s Roskilde Festival. Linkoban is raw energy and psychological warfare, and Superbillion Records predicts a great future for the rapper.

When T.O.M. and Buda take the stage at SPOT, it will be five years almost to the date since the release of their debut. In the meantime, they have kept busy doing remixes and DJ sets, and now it seems another album is on its way. Vocalists participating on the new record have been announced, and in May they will deliver both new and old material backed by a band and featuring a string of competent guests.

Genre: Singer-songwriter, pop Latest album: Messed Up Happy Kid (2013) Career began: 2009

Genre: Dirty urban pop Latest album: Super Into On It, ep (2012) Career began: 2011

Genre: Dub, electronica Latest album: Bless You (2008) Formed: 2007

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BANDS M-O PHOTO: Klara Källström & Thobias Fäldt

Madame Indigo

The Malpractice

Mariam The Believer (SE)

In the field between jazz and soul we meet Madame Indigo. The compositions of singer and songwriter Johanna Jürgensen form the basis for the band´s soulful interpretations, which takes you to explore the musical roots of blues, jazz and soul, but also discovers the modern expression of the recognizable. Thus, the gap between old and new is bridged, as classical frameworks are broken and new ones arise. Presented by Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium

Johannes Gammelby and the other members of The Malpractice used to play in Beta Satan, which vouches for a competent take-no-prisoners show. It is pop music that wishes you no good. Strokes your hair and stabs you in your chest. After their debut «Tectonics» in 2011, which made Jenny Wilson and Deftones fans among others, the band is ready with their second album in the early summer of 2013.

«A combination of Janis Joplin’s power and Judy Garland’s vulnerability». That’s how The Guardian described Mariam Wallentin’s voice after a gig in London with the duo Wildbirds & Peacedrums. As Mariam the Believer the Swedish singer has now embarked on a solo project that replaces the improvisation and minimalism of Wildbirds & Peacedrums with warm soul pop with an oriental touch.

Maskinvåd

Mechanical Bird

The Minds of 99

Mechanical Bird will release their new album «Bitter Herbs» just before SPOT. Inspired by the sixties’ American psych scene, medieval tonality and Middle Eastern dessert rock, Mechanical Bird is found in the tension field between the psychedelic and the spiritual, the beautiful and the unsightly. All rounded off by Jacob Brixen’s amazing and charismatic voice.

The Minds of 99 play a dark and attentive rock that draws on post punk. Here, we have desperation, great energy, focus on lyrics and very strong melodies. On their track «Det er Knud, som er død» – a remembrance poem about the great polar explorer Knud Rasmussen – the lyrics are written by the famous author and poet Tom Kristensen, and the band transforms the poem into a melodic and dark affaire. Presented by KarriereKanonen

Genre: Jazz, soul Latest album: Madame Indigo, ep (2013) Formed: 2011

Genre: Rock, alternative | Latest album: Giftige Slanger (2012) | Formed: 2012 Maskinvåd is a new Danish orchestra who released their Nikolaj Nørlund-produced debut «Giftige Slanger» in 2012. This April, they go on tour with Jacob Bellens and open 15 of his concerts around the country. Maskinvåd is centered around the songwriter couple Mathias W. Kjeldsen and Peter Skibsted and in their eclectic and challenging pop and rock, they fear neither chorus, tempo or explicit live shows. Presented by Danish Independent Record Labels (DUP)

Genre: Alternative indierock Latest album: Tectonics (2010) Formed: 2010

Genre: Psychedelic folk/rock Latest album: Bitter Herbs (2013) Formed: 2007

PHOTO: DENNIS MORTON

Mont Oliver

Genre: Indie, hip hop and urban Latest album: Mont Oliver, ep (2011) Formed: 2009 According to the press kit, this is where The Bronx meets the west coast of Jutland. That should give you an idea of their style, but Mont Oliver surprises. On a foundation of raw hip hop beats ,the singer enchants with a voice like an American crooner from the 60’s. The trio has a past in the indie genre that they use to push the dogmas and traditions of hip hop and create a personal and distinctive sound.

Genre: Indie, soul Latest album: Blood Donation (2013) Career began: 2006

Genre: Rock, pop, post-punk Latest album: Formed: 2012

PHOTO: Louise Kamin

Mother Lewinsky & DUEN

Mzungu Kichaa

Mother Lewinsky is a collaboration between three different music personalities. The ambition is to conquer a unique place in Danish music with a raw and unpolished expression where strings, edge and energy create catchy pop rock tunes. At SPOT, the band joins forces with the young string players from The Danish Youth Ensemble (DUEN). Look forward to a bombastic concert with around 30 musicians on the stage.

Danish born Mzungu Kichaa grew up in Tanzania. His eclectic life journey is reflected in his vibrant sound, shaped by the diverse musical traditions he has encountered. The award-winning artist is a popular touring act in East Africa and is steadily gaining popularity on the international scene with his unique style of Tanzanian Bongo Flava. Presented by World Music Denmark

Genre: Indie-classical Latest album: Formed: 2011

Genre: Bongo flava Latest album: Hustle, ep (2012) Career began: 2009

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Naked This succes story from the past couple of years once again strips the music down. Four soloists from very different genres are invited to present four songs from their backlists – but in a completely new wrapping. Once again, the Swedish pianist Gustaf Ljunggren is in charge of the show, and the four soloists are Christian Hjelm, Barbara Moleko, Stine Bramsen, and Claus Hempler.

