Danes Leaving A Small Town has been described as "Carpenters meetings Raveonettes" - and the duo's blend of delicate melodies, consistent use of the duet as an instrument and edgy rock and dusty roots music as a backing, are indeed inspired by these names, among many others.

Leaving A Small Town consists of guitarist, songwriter and producer Niels Chr. Overgaard Simmel and singer Stinne Tornøe Frederiksen. He has a background in various Danish bands - she is from the singer/songwriter environment and a political science student with a past as a model. Both grew up in small towns which are now abandoned and put behind them, for the dream of something more than what was immediately on the program where they came from.

Leaving A Small Town has just released their debut album - with a bunch of great songs lyrically dealing with lust of life and the many ways of love, and instrumented with the fine combination of light female vocals and dark lord voice, rusty guitars and an atmosphere of wide open spaces and the longing for far and foreign places.

Leaving A Small Town will visit Austin, Texas in October 2009, invited by The House of Songs principal Troy Young Campbell as the very first band in this creative environment. The band will play a couple of concerts while in Austin, as well as work on new songs with local co-writers.

Poul Krebs is among the biggest stars of Danish roots, rock and pop, with a career as a singer/songwriter spanning more than 25 years. His own albums has combined sales of more than 1.000.000 copies – and at least another 300.000 copies can be added, if you count the combined sales of albums where other artists have recorded Krebs´ songs.

Poul Krebs is a veteran co-writer, and over the years he has been working with writers such as David Olney (US), Kevin Welch (US), Troy Young Campbell (US) and Henning Kvitnes (N).

Several years ago Krebs was among the founders of “Song Island”, an annual international writers-camp in Denmark, and together with some of the writers and musicians from Song Island (a.o. Kvitnes, Welch and Claudia Scott), Krebs has formed the band Song Island Revue. Their debut album “Home” was recorded at Pouls own studiohouse on the the island of Samsoe www.dansebjerg.dk and was released in the fall of 2008.

Together with a.o. Troy Young Campbell and the Danish song writers association DJBFA, Poul Krebs is among the fathers of the new “House of songs” project in Austin, Texas.

Poul Krebs current release in Denmark is the 2009-album “Angeleno Road”, recorded in Los Angeles.

Danish-speaking songs about adult reality and love, or lack of the same! About hopes and that one always is allowed to get up and go for a new chance tomorrow.

The songs are relevant, catchy and very melodious.

Style-wise Svenningsen is a place around Americana, roots and pop/rock. Here John Mellencamp, David Gray, Poul Krebs, Travis and Josh Rouse could easily settle in.

On his own label ”Rarlyd” (together with EMI distribrution), he has released 3 album with his former band ”DeMarco”

”Stemning til forandring” 1999,

After nearly 10 years and 3 albums with ”DeMarco”, Svenningsen went solo. And in 2006 he released ”Ingenmandsland” still on his own label ”Rarlyd” together with ”Exlibris”

All the way he’s been touring in Denmark with his band or solo. Over 1000 gigs so far…

Svenningsen has the last 2 years worked with english lyrics as well, mostly translated some of his own songs. Trying to pitch them.

Svenningsen has the last 2 years worked with english lyrics as well, mostly translated some of his own songs. Trying to pitch them.

In 1998 after his first trip to Austin, Svenningsen invented the songwriter scene ”Writers Club” in Århus (the second biggest city in Denmark) had 1 – 2 monthly shows, and he was the host on this scene until 2006.

Marcus Winther-John is a versatile writer with a knack for melodic hooks and lyrical catchphrases - in danish and english. His unique turn of phrase and talent of incorporating an artists personality into words that touch, entertain and communicate have proved a valuable asset to multi platinum rockartists, Danish X-factor winners (and 3rd places), country divas, urban, pop artists and even international eurovision song contestants (see links below). With over 50 cuts so far this year alone in Denmark & Sweden Marcus is busy and looking to get busier especially in the states!

