Recommended bands from Denmark. Popular bands from overseas.
Denmark, a major tourist destination located in Northern Europe.
In Japan, only songs that are global hits tend to make it to the forefront, so I think few people are familiar with Danish music.
In fact, Denmark is known worldwide as a country where dream pop and synth-pop have developed significantly.
This time, I’ve picked out some Danish bands.
The first half features classic veteran bands, while the second half introduces bands that color today’s scene.
Please sit back and enjoy!
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Recommended bands from Denmark. Popular international bands (11–20)
For Evigt ft. Johan OlsenVolbeat
Hailing from Denmark and hugely popular across English-speaking countries and the rock hotbed of Northern Europe, this rock band’s greatest appeal is, above all, their musicality.
One of their key draws is a distinctive sound that blends hard-edged genres like heavy metal and alternative metal with rockabilly, a style that sparked a boom in the 1960s.
They’ve collaborated with a variety of artists, letting you experience multiple facets of their appeal.
If you like hard rock, be sure to check them out.
White CrayonAthletic Progression
Athletic Progression, based in Aarhus, Denmark, is a trio that fuses jazz and hip-hop.
Their sense for recreating that “wonky” J Dilla-esque groove in live performance is simply stunning.
They drew attention in 2019 with the release of their EP Dark Smoke.
In 2021, they released the album cloud high in dreams, but heavy in the air.
Recorded over the course of a week in Copenhagen in 2019, the album intriguingly developed songs from iPhone memos.
Their talent is proven—with nominations for jazz awards—and they come highly recommended for fans of UK jazz and beat music.
We Go BackCHINAH
China is a Denmark-born band gaining popularity for its contemporary sound.
The group originally used the name of its central member, singer-songwriter Fine Frindt Ved, as the band name, but in 2015 they changed it to China and began attracting attention with a style centered on alternative R&B and ambient music.
With a strong emphasis on groove, they’re a must-listen for anyone looking for danceable tunes.
Heart of LifeMarching Church
Marching Church is a four-piece rock band formed in 2008.
The band began as the solo project of Elias Bender Rønnenfelt, the frontman of Iceage, one of the most popular bands in Denmark’s punk rock scene.
Their music is progressive rock with strong jazz elements, wrapped in a very stylish vibe.
If you like sounds akin to Jamiroquai, you’re sure to love them!
Lonely RiderVelvet Volume
Velvet Volume is one of Denmark’s leading all-girl bands.
Formed by the three Lakumi sisters—Noa, Naomi, and Nataya—the band is known for perfectly synchronized performances only sisters can achieve, and for a hard-edged sound that mixes punk rock with progressive rock.
Unlike many Japanese girl bands, they project a very cool, dirty image.
If you’ve been looking for music with that vibe, be sure to check them out!
Mr. Swing KingGnags
Nugs is a band formed in Denmark, centered around the Nielsen brothers, Peter and Jens.
Formed in the 1960s, they gained popularity with a highly unusual and distinctive musical style for a rock band of the time.
If you had to describe their sound in a single phrase, it would be “all-genre.” They’re a band with a wide range of influences, mixing progressive rock as a base with reggae, jazz, soul, and more—featuring melodies that blend diverse styles and tracks that make unconventional use of synthesizers.
Be sure to check them out.
Recommended bands from Denmark. Popular overseas bands (21–30)
TryLiss
Liss is a rock band that gained popularity with their sophisticated melodies.
They’re known for a distinctive sound that mixes indie pop and soul with elements of electronic music, and they were popular in Denmark in the 2010s.
Just as many hoped they might achieve global success amid the current indie-pop boom, their vocalist Søren Holm sadly passed away in May 2021 under unexplained circumstances.
Details about their future activities have not yet been revealed, but they may suspend activities for a while.