Stine Bramsen

– a singer and a piano MØ

Genre: Soulful electronic indie pop with street vibes | Latest album: Glass, single (2013) Career began: 2009 Gustaf Ljunggren

Barbara Moleko

Christian Hjelm

Claus Hempler

Since her praised performance at last year’s SPOT, MØ has been hitting frontpages and teaming up with producer Ronnie Vindahl and Kidd’s regular beat smith Eloq. From The Guardian to Pitchfork, international media have been promptly swaying to the sound of MØ’s first singles, which combine everything from syrupy southern rap to leftovers from her electro-punk past in soulful synth-heavy pop bursts.

PHOTO: Michael Hansen

Nelson Can

Genre: Minimalistic rock Latest album: EP, ep (2012) Formed: 2011 Nelson Can is a classic power trio in rattling and noisy attire consisting of three Jutlandic girls with a sense of coolness and pushy riffs. Their short career path has offered performances at Roskilde, Eurosonic and SPOT amongst others, and their song «Apple Pie» was used in a Chinese commercial. They have a straight forward punk-approach to the rock virtues paired with loads of charm and hit potential.

Nordpå

Genre: Pop with 80s inspirations Latest album: Career began: 2012 Nordpå is singer and songwriter Mikkel Munk Iversen. He has written the fine hymn for his hometown Aalborg with the words «Aalborg, you old whore, when will I see you again?» Now, that’s love. But Mikkel still bailed. He misses speaking French and needs a new Vesterbro. So there is much more than hometown hymns to be found in Nordpå’s melodic and beautiful universe. Presented by KarriereKanonen

NOAH

NORDLYD

Genre: Pop Latest album: Over Byen, single (2012) Formed: 2008

feat. Søren Huss, Siri Nilsen & Mariam Wallentin (DK/NO/SE)

The pop duo NOAH, consisting of lead singer Troels Gustavsen and friend Lasse Dyrholm, has already put their mark on the Danish music scene with the hit singles «Alt Er Forbi» and «Over Byen». The catchy and emotional pop tunes are described as «a high-ceilinged Nordic pop sound». So, be ready to move your feet to the dancing notes, or lean back and enjoy the music when the duo visits SPOT.

At SPOT Festival, you will get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hear Søren Huss, Siri Nilsen and Mariam Wallentin from Wildbirds & Peacedrums sing a selection of their songs accompanied by a large string orchestra. The songs are arranged by Mette Dahl Kristensen, a member of the string sextet Who Killed Bambi? that has previously performed with When Saints Go Machine, Dúné, Oh Land, Teitur and Asbjørn etc.

Ocean View

Genre: Post junk Latest album: No End (2012) Formed: 2011 Ocean View is not in danger of committing conformicide and blindly following the norms. With no glitzy marketing, the band wishes to be pure, honest and self-sufficient. Desperate and aggressive are words that have been used to describe their debut album, «No End». It is the story of human relations, being true to your heart, and finding the rhythm that will translate into soul touching music.

Genre: Classical, pop | Latest album: Formed: 2012

Odd Collection Genre: Electro pop Latest album: Formed: 2011

Odd Collection is in several different ways a modern version of the typical band constellation. The members handle drum machines and analogue synths and are also active as remixers. On the gleaming new CV, you’ll already find an official Medina remix. Glitchy MPC beats and walls of synth, which are met by singer Christoffer Budtz catchy vocal melodies, shape the trio’s electronica based-pop.

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BANDS O-T PHOTO: Jacob Skaaning

Orgi-E

Genre: Hiphop, rap Latest album: Klamfyr (2012) Career began: 1999 The overtly sleazy proletarian rapper and Suspektmember gave his furtive fantasies and sharp observations free rein on last year´s solo release «Klamfyr» - a well-chosen and ironic title which implies an atmosphere that is equally burger-joint and SM-basement. But with this story goes a label as one of the country’s absolute best and most insightful rappers, a label which has stuck to Orgi-E for years.

Panamah

Genre: Electronic pop Latest album: Børn Af Natten, single (2013) Formed: 2009 Last year, Panamah succeeded in breaking through to a massive audience with the smash hit «DJ Blues». Now, the trio is back with club-friendly beats and silvery melancholy. Panamah’s music is firmly rooted in classical song writing virtues, which the stylish group wraps in a modern, electronic sound. The songs are performed by Amalie Stender, whose delicate voice encapsulates beauty as well as fragility

PHOTO: Lisa Bregneager

Penny Police

Genre: Alternative pop, folk Latest album: Sink Or Sail, ep (2013) Career began: 2010 Armed with electronic autoharp, Penny Police EP-debuted in 2011 with mysterious songs and eccentric pretty-girl-pop. Last year, she was praised by the English music magazine Mojo as one of SPOT Festival’s highlights – even without being a part of the official program. This year Penny Police is on the poster with her personal mix of poetic folk and ambient pop music.

PHOTO: Amalie Leth Andersen

Paper Tigers

Genre: Britrock Latest album: If We May?, ep (2012) Formed: 2009 With pointed shoes, frilled shirts, velour jackets, «mod» haircuts, and the attitude in the right place, Paper Tigers mark their style. These four young britpop rockers always deliver a fantastic and energetic show! The melodic rock songs are bursting with catchy choruses that stick and leave the audience hungry for more long after the show is over. Presented by Tak Rock!

