On our first post in 2025 we wanted to start by wishing the best of years to all our artists, colleagues and partners. We are excited to hear more great new music coming out of Denmark, plus also see where our artists and their teams go internationally in these coming 12 months.
As always, our first focus on a new year is the showcase festival Eurosonic, which is one of our favourite festivals in Europe. This year we are happy that Denmark is represented by ten (ten!) amazing acts performing at the festival, taking us through different genres and artistic expressions. Please check below the nine acts falling under our pop and rock umbrella and join us at their shows while in Groningen.
MXD will be at the festival, so do write us if you are in town (carolina@mxd.dk).
Elias Rønnenfelt
Elias Rønnenfelt is a musician and poet best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the Danish band Iceage. His debut solo album Heavy Glory is out October 25th via Escho. Recorded in Copenhagen piece by piece over the course of a year. Collaborators include Iceage’s Dan Kjær Nielsen, Danish punk godfather Peter Peter, and singers Joanne Robertson and Fauzia. Last year, Rønnenfelt released Sunken Heights, and had his debut poetry collection published.
Wed 15 JAN – Oosterpoort Kunstpunt – 22:00-22:40
Mina Okabe
Mina Okabe is a 24 year-old Danish/Japanese singer-songwriter born and raised between London, New York, Manila and Copenhagen. She sings with an angelic voice about personal experiences and her feelings. Her anticipated debut album Better Days was released to rave reviews, and Mina was selected as Spotify Radar Artist and Apple Music’s One To Watch in 2023. After such hype and success, she embarked on several international tours taking in Japan, China and Austin. Texas for SXSW. Alongside multi-platinum hit-producer, Leroy Clampitt (Dua Lipa, Justin Bieber), Mina Okabe is currently working on her second album. Mina Okabe is nominated for the Music Moves Europe Awards 2025.
Thu 16 JAN – Machinefabriek – 21:30-22:10
GB
Copenhagen newcomer GB’s music fits its iconic, genre-defying label-home like a glove. With a singular mixture between guitar-based melodies, synths and samples, GB evokes a world that is both welcoming and fun, but also hauntingly desolate, dark and gritty. The Danish trio released their debut album Gusse Music May 2024 via Posh Isolation.
Thu 16 JAN – H.N. Werkman Stadslyceum – 20:50-21:30
GIIFT
Giift interprets her life and youth in her lyrics and sings them out in her own way with a remarkably pure voice. Since the release of her debut single in 2022, the Copenhagen artist attracted praise from international media like The Sunday Times, Genius and COLORS. Her boundless R&B also won her a Music Moves Europe Award 2024 at ESNS. As an internationally-acclaimed songwriter, she has previously written songs for artists like Beyoncé and Kehlani, and delivered two inspiring self-made EP’s.
Thu 16 JAN – Grand Theatre – 19:30-20:10
Persecutor
After the release of second second album Vendetta at the end of 2023, Danish thrash metal purveyors Persecutor spent most of 2024 touring the EU and playing festivals like Copenhell. Their music delivers on all fronts with direct songwriting and razor-sharp riffing, embedding classic genre traits with a modern approach, a keen melodic sense, varied arrangements and lyrical themes spawned from the absurdities of the world. And all of this is delivered with a smile in their furious live shows, of course.
Thursday to Friday night 17 JAN – Mutua Fides – 00:50-01:30
Gorgeous
Gorgeous is a band from Copenhagen that exists in the realm of country aesthetics and pop, where waves of harmony merge with a raw, catchy melody. Singer and songwriter Maríe Louise Bjarnarson and producer Andreas Murga met three years ago and are currently close to releasing their debut album. Both come from a background in electronic music, and together they have created an organic and analogue style that is introverted, soft, and deeply charming.
Fri 17 JAN – Forum Rabostudio – 20:50-21:30
Lyra Valenza & Signe Dige
Flourishing in the all-engulfing rave hyperspace, Lyra Valenza create pulsating tapestries of mischievous electronics that resonate deep within shape-shifting webs of hybridized jungle, footwork extravaganza, high-velocity hardcore and glassy, future-ready trance atmospherics. The Copenhagen based duo self-released their first full length album Low Gear No Pressure in 2023. Their sample-heavy genre mashups have found an even brighter echo in their energetic performances. Together with 3D artist, video designer, and teacher Signe Dige they have fully embraced the Revelland sensory project. The trio will deliver a special immersive performance which is also suitable for people with disabilities. Lyra Valenza & Signe Dige are part of the Revelland project, which aims to take live music performances to the next level by transforming them into multisensory events: making them more immersive and inclusive.
Thursday to Friday night 17 JAN – Het Paleis – 00:20-01:00
Ki!
Ki! Is the Korean-Danish songwriter, producer and overall multi-instrumentalist Christian Ki Dall. The variety of genres, styles and sounds across Ki!’s three albums to date are all over the map, drawing inspirations from different periods and from all over the world. Processing and digesting it all, Ki! is producing music that feels truly singular and authentic, but has a through-line that only really communicates itself when you look at the big picture. There is a holistic aspect to Ki!’s eclecticism that gives his music the breadth and depth that ultimately is the real attraction. Some tracks instrumental, some featuring guest vocalists, he has released the three albums “The Boy From Haeundae Beach”, “Yong-Gwanglo Part One” and “Yong-Gwanglo Part Two” in just two years.
Thursday 16 – Minerva – Jan 19:30 – 20:00
MIAUW
miaw is a cross-pop duo performing a ‘UK Bass’ inspired deconstructed club music resembling ‘Sega Bodega’ and ‘Pink Pantheress’ while blending into the field of shoegaze and 90’s triphop. Consisting of Frederik Bruun and Liza Dries from Denmark and The Netherlands, the two producers use fast breakbeats, arpeggiated synthesizers and unorthodox sampling techniques to create a sound within the intersection between a remix and a popsong. They released their debut-EP “My Petswan” on November 22d through Copenhagen based label Petrola 80. Tracks from “My Petswan” have received airplay through international radio stations such as BBC6, 1Live and P6 together with a list of reviews from Undertoner, Bands of Tomorrow and BPM.
Friday 17 Jan – MEET@AIR stage – 19:30-20:15
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