Marcus was born in England and moved to DK at the age of 12. During the 90¥s he was signed to Sony Denmark as the leadsinger of the now defunct danish rockband "Inside the Whale". ITW¥s first 2 albums were released in 15 European countries and supported with extensive touring in France, Spain, Germany & of course Denmark, where they built a large, devoted live following. They surprised the danish music community in ¥98 by releasing an album with danish lyrics, at that time a very unusual move for a young danish rockband. This gave ITW their most prolific hit "Hvor er tiden der ta¥r os" (now a Danish evergreen) written by Marcus.

Two years later Inside the Whale bid farewell to thousands of fans at their final concert and went their seperate ways to explore new musical horisons. Marcus quickly became a popular co-writer and also started work on a solo album. The addictively catchy single "High on you" kickstarted his solocareer as "Pick of the week" on danish national radio P3 (since covered by Malaysian Boyband K-One) and the intense airplay was followed up by "Let¥s get tattoos" and the ballad "Like you" (since covered by Hong Kong artist Chris Yu).

Hi. My name is AnniOne (I was one of two Anni's at school). I'm a songwriter who lives in Aarhus, Denmark. My songs are mostly about travel and trouble. In that order.

My latest CD is called "Little Blue Globe." The tunes are set all over the map, in places like Miami and San Francisco and Japan and the south of France, and in airports and on buses. Funny enough, I haven't even set foot in all those places ... yet. I guess globetrotting is sometimes just a state of mind.

On my first album, "AnniOne," the songs were set a little closer to home ... between the sidewalk cracks and traffic sounds and candlelights and cigarettes and leaking roofs and laundry lines. I guess happiness is sometimes just a state of mind too.

Besides my own stuff, I've also written for artists here in Denmark. And, in the last two years, I've worked (and played) in places like London and Los Angeles. And especially New York. How I love love love that city!

These days, between baking too many biscotti and brewing chai tea, I'm working on a new disc. My favorite piece (so far) is a quiet waltz called 4000 Miles. Like I said, most of my songs are about travel. And trouble.

Music has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. As a little girl I started playing the piano, singing and writing my own songs. I believe my first song was called “My Little Kitten” During my teenage years I performed as a singer in different bands. At the time I had only very little interest in writing my own songs. I even went to Danish School of Music for 4 years, as I believed teaching would be my thing. I soon realized how much I missed writing my own stuff and my life took another turn.

In 1996 I met John Gordon, a Danish Songwriter and many, many songs was written during the next period of time. We formed the band “Steam” and in 1998 we released an album called “ talking about the weather.” The release was a success in Denmark. Several of the songs from the album were played regularly on both DR (Danish National Radio) and local stations. The first single "Lover" was on DR´s hot rotation for 8 weeks, several of the big local stations played it as powerplay of the week. A few years later the album was released in Asia as well.

After a couple of years touring, more studio sessions e.t.c. the band split up. Still Gordon/Dissing released an EP a few years later called “Luca”. 6 songs all together.

During the last couple of years I have written/co-written songs for different artists worldwide. It’s been a pleasure to write with different Danish, Swedish and American songwriters; Daniel Boquist, Rasmus Schwenger, Douglas Carr, lyricist Pam Oland to name a few.

Some songs has even been co-written using the Internet. That’s the case with L.A. producer Jean. T. Na... and it’s been great fun.

Besides writing, I’ve done some cue vocals for different producers, arranging and recording backing vocals, some live performance e.t.c. Whatever the job might be. The network is getting bigger all the time and I’d say anything is possible..

I'm looking forward to more years of great songs and lots and lots of co-writes

Davíd Garza is an Austin-based, American singer-songwriter who infuses rock and pop with a Latin feel and whose vocal style draws comparisons to Freddie Mercury, Jeff Buckley, Donovan and Robert Plant.

Throughout his career, David Garza has done studio and live session work for a number of artists. In 1994, he played on the album Woman As Salvation, by fellow Texans Jackopierce. He contributed guitar and production to Juliana Hatfield's Beautiful Creature in 2000, and toured as keyboardist for Alejandro Escovedo in 2001. The same year, he played on the soundtrack for the film Spy Kids. In 2002, he worked with Rhett Miller on The Instigator, and in 2004 he appeared on Hanson's record Underneath. In 2005, he toured with Fiona Apple on her Extraordinary Machine tour, performing both as the opening act and as a guitarist in Ms. Apple's backing band. He also played on Blues Traveler's 2007 album Cover Yourself

This progressive songstress recorded her debut album “Murder of a Summer Day” in late 2003 after performing at the NXNE in Toronto, Canada. She then embarked upon an American tour, and settled in New York.