PHOTO: Martin Fält

Point Blank

PRE-Be-UN

Point Blank is an organic hip-hop group consisting of 7 people that for the past three years has shared stages with Kidd, TopGunn, Klumben, Danni Toma and Flødeklinikken. Furthermore, they have supported such artists as the rap legend, Ice Cube and the French hip-hoppers Hocus Pocus. Point Blank is an energetic and catchy live band with an authentic sound that is sure to get the audience moving.

PRE-Be-UN is musical playfulness and melodies which, in collaboration with an electronic universe, an abstract approach to the material and Nicolai Koch’s distinctive voice, becomes a polychrome and unusual whole. The lyrics strive for ambiguity, a hyperreferentiality, which on a sentence level constantly draws on pop and avant-garde culture. So, pop music for the advanced. Released on Tambourhinoceros.

Genre: Hip hop | Latest album: Don´t Let The Minute Hand Slap You, ep (2011) Formed: 2009

Genre: Hypnagogic pop Latest album: «Coral Carol,» kassette (2012) Career began: 2012

PHOTO: Martin Fält

Kristina Renée

Mathilde Savery

Schultz And Forever

Last year Kristina Renée released her debut ep, «For Now», that Gaffa described as: «Kristina’s pop universe is a mixture of electronic and acoustic elements. With great attention to the details, the songs elevate from the harmonic mix with a surprising volume». In the beginning of June, Renée releases her first album from which the single «Sorrow Knows» has become a big radio hit.

With her impressive voice and gifted song writing, Mathilde Savery has sparked excitement on Youtube, FM bands and not least at Roskilde. A couple of years ago, the young singer-songwriter took the consequence of her ambitions and put a high school education on hold. At the show at this year’s SPOT, you’ll get to hear material from the award winning songwriter’s forthcoming debut album.

Young Jonathan Schultz has achieved hype from blogs, the music business and an influential Danish radio show all on his own. When Schultz succeeds with his spartan approach, it is due to the fact that he excels at his simple musical means. The guitar playing recalls the greats of the past, and his slightly hoarse voice has plenty of breadth as he cleverly intones his way through the well selected words.

Genre: Pop Latest album: For Now, ep (2012) Career began: 2010

Genre: Singer-songwriter, folk, pop, jazz Latest album: Career began: 2011

Genre: Experimental folk Latest album: Céline, 2013 Career began: 2011

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PHOTO: Weronika Bela

PHOTO: Karolina Zapolska

Simian Ghost (SE)

Six City Stompers

Slowolf

Swedish Simian Ghost began as Sebastian Arnström’s solo project, but a drummer and a guitarist were added and these constitute the backbone of the band´s melancholic sound. The lyrics and the music convey a youthful naivety, but at the same time contain a deeper philosophical dimension. Simian Ghost’s latest album «Youth» drew international attention from, amongst others, The Guardian and Pitchfork.

Since their childhood, the six members of Six City Stompers have had a love for the jazz legend Louis Armstrong, and that is what ties the group together. That´s why the group expores a variant of the New Orleans jazz supplemented with other genres and with the crooner voice of Mads Mathias in front. They have won The European Championship in Traditional Jazz, and toured great parts of Europe. Presented by JazzDanmark

Behind the name Slowolf hides singer, drummer and producer Andreas Asingh. Renewal is the code word for Slowolf’s mindset, and with part one of an album trilogy he has managed to make a record where dream pop meets black metal and hip hop. The sound is gloomy and heavy, but with a light man´s falsetto to balance out the dark guitars and apocalyptic sounding keyboard symphonies.

Genre: Dream pop Latest album: Youth (2012) Formed: 2010

Genre: Neo-New Orleans, neo-trad Latest album: «The Formula» (2012) Formed: 2005

PHOTO: Viktor Sloth

Genre: Dream Pop, metal, hip hop Latest album: Seven / EP / 2012 Career began: 2012

PHOTO: Mats Bakken

So-so Echo

DJ Static

Einar Stray (NO)

Things have really picked up for So-so Echo, who only recently came together as a band. During the winter of 2012, in an L.A. apartment, the trio set out to create sounds for Hollywood productions, but the music took on a life of its own and they opted to turn the melodic synth layers into songs. Now, a few months later, they have the same PR agency as Grimes and will be touring with Raveonettes.

Despite the release of his first eponymous album last year, Dj Static is about as far from the average newcomer as you can get. He has long been a power house of Danish hip hop, especially in Aarhus. His debut record is on its way to achieving classic status and his epic live shows are already infamous. As usual, Static will bring along a posse of prominent guests and let his hands do the talking.

The tracks are up to ten minutes long, build up as sparkling compositions, where violin and cello complements the traditional rock set-up and Einar Stray’s songs and intense piano are at the center. Last year included a lengthy fall tour in Germany and two concerts in Russia with Under Byen and Icelandic Múm. Their debut «Chiaroscuro» was released in 2011 and followed by the EP «For The Country» in 2012.

