Kasper Bjørke
Kasper Bjørke is undoubtedly one of the most renowned and versatile Danish producers on the international electronic music scene.
"Kasper Bjørke definitely makes art. Each production feels assured with the Scandinavian impacting a genuine sense of the cerebral into his music", Clash Music stated the latter about Kaspers critically acclaimed 4th solo album After Forever (2015) - with other medias such as MixMag chiming in and highlighting the 4th single Apart (feat. Sisy Ey) as Tune of the Month while stating: "It´s nothing short of genius... Kasper's absolutely nailed it... this record has certainly proven itself to be his most potent work yet".
On After Forever, Kasper explored a new take on contemporary, melancholic synth pop; merging his productions into a multi coloured soundscape with echoes from Post Disco/Punk, Kraut and New Wave. It was a further step away from the disco and house sound, that brought him into making music in the late 90ies. The full remix version of the album, entitled "After Forever Revisited" (2015) included luminary interpretations from Michael Mayer, Superpitcher, Matt Karmil, A/Jus/Ted, Hotel Lauer and many more – costumized to take the home listening experience of the album to the dancefloors.
However, as a complete counterpoint to his recent albums, in June 2016, Kasper released a club jam experiement of his own, Fountain of Youth, a 7 track mini-LP drawing on Kaspers 15 years immersed in club culture. Fusing house, techno, and left fields electronics into a series of contemplative, late night gems. The vocal version of the single Cloud 9, features Urdur from the Icelandic music collective GusGus and a stellar remix package from Weval, Gerd Janson and Marvin & Guy. Later, the proto house jam Klint received club remixes from Multi Culti, Thomas Von Party and Marc Pinol.
As a DJ, Kasper has performed at some of the most renowned clubs and venues today. From Panorama Bar and Watergate in Berlin to Rex and Social Club in Paris, Robert Johnson in Frankfurt, D-Edge in Sao Paolo, Fabric in London, Le Bain and Output in New York, Bardot and Electric Pickle in Miami - and international festivals like Sonar Barcelona, Roskilde, Iceland Airwaves and Calvi on the Rocks. Back home in Copenhagen, Culture Box has a special place in his heart; as well as the small club/bar called Jolene.
While having released single tracks on labels like Eskimo and Correspondant in the past and most recently on Pachanga Boys' label Hippie Dance, Kasper has had a more steady relationship with hfn-music. The longplayers Standing on top of Utopia (2010) and Fool (2012) plus the EP Symptoms (2011) - as well as the double compilation "Remix Crusades (2007 - 2013)", showcasing Kaspers broad spectrum as a remixer are released on hfn-music. Through the years Kasper has remixed a wide range of acts from established underground artists like Weval, Sascha Funke, Danielle Baldelli, Sonns, Pillowtalk, Colder and Rebolledo - to much broader spanding names like Moby and Trentemøller - via labels like Bella Union, Ghostly International, Kompakt, Permanent Vacation, Multi Culti, Wolf + Lamb, Throne of Blood and Gomma.
Occasionally Kasper also joins forces with other artists:
With his Icelandic friend Sexy Lazer they make music under the camp moniker The Mansisters. They released their debut “E.P. Phone Home” on Canadian My Favorite Robot Records in 2012 and has since then released their weirdo dark dance via Correspondant and Relish Recordings. In February 2017 they released the first installment of a series of EP releases under the Sisters & Brothers brand - via hfn Music. Sisters & Brothers is music produced by themselves and their friends, curated by The Mansisters. The meanwhile fourth Mansisters EP "Queens of the Night" was released in April 2019.
Other than that, Kaspers output in early 2017 includes an appearance on Michael Mayers Compilation for DJ Kicks (!K7), a Remix of Roosevelts "Belong" (City Slang) and a collaboration EP with french producer Abstraxion named "Matin / Nuit".
Kaspers received two Danish Music Awards (Danish Grammy) for Best Producer and Best Dance Release and produced the solo album 'Polyester Skin' (2016) for the Danish artist Jacob Bellens.
In the fall of 2019, Kasper returned to club music, with the double EP Nothing Gold Can Stay, while simultanously marking the 10 year anniversary of releasing music on German label hfn Music. Nothing Gold Can Stay explores both the analogue and organic side of his production sound - and also contains some proper club jams which reflects on sounds that he would play, in one of his increasingly rare DJ sets. The original versions were followed by a full EP of remixes by Bawrut, Tensnake, Perel, Panthera Krause and many more.
Finally, Kasper is making music for advertisement, including brands like Prada, Nike, Puma and many more...
Besides handling his own artist career, Kasper also manages the artists Trentemøller and Null + Void.
In 2021, after having released the forerunners "Kites" and "Running", we are happy to announce his upcoming album "Sprinkles", full of trademark Nordic gleefullness, to come in July on hfn music.
Selected pressquotes:
“Kasper Bjørkes music is heartfelt, soulful and will make you dance” - Nylon Magazine
“Each track is a bang on the Krona” - Dazed & Confused
photo by Dennis Morton