In November 2004, her own label Mills Corp. (now Mills Inc.) released "Murder of a Summer Day" which was received with great reviews and recommendations from the Danish press and radio. This brought Mills back to Denmark fulltime, and “Murder” has since then been praised by Danish music magazine Gaffa, DR (Danish Radio) and Politiken, among others.

Over the years Camilla expanded her creative universe to also include books. On June 4th 2007 her first novel, “Willa Warrior & the Curse of Isilja,” was released in Denmark. This is part one of a fantasy – trilogy depicting the adventures of the young, temperamental heroine “Willa Warrior.”

Currently Camilla Mills is working on her third novel and her second studio album simultaneously. She is also once again touring the world, with her edgy but humorous lyrics and mind-blowing live performances.

Musical influences; Counting Crows, Tori Amos, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen - and poets such as Yeats, Poe, Byron and Frost.

Music has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. As a little girl I started playing the piano, singing and writing my own songs. I believe my first song was called “My Little Kitten” During my teenage years I performed as a singer in different bands. At the time I had only very little interest in writing my own songs. I even went to Danish School of Music for 4 years, as I believed teaching would be my thing. I soon realized how much I missed writing my own stuff and my life took another turn.

In 1996 I met John Gordon, a Danish Songwriter and many, many songs was written during the next period of time. We formed the band “Steam” and in 1998 we released an album called “ talking about the weather.” The release was a success in Denmark. Several of the songs from the album were played regularly on both DR (Danish National Radio) and local stations. The first single "Lover" was on DR´s hot rotation for 8 weeks, several of the big local stations played it as powerplay of the week. A few years later the album was released in Asia as well.

After a couple of years touring, more studio sessions e.t.c. the band split up. Still Gordon/Dissing released an EP a few years later called “Luca”. 6 songs all together.

During the last couple of years I have written/co-written songs for different artists worldwide. It’s been a pleasure to write with different Danish, Swedish and American songwriters; Daniel Boquist, Rasmus Schwenger, Douglas Carr, lyricist Pam Oland to name a few.

Some songs has even been co-written using the Internet. That’s the case with L.A. producer Jean. T. Na... and it’s been great fun.

Besides writing, I’ve done some cue vocals for different producers, arranging and recording backing vocals, some live performance e.t.c. Whatever the job might be. The network is getting bigger all the time and I’d say anything is possible..

I'm looking forward to more years of great songs and lots and lots of co-writes

Ane Trolle was born in 1979 and grew up in the rural town of Sorø where she was playing with her friends, riding horses, and loving the forest. No one in her family are musicians so her musical upbringing came through the walkman which played a lot of Queen, Duran Duran and Blondie. Another major early musical influence was her frequent visits with a friend to Broby Gammelskole. A place where music was always played while people were eating, drinking and bawling. It was a mix of hobos, gypsies and buskers and it was a great inspiration. When Ane was about 16 years old she enrolled in a continuation school with a music class. Here she learned seven chords on a guitar and began strumming songs for her friends and that’s where she discovered her ability to sing.

Ane is far from being a trained singer. Her formal education is limited to the mandatory years in primary school and then three years of free youth education (a system many young Danish people benefited from until the government discontinued it in 2001). But this wasn’t where she developed her singing. The real education for Ane has been her many years freestyling on the Copenhagen club scene.

At the age of 19 she began utilizing her strong appetite for partying to develop a talent for improvised singing, which has given her the ability to spontaneously sing a song to fit any given music. Whether it is hiphop, jungle, reggae, house or electro the DJ is spinning. Freestyling was her breakthrough in the underground. Here she sang both organized with various DJs and spontaneously when she would just grab the microphone in clubs, at raves, parties, demonstrations and even concerts.

