What inspired the name “he is tall.” and how does it reflect your artistic persona?:
Oh, great question! I feel tall, I feel strong, I feel brave, I feel vulnerable, I feel everything, and I feel so alive when I’m performing on a stage. Usually I’m a quiet man, and I don’t take many risks and chances, but everything else falls away when I’m in the music. It makes me brave, it doesn’t make me ashamed of myself and my complexities. It’s like music allows me to be exactly who I am; therefore the name ‘he is tall.’.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your life that significantly influenced your music career?
Also a great question, and it’s difficult to pick something specific, but I remember my first year performing where I was at an open mic and played a song of mine about being introverted. After the performance, a man came up to me crying and asked for the lyrics to the song. There, for the first time, I thought, “okay, maybe I’m okay in doing this”.
How has your upbringing shaped your musical style and themes?
I grew up in the suburbs of Århus, the second largest city in Denmark, and it has definitely shaped me lyrically. I can feel my childhood place in my lyrics, there are many signs, and many of the people I’m writing about are inspired by things I experienced as a suburban kid and a suburban teen. I picked the music up myself. Music was not a big part of my childhood home. Quickly, I got into the North American indie scene and the way the male artists expressed their emotions. I think I needed that type of male figure in my life.
Describe your typical songwriting process. Do you start with lyrics, melody, or another element?
It’s difficult to describe because I actually don’t have a specific writing process. Recently most of my new songs have started with lyrics. Right now I’m writing a lot: anytime something comes to my mind, I make sure to write it down on my Iphone or notebook. ‘lemonade.’ started with the lyrics too. I actually like that I don’t have a structured way when I write, because then it’s always so exciting when I’m cooking something new.
How has your sound evolved from your earlier works to your latest releases?
I’ve been experimenting a lot. Between my debut EP from 2022 and my new releases, I tried writing mainstream pop. I’ve also made songs for a concept album with big orchestral plans, but somehow I ended up going back to the basics: me and the guitar. I really like it, I like the storytelling and the intimacy in it.
What was the inspiration behind your single “lemonade”?
‘lemonade.’ is inspired by my inner self and the voices I’ve had in my head since I was a little child. Voices doubted me, saying I’m not good enough for anything, and since then I developed an inferiority complex. But then again, writing this song has helped me deal with it. Music helps me a lot.
How does “lemonade” differ from your previous tracks in terms of theme and sound?
‘lemonade.’ is very stripped down compared to my latest songs (‘i miss you and america, ‘you could just take me.’). Actually, I think ‘lemonade.’ is the first song I’ve released that’s almost just me and the guitar.
Can you walk us through the production process of “lemonade”?
‘lemonade.’ started with the lyrics. I remember trying to describe my inner struggles, and I turned out some kind of a poem. The chord progression appeared a day when I was sitting on my couch jamming to an episode of The Office (US) where Andy Bernard is performing ‘I Will Remember You’ by Sarah MacLachlan. Then I tried to connect the poem and progression – I played the demo for my producer and my label, and all of them thought that the song should be part of my upcoming EP.
What upcoming projects or themes are you excited to explore in your music?
I actually have a list of themes that I’ll try to write songs about eventually, and I still have ideas of making concept albums. I’ll keep them to myself for now 🙂
How do you envision your artistic growth over the next five years?
I enjoy developing my lyrical and compositional skills – I’ve concrete plans about releasing lots of new songs, and I hope they can bring me around the world, connecting with many amazing people.
Are there any dream collaborations or venues you aspire to achieve?
Uh, I’ve dozens of dream collaborators! Some of them are Sufjan Stevens, Phoebe Bridgers, Tops, Adrienne Lenker, Little Simz, Stella Donnelly, and Maggie Rogers.
As for venues, I can say that I’ll announce my first UK shows soon, which is a big one for me. Somehow I’ve always dreamed about playing at Terminal 5 in New York City; otherwise, I’m actually thinking of festivals. The first coming to my mind are Glastonbury, Primavera, and Roskilde Festival. Maybe also a festival called Northside in my hometown, Århus.