Genre: Alternative elektro, nostalgia vs. melancholia | Latest album: Imaginary Worlds, digital single (2013) | Formed: 2013

Genre: Hip hop Latest album: Rolig Under Pres (2012) Career began: 1991

Genre: Indie pop, post-rock Latest album: For The Country, ep (2012) Career began: 2006

PHOTO: Christian Hjort

Sukker Lyn

Synd og Skam

Tako Lako

The sugar-addicted Sukker Lyn has steered away from dancehall towards the crunk and trap sound of the South. These rather rowdy subgenres reflect the rapper’s upbringing in a Danish asylum centre. Becoming part of the Cheff crew meant an unusual career change from tattoo apprentice to rap star, but on the single «Jagter Ikk Penge,» Sukker Lyn clearly shows that he’s able to rap within the lines as well.

A privately released vinyl EP printed on old record covers and a string of live gigs with the Af Med Hovedet collective. That’s all it took for Synd og Skam to become unanimously praised, nominated for awards and hailed as the saviors of Danish rock music. However, their deeply personal exploration of post-punk, improvisation and emotional outbursts proves that the reception wasn’t completely off-base.

Tako Lako has a modern take on Balkan music. Their mind-blowing rhythms are inspired by gypsy traditions of South-eastern Europe, but also draw on various dance genres and afro beat. With staggering mutual understanding, Tako Lako bring forth musical intimacy, monumental tragedy and inciting dance ecstasy. The title track of the debut album «Through the Mud» recently won a Danish Music Award.Presented by World Music Denmark

Genre: Megaflex Latest album: Megaflex (2012) Career began: 2011

Genre: Rock Latest album: Blafret Ør Af Kjoler Formed: 2011

Genre: Psychedelic gypsy beat Latest album: Through The Mud (2012) Formed: 2007

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BANDS T-Y PHOTO: Kajsa Gullberg

Kirstine Stubbe Teglbjærg

Dean Thompson

Maria Timm

Siden hun trådte ud af gruppen Blue Foundation, har Kirstine Stubbe Teglbjærg tilbragt en betragtelig mængde tid i sit studie. Det udmøntede sig sidste år i singlen ”Drømmenes lyd”, som kun gjorde hende mere opsat på at udvikle sit helt eget udtryk. Musikken rummer både elektronik og akustik blandet op med manipulerede feltoptagelser, og den sart indtagende vokal folder sig nu ud på modersmålet.

Dean Thompson is 23 years old and makes sweaty urban soul/pop. He is the son of a Danish mother and a Jamaican father, and Dean was on stage already as a baby when he was wrapped in a cloth around his mother when she performed at venues such as Stengade 30. His father toured all over Denmark with Natasja among others. So, for Dean, reggae, dancehall, soul, hip hop and RnB is in his blood. Presented by KarriereKanonen

In 2007, Maria Timm started a band under her own name after having been a part of Marybell Katastrophy and The Broken Beats. In 2008, the debut single «Dirty Place» became Track-of-the Week on Danish radio P3. She released her album «The Plan» in 2009 and is out with her second solo album «I Come Undone» which according to Gaffa is «a delightfully unimpressed embrace of both electronic and organic pop.»

Genre: Alternativ, indie Seneste album: Tæppet er faldet, single (2013) Karrierestart: 2010

PHOTO: Johanne Fick

Genre: RnB, urban Latest album: Career began: 2012

Genre: Alternative/elektronic pop Latest album: ”I Come Undone” (2013) Career began: 2007

PHOTO: Petra Kleis

TopGunn

Ane Trolle

Turboweekend

TopGunn is one of the Cheff Records´ more dancehall-oriented acts and he’s already been involved in large number of projects over the last few years. Besides producing for the likes of Klumben & Raske Penge, he’s part of Firehouse Sound, and he released a more electronic and hip hop-oriented EP under the alias ShaqBoosie. TopGunn has a brand new album on the way.

During last year’s Naked show, Ane Trolled gave the audience a peak at the material, which, a few months later, would become the beloved singer’s first and highly acclaimed solo release. Ane Trolle is already an experienced SPOT performer and has been a part of several constellations, but this year will be a first, since the breathtaking voice will be unfolding the quirky world of the solo debut.

Turboweekend is known for tons of synth and attitude, but at last year’s SPOT, singer Silas Bjerregaard interpreted the band’s songs backed by pianist Gustav Ljunggren, and the material revealed fantastic new qualities. This, as well as two sessions at the NorthSide Festival, was the inspiration for a brief tour with the new compositions, which the SPOT audience will get to experience this year.

Genre: Dancehall, urban, rap Latest album: Hemligt Nummer, single (2013) Career began:

Genre: Alternative pop Latest album: Honest Wall (2012) Career began: 2002

PHOTO: Marie Hvidaa Hjørnholm

Genre: Electro rock Latest album: Fault Lines (2012) Formed: 2006

PHOTO: Nikolai Møller

Ulvetimen

Vild $mith

Vinnie Who

Ulvetimen treats the listener with gloomy and unromantic songs, where Nordic melancholy meets elements from American folk. With Nick Cave as an inspiration, the Danish lyrics describe how having the best intentions can sometimes end up in the worst possible actions. The nine members embrace the listener and connect tales of the primal urges of man with a diverse soundscape. Presented by Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium

In America, there is a guy called The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He is also known for blockbusters such as «Independence Day» and «Wild Wild West,» but forget about him for a moment. Because we have the Danish rap group Vild $mith. They sweep everyone aside, even Will Smith himself and his 90s rap. The boys bring their cheeky rhymes and deliver the goods with a high entertainment value. The concert at SPOT is their debut. Presented by KarriereKanonen

Vinnie Who’s music aims directly for the dance floor. The band delivers new-disco of the best kind with tight bass progressions, cow bell and sexy synthesizers. That lead man Niels Bagge and his band can seriously start a party is beyond any doubt. This is proven by two previous visits at SPOT, where the packed and sweaty concerts were rewarded with great reviews and created international interest.

