If you haven’t seen Teitur play live, you haven’t experienced one of the Danish Kingdom’s true musical talents. The singer/songwriter is one of the most respected artists in the country, earning accolades both here and abroad. Possessing that rare ability to emotionally capture audiences, Teitur’s music is both haunting and beautiful. His lyrics tell his story in a fresh and honest way and continue to change and mature as he does.
Moving to Copenhagen as a teenager from the Faroe Islands, Teitur soon found work as a songwriter for a prominent LA-based publishing house. No small feat in itself, his work as a songwriter led to his first album, Poetry and Aeroplanes, which was released in the summer of 2003. Universally acclaimed and hailed as one of the most emotionally engaging albums of that year, he soon attracted the attention of American artist John Mayer, who became a vocal supporter of his music. The tour that followed had him play over 300 shows and open for the likes of artists such as Rufus Wainwright and Aimee Mann.
After a messy break with his former label, Teitur released his second album, Stay Under the Stars, in 2006. More layered and featuring wider instrumentation, the album went gold in Denmark and was played on both US and Canadian radio. In the year that followed, Teitur released his third album, Káta Hornið. Written in his native language, the record saw him proudly acknowledge his Faroese background.
Tietur isn’t just your average acoustic guitar man. He possesses a soulfulness rarely seen in modern musicians, while his songs can be at once uplifting while at the same time brimming with sorrow. His music seems to harbour a dark secret − one that he tries to confess through the soft harmonies and melodies of his songs. He is without a doubt real, and it’s easy to see that he feels what he’s singing about.
Teitur’s fourth album was recorded in 2008 and saw him move in a different direction. Dark, moody and often experimental, The Singer was recorded on the small island of Gotland in the summerhouse of a former Swedish princess. The location was aptly chosen, and the album has a sparse coldness to it that reflects the environment. Above all, the album proved that Teitur is willing to go down paths that differ from his most popular songs − a trait that’s seen him transform time and time again.
There are very few people who can say they’ve shared a beer with the late legendary blues artist Chris Whitley, but Teitur is among them. Considering both artists’ interest in simple, emotional songs, it’s easy to see how they got along. Their meeting was to be the inspiration for his song ‘Legendary Afterparty’ – chance encounters like these often worm their way into his writing.
Teitur released a four-track EP, Four Songs, last year that didn’t receive the attention it deserved. The songs are solid, original and unlike anything he’s done before, exemplifying the diversity he’s capable of. Another recent project saw him compose the soundtrack for a Dutch arthouse film.
Teitur is renowned for trialling new material in his live shows. Expect to hear some new songs as well as the classics that made him famous. It’s well known that Teitur loves to perform in Copenhagen, so if there’s only one gig you should go to this month, this is it.
Teitur
Teater Grob, Nørrebrogade 37, Cph N; Sat 20:30; 70kr, www.billetlugen.dk
