Jens Lysdal

JENS LYSDAL (nov. 2013)

Danish singer, guitarist, songwriter Jens Lysdal grew up in Sweden (near the polar circle).
Following a year in New Orleans (substantial temperature-change) the family moved to Denmark.

Nationally and internationally he has received tremendous reviews and is rated one of scandinavias top guitarplayers. When he recently re-released an updated version of his debut- album "A matter of time", danish press called it: "one of the most solid works in newer danish popular musichistory".

His coming album “EASY HEART” recorded in Austin, TX, will be released in Europe january 27th 2014.
The first single „It happens to me sometimes“ has been on Denmark Radio „Most played“-list for ten consecutive weeks.

Jens Lysdal is apparently a magnet for top-players - and the new album is no exception:

Tim O´Brien - mandolin, fiddle, guitar
Greg Leisz - lapsteel, pedal-steel (Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, Eric Clapton, KD Lang, Ryan Adams),
Glenn Fukunaga- bass (The Dixie Chicks, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant)
Danny Frankel – drums, percusssion (Lou Reed, KD Lang, Laurie Anderson, Marianne Faithful).

Album-cover by Steve Averill (U2).

The last few years he has been working more and more in the US, touring with Eliza Gilkyson, Gretchen Peters and Kevin Welch and co-writing with among others Juno-winning Ray Bonneville. (He is also a co-writer and plays on E. Gilkysons's coming album).
He will be touring in the US in feb/march and in fall 2014.

His style is often subtle and poetic, but at the same time with an un-mistakable sharpness in playing and writing.
Both as a writer and instrumentalist, he covers a wide range of genres - that he often mixes - always using it for making lyrical and musical points.

Both his newer and older songs are frequently played on air and are featured in numerous danish and international films. He has scored several films himself and lately worked with five time Emmy-award winner, filmcomposer Jakob Groth ("The girl with the dragon tatoo", “Unforgettable”) as vocalist and musician.

What makes him stand out as a performer is the combination between his songs and voice and his high level as an instrumentalist. Making his music and concerts unique - the focus shifting between the songs and his guitar-playing, reinforcing each other.

Colleague-quotes:

Tim O' Brien:
„I first met Jens Lysdal at the Tønder Festival in his native Denmark, we engaged in a free exchange of musical ideas and easy smiles. 
As a guitarist he's light on his feet and his gravel road voice draws you into his fine original songs. Jens' jazzy hybrid asks little investment of the listener but pays big dividends“. 

Mary Gauthier:
“I love the way he plays, in fact I think he is truly amazing”

Eliza Gilkyson:
„Jens Lysdal is a multifaceted talent with a unique approach to writing and playing music. His music can pick you up and carry you to another world“.

Reviews

“He's easily up to the American songwriters cult figures like Paul Simon and Randy Newman and he plays the guitar like the truly great ones” World of Music – Germany

"The lyrics are sly, wry, shrewdly compassionate, and beautifully crafted, as are his arrangements".
“The Planet” Radio National, Australia

“Lysdal takes us along into a world of sounds that has no need of adopting trendy effects to leave lasting effect on the heart and soul of the listener”.
GDM-Aktiv, Germany

“Lysdal covers a vast number of genres. You could mention bluegrass, samba, reggae, swedish folktone and jazz. Same thing with his voice

that can change colour from song to song. The crucial thing is the strong integrity in Lysdal's appearances. Even if he is a highly versatile artist, there's a core in his art that is present in everything he touches”.

Politiken - Denmark

“Lysdal has made a real contribution to the American roots-rock tradition that includes Hiatt, Ry Cooder and the Blasters”.
Korean Times

“The strange thing is that the voice, nevertheless, remains the same - borne by the same discreet tone, combining sadness and longing which make its attentiveness all the more urgent and creates an intimacy which goes deep into the heart”.
(Politiken – Denmark)
(reviews cont.)

“A master piece ! A wonderfully swinging low-keyed record”
A wonderful, much needed breath onto the Danish music stage”
(Ekstra Bladet – Denmark)

“An album whose time has come. It shows a maturity that few first recordings can lay claim to”
(Korean Times)

“On every level - harmony - in the best sense of the word”
(Berlingske – Denmark)

“Lysdal catapults himself up into the first team of Danish songwriters “
(Aarhus Stiftstidende -Denmark)

“The commercial globalization might seem to have disastrous consequences for the multiplicity, but in Lysdal’s music it removes borders?
(GDM Aktiv - Germany)

“Full of style and elegance and above it all, Lysdal's clear and