Genre: Folk, spherical, rock Latest album: Indtag natten / debut ep / out in May 2013 Formed: 2010

Genre: Hip hop, urban, rap Latest album: Formed: 2012

Genre: Disco Latest album: Midnight Special (2013) Formed: 2010

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PHOTO: Ole Lauridsen

The Wands

Genre: Psych rock Latest album: Hello I Know The Blow You Grow Is Magic, vinyl-ep (2012) Formed: The atmosphere is raw and colorful when The Wands dazzle with their light, naïve and catchy melodies which are embraced by heavy drones and rattling fuzz guitars. The point of departure is the sixties’ hippie-psych, where elements such as playful psychedelic guitar-bling, eastern mystery and improvisation are in focus. It is unpretentious, charming and damn melodious.

We Invented The Night

Genre: Post-indie | Latest album: Memories of a Bloody Love Affair / 12» vinyl / 2011 Formed: 2009 We Invented The Night plays timeless and picturesque beat music. No lead vocalist, but a collective who creates an intense and grandiose expression, which you could liken to alternative pop, krautrock and film scores. In this nine-man band, you’ll find members from such acts as Maskinvåd, Islets of Dust, Kites and Komets, Ladylion and NovemberDecember. Presented by Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium

We Were Born Canaries

Genre: Pop | Latest album: We Were Born Canaries (2012) Formed: 2010 Behind We Were Born Canaries stand singer Stine Grøn and audio wizzard Jakob Steen. Stine Grøn’s colorful voice floats effortlessly, like a playful canary, through the group’s world of sound, in which guitar, bass and intoxicating beats are mixed with healthy amounts of reverb, cow bell, synthetic hand claps and other delightful flavors. The sound is dreamy and seductive. Pop with imagination and elegance.

PHOTO: Mads Perch

When Saints Go Machine

The White Album

Yast (SE)

The world was at When Saints Go Machine’s feet when they opened the Orange Stage at Roskilde in 2010. In 2012, the album «Konkylie» received two Danish Music Awards, and on top of that the electro pop band was also bestowed with the P3 Award. Last summer, the band took a major step up the international career ladder with gigs at festivals such as Sónar in Spain and The Great Escape in the UK.

With long beards and big hearts, Claus Arvad, Jakob Eilsø og Frederik Vedersø provides «hugging folk» filled with Nordic melancholy. Back in 2011, The White Album received much attention from blogs and radio stations in England and USA. Last year, the trio was part of the Nordic music export offices’ JaJaJa-event in London. On «Conquistador,» The White Album present their idea of a new Danish folk sound.

It might have been a coincidence or perhaps a necessity that the lo-fi-romantics from Yast left the mid-Swedish dormitory town Sandviken to live out their rock dreams in Malmø. Yast delivers pop songs about love, loneliness and confusion, but behind the simple expression lays a personal relation to the songs. The debut is on its way, and will be released on the Swedish record company Adrian Recordings.

Yo Felles

Young Dreams (NO)

YOUROLAND

The three members of Yo Felles were all pivotal players in the Copenhagen party scene before forming this group. They are: co-founder of Cheff Records Eloq, Dixone and Julius Sylvest. All three are both dj’s and producers, and they represent a modern hybrid approach to music, which contains everything from baile funk, electronic music and bass-heavy genres like trap and kuduro.

Norwegian Young Dreams uphold the Scandinavian pop tradition. Even though they play Balearic summer jams where British 80’s indie meets a lush, modern synth sound, there is something unmistakably Nordic about the polished craftsmanship. Their music contains contrasts of youthful innocence and seasoned, elaborate songwriting. A perfect soundtrack to a spring evening in Aarhus.

Genre: Electronic pop Latest album: Mannequin, single (2012) Formed: 2007

Genre: Folk Latest album: Conquistador (2012) Formed: 2011

Genre: Lo-fi dream pop Latest album: Yast (2013) Formed: 2007

PHOTO: Polina Vinogradova

Genre: Tropical, kuduro, trap Latest album: The Booty Duty Mix, mixtape (2013) Formed: 2012

Genre: Symphonic Trance Pop Psychedelia Latest album: «Between Places» (2013) Formed: 2009

Genre: Latest album: ”Requiem – Snow Falls As Snow” (2013) Formed: 2012 A contemporary requiem by the mezzo soprano Andrea Pellegrini and the composer/keybord player Christoffer Møller (known from Tim Christensen’s band), who update the Latin requiem. Rock and classical are combined into something new with six European death poems, a Danish writer, an experimental string quartet, rock guitar and chilling light design as the prime ingredients. Music with depth and roots.

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Seminar

FRIDAY, MAY 3rd 10.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. MEET THE PUBLISHERS

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1.00 p.m. - 3.00 p.m.

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1.00 p.m. - 1.25 p.m.