After having freestyled in the Copenhagen underground for eight years Ane quit her job and decided to be a real singer. One day she was visiting her friend Martin who had just made a cup of coffee and a new beat. In his bedroom, with a worn out mic wrapped in a stocking, she improvised a song about being “ready to blow”. The recording was released as the single Sweet Dogs which gave Ane her radio breakthrough, her first gold record and motivation to buy a good microphone and a new computer so that today she records in her own living room.

Cooperation has been a keyword for the work of Ane Trolle so far. Most singers are launched as either solo artists or as part of a band. But Ane has been a feature artist on records by Trentemøller, F.U.K.T and Peder and at the same time worked on her three simultaneous bands JaConfetti, Trolle//Siebenhaar and Balstyrko. And she has yet to release a song in her own name.

During only half a year her characteristic voice managed to get the famed top playlist spot on the national music radio channel P3 three times in three different constellations. Also it has already given Ane several prestigious awards and nominations.

But it is still the music itself and the chemistry in the collaborations which motivates Ane Trolle. She is dreaming about creating more quality music and having fun at the same time. Improvisation is still a big part of her performance when she goes on stage with a band or DJ. When the stories and words gets created at the venue. It´s her favorite thing.

Roar Amundsen has a very solid education and experience within the music business. In 2000 he graduated from the University of Copenhagen with a Masters in Musicology. From 2001-05 he was in charge of a music venue in Horsens (DK) arranging 100 concerts a year with a staff of three employees plus 50 volunteers. www.kulisselageret.dk

Inspired by all the live music he started writing his own danish songs in 2004. He established the songwriter club The Write House in 2005 arranging monthly acoustic concerts where artists from all over the world could play, meet up and get new connections.

In march 2006 he released the EP ”Forløs Din Drøm” and ended up playing a lot of solo concerts all around Denmark and Sweden.

In 2006 he also started the freelance company Mayday Music arranging festivals, workshops and working as a tourmanager in collaboration with KODA, ROSA – The Danish Folk Council, FFS – the Danish Folk Council, DR (Danish National Radio) and many others.

2007 gave birth to Songcrafter Music – a record label established with fellow songwriter and friend Martin Hoybye under the motto ”All about the Song”. The label has released 7 records so far from its roster of 6 different artists gaining a reputation as a quality indie label - winning its first Grammy in 2009. www.songcrafter.dk

In 2007 Roar started teaching songwriting to a bunch of talented students at Engelsholm Castle building up a lot of experience in the psychology of cowriting and musical development of all kinds of artists. www.engelsholm.dk

Right now Roar Amundsen is recording his debut album which is scheduled for release in 2010. www.roaramundsen.dk

Musically Roar Amundsen has his roots in a very danish music tradition represented by ”Hojskolesangbogen” - a legendary songbook containing traditional songs written by melodic masters like Carl Nielsen, Oluf Ring and Thomas Laub and with lyrics by some of the greatest poets in Denmark such as N.F.S. Grundtvig, Benny Andersen and Frank Jaeger.

Roar Amundsen´s melodies are clear and beautiful with a special Scandinavian melancholy to them. The lyrics are poetic and purposely a little old fashioned but quite straight forward. Roar has often been compared with artists like Sebastian (DK), Alberte (DK), Teitur (FO), The Beatles and Nick Drake.

The music, with its acoustic approach somewhere between pop and folk, creates an atmosphere of intimacy, dragging the listener close to the speaker.

Somewhere between Americana, Folk Rock, and Indie. At present I listen a lot to Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, but I’m also swept away by artists like Jesse Sykes, Johnny Cash, 16 Horsepower, Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Bob Dylan etc etc. I’ve been struggling for a professional music career for about five years now, but I’ve been playing always. I’m the lead singer, songwriter, and acoustic guitar player in a band called Bewildermen (http://www.bewildermen.com), and with those guys I have published two professionally produced, official but off-label EP’s. The first one titled Not Unforgiven (2006) was well received. The stuff on http://www.myspace.com/bewildermen is from that CD. Since then I think my vocal performance has developed quite a bit and the songs have become less rock-oriented. My more recent work is available in low-tech demo versions on http://www.soundvenue.com/artist/bewildermen

Also I’ve written quite a few lyrics for a Danish band called Sugar Daddy. Finally I’ve written poetry for and performed it in an experimental music-and-poetry act known as De Røde Pølsers Nat (The Night of The Red Hot Dogs) (http://www.myspace.com/deroedepoelsersnat).

