Someone recently told me I could have been a Dane – purely based on my looks – but the only thing that betrayed me was my lack of facial hair. I didn’t have a beard, “not even a moustache”, this Danish guy told me astonished. For a short while, I’d been thinking of growing one – just to look Danish. But soon enough, I realised that being a wannabe-Dane is not what I wanted and that I’d look like an absolute twat (no offence).
But anyway, you’re probably much more interested in this band than in my facial hair, at least I assume. While everyone in The Eclectic Moniker looks typically Danish – you can guess why – they don’t sound anything like it. Their tropical sound transports you straight to the beach – a rather welcome distraction from the disappointing Danish summer.
The collective was formed in February 2010 by singer-songwriter Frederik Vedersø. Originally it started as a trio with a great number of others joining in at later dates – nowadays it’s a seven-piece band.
“The Eclectic Moniker name has its own distinctive meaning,” the band writes on its Facebook page. It’s called ‘Eclectic’ because it draws from multiple influences and styles to gain complementary insights into music. “The Eclectic Moniker means, in essence, the nickname under which lots of different parts are put together to create a coherent universe. So there you have it – a unique name for a unique band.”
And unique they are. Their music is a melting pot of different genres: indie rock, calypso, Afro-pop and alternative pop. “Living in such a cold, wet country like Denmark really helps us to dream away,” Vedersø told Danish music blog WiMP.
Back in 2010, their appearance at the 2010 Start! Festival in Copenhagen gave them a solid fan base in Denmark. The band shot to fame after appearing in 2011 in P3’s KarriereKanonen, a music talent show on DR P3.
The Eclectic Moniker performed at the 2011 Roskilde Festival and in January last year, they won the Odense live prisen. In May last year, they were the support band at Vega for yet another well-known Danish act, Oh Land. At the same time they released their self-named debut album, which went straight to #9 in the Danish music charts in its week of release.
Now, more than a year later, they’re back at Vega – as the main act this time. The band have been praised for their live performances by acclaimed music magazines like Gaffa and Soundvenue, which both gave them 5/6 star ratings.
So, grow your beard, wear your Hawaii shirt and forget about the Danish summer – even if it’s just for one night.
The Eclectic Moniker
Lille Vega
Saturday 21:00
130kr
www.vega.dk
www.theeclecticmoniker.com