(UK language) PROMUS, VESTER ALLÉ 15 Johan Ekelund, Christoffer Lindh, Pelle Lidell, Pia Hoffmann, Yasmine Gallus, Devon DeVries, Sophie Urquhart, Dan Dunbar, Nick Morgan, Jesper Gadeberg, Fredrik Nedelmann. Moderator: Jesper Mardahl

KEDLEN, GODSBANEN

FIRE INSTRUMENTALE VÆRKER (DK)

KAMMERMUSIKSALEN, MUSIKHUSET

1.30 p.m. - 3.00 p.m.

BRANDS & MUSIC: The next wave (UK)

Jack Horner, Rasmus Hamann PROMUS, VESTER ALLÉ 15

1.25 p.m. - 1.40 p.m.

KOMPOSITION FOR BIG BAND (DK)

1.50 p.m. - 2.10 p.m.

COMPUTERSTYRING AF KLAIS (DK) KAMMERMUSIKSALEN, MUSIKHUSET

4.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. MUSIKKEN, FILMEN & RETTIGHEDERNE (DK)

2.10 p.m. - 2.30 p.m.

CURTAINS – Fra skrivekrampe til færdigt album (DK)

4.00 p.m. - 5.15 p.m.

NÅR HITMASKINEN IKKE BARE KØRER I TOMGANG (DK)

BAR DA BING TROMMETRIO (DK)

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2.40 p.m. - 3.00 p.m.

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3.00 p.m. - 3.30 p.m.

FILMMUSIK MELLEM UNDER – Og overlægning (DK language)

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KAMMERMUSIKSALEN, MUSIKHUSET

7.00 p.m. - 8.30 p.m.

KAMMERMUSIKSALEN, MUSIKHUSET

PROMUS, VESTER ALLÉ 15

BETA SESSION With noah, boy and stine bramsen – feat. ray cokes (UK)

NOAH, BOY, Stine Bramsen, Ray Cokes RYTMISK SAL, MUSIKHUSET

DO YOU SPEAK CREATIVITY? (UK) REMISEN, GODSBANEN Ludovica Mazzucato, Carlo Romano

3.00 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. MUSIK, BRANDING OG DESIGN (DK)

KATAPULT, GODSBANEN

3.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m.

EXPORTER’S TOOLKIT TO THE GERMAN MUSIC INDUSTRY (UK)

KAMMERMUSIKSALEN, MUSIKHUSET

REMISEN, GODSBANEN Tina Krüger, Stephan Thanscheidt, Torsten Mewes, Sabine Kühn, Björn Pfarr, Sven Städtler, Mareike Hettler. Moderator: Allan McGowan 

Danish language

SATURDAY, MAY 4th 11.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m. THE NORDIC PLAYLIST (UK)

2.00 p.m. - 3.00 p.m. MUSIC & ADVERTISING (UK)

RADISSON Anna Hildur Hildibrandsdóttir, Johannes Dybkjær Andersson 12.00 p.m. - 1.00 p.m. DO YOU SPEAK CREATIVITY? (UK) KEDLEN, GODSBANEN Ludovica Mazzucato, Carlo Romano 2.15 p.m. 1.00 p.m. KEYNOTE: KEITH HARRIS 1

RADISSON Keith Harris – interviewed by Neil McCormick

1.00 p.m. - 2.00 p.m.

DE NYE FANS – Skab passion og loyalitet med sociale medier (DK)

1.15 p.m. - 2.00 p.m.

SO YOU THINK YOU NEED A MANAGER? - Insight into management (UK)

RADISSON Riki Bleau, Arwen Hunt, Simon Long. Moderator: Keith Harris

2.15 p.m. - 3.00 p.m.

Mikkel Mainz, Kenneth Ladekjær, Bo Juhl Nielsen (Sun Create Studios)

CHINA AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA FOCUS: Live and touring - when up is down and down is up (UK)

ÅBEN SCENE, GODSBANEN Jeanette Nørgaard

ÅBEN SCENE, GODSBANEN Jesper Fleng

4.00 p.m. - 4.50 p.m. ANIMATED ROCK: How Nabiha, Infernal and Grand Avenue did it (UK)

2.00 p.m. - 2.50 p.m. ANIMATED ROCK: How The New Kids On The Block do it (UK) åben scene, godsbanen

– A life in music. from indie label management to Stevie Wonder and the music managers forum (UK)

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3.00 p.m. - 3.50 p.m. ANIMATED ROCK: How electric lady lab did it (UK)

KEDLEN, GODSBANEN Jesper Gadeberg, Sander van Maarschalkerweerd, Jaco Zijlstra, Robin Hofman, Fredrik Nedelmann. Moderator: Andre as Nielsen

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4.30 p.m. - 6.45 p.m. MUSIKPARLAMENTETS INNOVATIONSKONKURRENCE 2013 - VINDERNE KÅRES (DK)

REMISEN, GODSBANEN

RADISSON Al Di, Justin Sweeting, Jani Joenniemi. Host: Martin Røen 

2.30 p.m. - 4.00 p.m.