I can’t live off of my music, so I work as a helper for a guy in a wheelchair, though my education is Ph.D. in American Literature.

More often than not my lyrics deal with current political themes and try to advance social awareness, as I believe every man and women is responsible for the state of the world. Of course songs about love and other emotional and psychological imbalances can also be found. I always keep it personal - but universal through honesty.

Singer / Songwriter Gudrid Hansdóttir is from the Faroe Islands, which are 18 small islands in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. For the past years she has been performing all over Scandinavia and Germany as a solo artist and with her band. Gudrid released her debut album ?Love is Dead? (Tutl Records) in September 2007 and it was well received by critics. The album was recorded in an old wooden house in Velbastað, a small village in the Faroe Islands. The peaceful atmosphere and the magnificent nature in Velbastað where reflected in the music, as the inspiring surroundings were utilized in the creative process. The same year she won the ?best Female Award? in Planet Awards (Faroese Music Awards)

In June 2009 her second album ? The Sky is Opening? (own label) was released and it?s been very well received by critics and the people . The Sky is Opening is one of the best selling albums on The Faroe Islands this year and Gudrid has a growing fan base around Faroe Islands and the rest of Scandinavia. Her music is a mixture of pop and folk music inspired by Swedish pop and 70´s rock.

JENS LYSDAL was born in Sweden by danish parents. Following a year in New Orleans, the family moved to Denmark. He is one of Denmarks most respected and best reviewed singers, composers, and guitarists and also a triple award-winning producer. His style is subtle and poetic, but at the same time with an unmistakable sharpness in both playing and writing. His songs are slow-release works of craft and catharsis that become treasured, lifetime companions for their listeners. He’s known for always playing and recording with the best musicians and even his older albums are frequently heard on air and in danish and international films.

On his latest album “It’s almost love”, he is backed by Greg Leisz (Joni Mitchell, KD Lang, Bill Frisell, Ryan Adams, Emmylou Harris) Danny Frankel (Rickie Lee Jones, Lou Reed, KD Lang, Laurie Anderson, Marianne Faithful), Christoffer Sonne, Jakob Falgren (both James Morrison) and Chang Jing, (one of China’s best Gujong-harp players, who played at the opening ceremony in the 2008 olympics in Beijing.

Jens Lysdal laidback debut-CD release ”A matter of time” was the best-reviewed release of the year and was also nominated "Best CD of the Year" at “The Golden Stag” in Brasov, Romania, an international week-long TV-broadcasted festival involving participants from 70 countries among them Sheryl Crow and Diana Ross.

Years later the title song was used in a 2 ½ minute key-scene in “The Scarlett Letter” by Korea’s great filmdirector Byun Hyuk, paving the way for a korean release of the original album.

Danish songwriter with about ten cds in his belt.

He has written and published material in different genres like garage rock, easy listening, electronica, acoustic songs and post punk.

For many years he has also provided music for the theatre as well as feature films and commercials.

Lately he has released material in Germany with great critical acclaim and airplay around the globe.

I`ve been writing songs and playin guitar in bands since i was 18 - first in the pop band Gert Von Magnus band and then with funkrockers STREETBEAT

At age 22 i started as a session player on pop albums with LABAN/SIR HENRY and his butlers/ MARTIN HALL/SHU-BI-DUA/TAMRA ROSANES etc.

In 92 founded the band BACKSEAT together with IVAN PEDERSEN and recorded 2 grammy nominated albums (Wind me up and Long Distance) and in 2007 "Globalization".

From 92 - 98 i played live with and produced 4 albums with country artist and 4 times Grammy winner ESTER BROHUS - after that i produced for the danish artist`s POUL KREBS/LARS LILHOLT/HENNING STÆRK/NIELS ELIOT.

Right now tourin and recording with Backseat and Kim Schwartz and a proud granddad of 2.

Great finger picking and sensitive music and singing make Stanley Samuelsen a unique performer, able to create a special atmosphere. He has an ease and warmth of presentation that communicates directly with the audience.