FRA ANSØGNING TIL AFSLAG – En ansøgnings vej gennem systemet (DK)

REMISEN, GODSBANEN

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Danish language

PHOTO: Nikolaj Lassen

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Friday, May 3RD

Meet the Publishers 10.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. at Promus, Vester Allé 15

Promus take a goal-oriented approach to creating networks within publishing/sync and will again be inviting to a pitch and speed meeting with international music business representatives. Swing by and pitch your music to representatives from Stockholm, London, Nashville, Hamburg and Berlin and expand your network to international top publishers and sync people such as the below mentioned. Sign-up via info@promus.dk - First come, first served. More info: promus.dk/meet-the-publishers.asp

External Seminar: Presented by Promus in cooperation with DPA/Danish Songwriters Guild

Johan Ekelund: Co-founder of Kobalt Music, Stockholm, Christoffer Lindh: A&R manager at Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Stockholm, Pelle Lidell: European A&R executive at Universal Music Publishing Group, Pia Hoffmann: Manager at musicsupervising.com, Hamborg, Yasmine Gallus, Song Marketing & Sync Manager at Budde Music, Berlin, Devon DeVries, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Nashville, Sophie Urquhart, Founder of Tin Drum Music, London, Dan Dunbar, Creative Director at The Sync Agency, London, Nick Morgan, Head of Talent and Rights at FRUKT Communications, London, Fredrik Nedelmann, Freibank Music Publishing, Germany Jesper Gadeberg, Music Stylist, Denmark, Moderator: Jesper Mardahl, Head of Promus

Brands & Music: The Next Wave 1.30 p.m. - 3.00 p.m. at Promus, Vester Allé 15

Partnerships between brands and bands have become widespread in Denmark. But how do you make sure that the partnership makes sense and offers credibility for bands, fans and brands alike? In this exclusive master class, Jack Horner, Founder of FRUKT Communications, will offer a few of his own perspectives on this matter. Rasmus Hamann, owner of Knowtheirname Music Branding, will offer current Danish cases. Sign-up is necessary via info@promus.dk – re: master class More info: promus.dk/spot-2013.asp External Seminar: Presented by Promus in cooperation with knowtheirname.dk

Jack Horner, Founder and Executive Creative Director of FRUKT Communications, London, Rasmus Hamann, owner of Knowtheirname Music Branding

Exporter’s Toolkit to the German Music Industry 3.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m. at Remisen, Godsbanen

The workshop will offer a series of interactive panels and networking opportunities, whereby the entire food chain of German businesses, that music export professionals are required to interact with, will be represented. Key distributors, PR and booking agencies will be invited to explain how they work and to engage in mentoring dialogue with Danish and international music exporter professionals. Presented by SPOT Festival

Tina Krüger, booker at Karsten Jahnke Booking, Stephan Thanscheidt, Head of Festival booking at FKP Scorpio, Torsten Mewes, Head of Marketing & Label Relations at Believe Digital, owner of the radio PR company 24-7 PR, Sabine Kühn, PR Manager Music at Rough Trade Distribution, Björn Pfarr, Head of Music Program at Reeperbahn Festival, Sven Städtler, Head of Promotion at Verstärker, Mareike Hettler, Label Manager at Grönland Records, Björn Meyer, Artist Manager at Odyssey Music Network, Moderator: Allan McGowan, Allan McGowan Consultants, GB

Beta Session with NOAH, BOY and Stine Bramsen - feat. Ray Cokes

4.00 p.m. - 5.15 p.m. at Rytmisk Sal, Musikhuset

Copenhagen Records’ Beta Sessions are usually small concerts with new names taking place at the record company’s office in front of a small intimate audience. But for the third time they pull up their stakes and move to SPOT. This year as a special event the hit duo NOAH, German BOY and Alphabeat singer Stine Bramsen will be presented and interviewed – by none other than former MTV-host, Englishman Ray Cokes! External Seminar: Presented by Copenhagen Records

NOAH, Danish pop-duo, BOY, German-swiss girl-duo, Stine Bramsen, the female lead singer of Danish pop band Alphabeat, Ray Cokes, former MTV-host

Do You Speak Creativity? 7.00 p.m. - 8.30 p.m. at Remisen, Godsbanen

We will introduce you to Startup the Art and the concept of creative startups through speakers and the Presented by SPOT Festival

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“make it work” workshop. The workshop is designed to help you network and generate creative business ideas. At Startup the Art, we spread an entrepreneurial approach to the creative industry, where creatives team up with business people. Together, they rethink the role of creativity in our economy. Do you speak creativity?

External Seminar: presented by startup the art, ludovica Mazzucato, co-founder of Startup the Art, Carlo Romano, co-founder of Startup the Art

Saturday, May 4th

The Nordic Playlist

– A New Export and Marketing Tool for Nordic Music 11.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m. at Radisson

The Nordic Playlist is an initiative aimed at increasing musical exchange across the Nordic borders. By drawing attention to the music of the region, the goal is to create opportunities for collaboration, development and export. The regional markets aren’t very responsive to the music of other Nordic countries, which is why this platform was created to improve pan-Nordic strategies and projects. Read more here: www.nordicplaylist.com Presented by SPOT Festival in cooperation with NOMEX

Anna Hildur Hildibrandsdóttir, Programme Director at NOMEX Johannes Dybkjær Andersson, partner and Creative Director at VOLUME

Do You Speak Creativity? 12.00 p.m. - 1.00 p.m. in Kedlen, Godsbanen

Same as Friday

External Seminar: presented by startup the art

ludovica Mazzucato, co-founder of Startup the Art Carlo Romano, co-founder of Startup the Art

Keynote: Keith Harris

– a life in Music. From indie label management to Stevie Wonder and The Music Managers Forum. Interviewed by Neil McCormick 12.15 p.m. - 1.00 p.m. at Radisson

With more than 40 years in the music industry, music legend Keith Harris has many experiences to share about his life in music. Harris is best known for his many years of working with Stevie Wonder, partly as his manager, partly as Operation Manager for Stevie’s companies. Keith has been leader of the legendary Motown record label and has since used his expertise to advise many English musicians. Presented by SPOT Festival

Keith Harris, Represents Stevie Wonder, Director of Performer Affairs for PPL, Chairman of Musictank and Trustee of the British Music Experience at the 02. Neil McCormick, Author, Music Journalist, The Daily Telegraph.

So You Think You Need A Manager?

- insight into management 1.15 p.m. - 2.00 p.m. at Radisson

It seems these days that the “fix” for all artists’ problems is to get a manager … but how do you find a good one and what can you reasonably expect from a manager? This panel will discuss the role of the manager in the current music business environment and focus particularly on management in the UK and perhaps answer the question why a UK manager might want to represent a Scandinavian artist.

Presented by SPOT Festival Riki Bleau, manager, former Director at The Music Matrix Organisation Limited, Simon Long, UK music industry lawyer, Arwen Hunt, partner and Artist Manager at ATC Management, London, Moderator: Keith Harris, Represents Stevie Wonder, Director of Performer Affairs for PPL, Chairman of Musictank and Trustee of the British Music Experience at the 02

catalogue attractive for the advertising world. Furthermore we will discuss the future of the relationship between advertising and music. We will also touch on the role of the publisher and the importance of easy clearance of rights.

Presented by SPOT Festival Jesper Gadeberg, Music Stylist, Denmark, Sander van Maarschalkerweerd, Sizzer Amsterdam, Netherlands, Jaco Zijlstra, Creaminal, France Robin Hofman, HearDis, Germany, Fredrik Nedelmann, Freibank Music Publishing, Germany, Moderator: Andreas Nielsen, Crunchy Tunes, Denmark

Animated rock: How the new kids on the block do it 2.00 p.m. - 2.50 p.m. at Åbne Scene, Godsbanen

This January, the three animators behind Sun Creature Studio passed their exams at The Animation Workshop with the short “The Reward”, and they felt driven to explore the film’s fantasy universe further. A Kickstarter campaign to fund a tv series ensued, raising more than $140.000. But animated music videos are also high on the trio’s agenda, and in this seminar, you can hear more about their approach to the medium. Presented by The Animation Workshop in cooperation with SPOT Festival

Mikkel Mainz, Kenneth Ladekjær and Bo Juhl Nielsen, animators at Sun Creature Studios

China and South -East Asia Focus:

Live and touring – When UP is DOWN and DOWN is UP 2.15 p.m. - 3.00 p.m. at Radisson

SPOT Festival is very excited to announce a panel focusing on how to approach the Chinese and East Asian markets. The seminar will offer insights on people with extensive hands-on experience in bringing bands to China or South-East Asia, and will feature professionals behind some of the most innovative and cutting-edge festivals, promotions and practices in China, Hong Kong and South-East Asia. Presented by SPOT Festival in cooperation with DSI SE ASIA

Al Di, Promoter, booker, TV-host, Beijing, Justin Sweeting, Music Director, UNTITLED Entertainment, Hong Kong, Jani Joenniemi, General Manager, Center Stage China, Shanghai, Host: Martin Røen, producer at DSI SE ASIA

Animated rock: How Electric Lady Lab did it

3.00 p.m. - 3.50 p.m. at Åbne Scene, Godsbanen

When Danish pop ensemble Electric Lady Lab decided to pay tribute to the classic A-Ha video for “Take On Me”, Jeanette Nørgaard took charge of the animation. Now she’s working on the next video from the group. In her seminar, the woman behind production company Onbird will explain how she approaches fusing beautifully animated 2d imagery with modern pop sounds, creating adventurous and innovative music videos. Presented by The Animation Workshop in cooperation with SPOT Festival

Jeanette Nørgaard, Founder and Creative Director of the production company Onbird

Animated rock: How Nabiha, Infernal and Grand Avenue did it

4.00 p.m. - 4.50 p.m. at Åbne Scene, Godsbanen

Viborg-based producer Jesper Fleng has a number of music videos under his belt, fusing animation with live action footage to create captivating visuals to match the music. Here, he shares his experiences working with artists like Infernal, Nabiha, and Grand Avenue – and also his insights into creating animation and visual effects for music videos in many different styles and price ranges. Presented by The Animation Workshop in cooperation with SPOT Festival Jesper Fleng, Director, animation director and VFX director/supervisor

Music & Advertising 2.00 p.m. - 3.00 p.m. in Kedlen, Godsbanen

This panel will focus on the use of music in adverts. We will touch on subjects like “Best Practice” in approaching music supervisors and how to make your 35

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Royal Beer &Tak Rock …supports SPOT festival Check out more at www.royalbeer.tv

AND MANY OTHERS

SPOTF E S T I V A L M AY 3 & 4 2 0 1 3 - A A R H U S D E N M A R K

MUSIKHUSET AARHUS GODSBANEN VOXHALL SCANDINAVIAN CONGRESS CENTER ATLAS RADAR

SUPPORTED BY STATEN S KUN STRÅD & AARHUS KOMMUN E

SPOT IS ORGANIZED BY ROSA AND

MXD - MUSIC EXPORT DENMARK

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