Stanley Samuelsen has received cultural awards both in Denmark (1991) and the Faroe Islands (2008) for his highly regarded skilful guitar playing and composing.

Stanley Samuelsen is influenced by the rough and beautiful nature of his homeland and of guitarists like e.g. Stephen Stills and John Renbourn.

1951 Stanley was born as the youngest of 12 siblings he grew up in a small village and became a popular guitarist and singer in Faroe Islands in the 1960’s. Stanley has been living in Denmark since 1970. He began touring with his music in the 90's, and has performed all over Europe.

Faroe Islands is situated in the North Atlantic Ocean between Scotland and Iceland. Stanley has recorded 3 solo albums, which you can purchase from HYPERLINK "http://www.tutl.com" www.tutl.com.

”Stanley is one of the best composers of tunes for the poems by great Faroese poets like Janus Djurhuus and others.” www.portal.fo 05.06.08

"Stanley Samuelsen from the Faroe Islands not only raised great plaudits but he also became an intellectual symbol of the festival. In Stanley Samuelsen we saw a unique phenomenon. A. Maèiokas, International Folk Festival, Lithuania.

I was born 9 December 1979. Baptized Michelle Maria Miller Birkballe.

My father, Leif comes from Ryomgård, my mother, Annette comes from Venø.

I'm number four out of six siblings, Jeanette, Michael, Thomas, Emmely and Adam all live in Djursland.

I grew up in Skovvang between Thorsager and darkness, where my father has an engineering business "Jemith agricultural machinery"

In 88 I moved with my mother into Thorsager where I already had my friends and went to school. I spent my free time on my horse, school choir and church choir and my children's band "Sunshine". 95-96 I went to "Young home school" where I started small Klimt little guitar, and was then completely finished going to school. So when all the friends moved on to high school, I would work to have an apprenticeship ... Gartner and dellikatessedame, and with my father I came to be in a total of three weeks, so I do not bother it anymore, I could not endure that every day like each other ....

So at the age 16 , I traveled to Wales, close to a small town called 'Brechfa" near Carmarthen and i was working as a shepherd and It was in Wales.

I just started playing guitar and writin my own songs on a cheap nylon string gtr.

When I came back to Denmark I started on the social and health education and at the same time, I played a lot of weddings, birthdays and small firms in the djursland band, "Consortium".

I went to an audition at the "Music Daily" - and came in! And it was so in 1997 I decided that music should be my career.

I then took the free youth education, where I was at music bar "Front session" and otherwise walked around and enjoyed the blues jams on "Fatter Eskil", "Naxos" and "our place", which was reasonably easy to do, the training was pure vacation for me and very good.

When my two-year free youth training ended, I would indeed have a job, so I was a cleaning lady at the "high" and "Fatter Eskil" in parallel, I joined a band from Odense, where we played copy songs in all sorts different bars for almost no money.

During my cleaning job, I also used every opportunity to give my demos to record people, and one day phoned Jens Ove Friis from "Rec Art Music", and so I did my first album - it was released in 2003.

A few weeks before it came out, my stomach is growing, I had met a man shortly before and ...yes. 3. September 2003 we got Asta.

2004 came my second album on my own label, which I learned a lot from it.

In 2005 I met a new man, and 16 December 2005 I gave birth to my little boy, Gorm.

Album No. 3 was released in April 2008.

I have gradually become a regular guest with the band Shaky Ground - www.shakyground.dk - The team plays the bold rock and roll, rhythm and blues -  and I have a greattime with those guys (Erik Lodberg, Erik Jepsen, NO Thorning, Jakob Skytte, Ulrik Bust, Hans Christian Erbs and Jan Mols). 

We have been on tours, that simply has given me some of the best and funniest experiences ever.

In 2007 i founded "Birkballe & friends" who are over in the more "adult" and calm soul genre ... besides me, the band consists of Mike Andersen (Mike Andersen Band), Josef Baumgartner, Jakob Skytte and Mads Andersen. See and hear more on http://www.birkballeandfriends.dk - a really fun band, and for me  it is actually nice not to be in front all the time.

Playing music is for me pure healing and a wonderful way to let off steam.