Under Byen
Haunting Danish art pop that replaces guitars with distorted saws and cello. A murky, orchestral take on post-rock for rainy nights and solitary city walks.
Haunting Danish art pop that replaces guitars with distorted saws and cello. A murky, orchestral take on post-rock for rainy nights and solitary city walks.
Under Byen sounds like a secret whispered in a crowded room, or the muffled clatter of a harbor city heard from underwater. Their music is a dense, organic thicket of sound where traditional rock instruments are discarded in favor of pianos, violins, and the eerie, metallic whine of a distorted saw. It is music that feels deeply rooted in the damp, grey atmosphere of the North, yet it possesses a rhythmic sophistication that leans toward jazz and trip-hop.
What truly distinguishes them is the interplay between Henriette Sennenvaldt’s breathy, almost childlike vocals and the band's muscular, unconventional arrangements. By avoiding guitars, they create a sonic space that is both fragile and imposing. The lyrics, sung entirely in Danish, function more like textural elements or spells, contributing to a sense of mystery that doesn't require translation to be felt. It is a masterclass in tension and release, where the 'rock' element comes from the intensity of the percussion rather than the volume of the amps.
Start with 'Det er mig der holder træerne sammen'. It is their most cohesive statement, perfectly balancing their avant-garde tendencies with moments of breathtaking melodic beauty. It captures the feeling of a forest growing inside a city, which is exactly where this music belongs.
Under Byen were a Danish band founded in 1995 mainly by Katrine Stochholm and Henriette Sennenvaldt. Under Byen (Danish for "Below the City") were known for producing their own unorthodox interpretation of rock. They rarely use guitars. Instead their soundscape is dominated by piano, cello, violin, electrically distorted saw, organ, drums and percussion. They perform a somewhat different vein of rock (or pop) spiced up with jazzy, folky and classical elements. An important part of the music are also the poetic Danish lyrics which are presented to the listener by female vocals. The 1999 debut album Kyst impressed music critics, who applauded the band for creating their own style and tone. The second album Det er mig der holder træerne sammen (2002), which translates to ‘it’s me who holds the trees together', was equally praised and has grown to be highly acclaimed. In 2004 it was re-released outside Denmark. In 2004 the band remixed Rammstein's 2004 Single Ohne Dich. In 2006 the band released their album Samme stof som stof to rave reviews. Under Byen's influences are very diverse. Lead singer Henriette Sennenvaldt has been quoted as saying she was inspired by traffic. And if Kyst would be said to have a theme it would probably be water and harbours. They rarely cite any direct musical influences, but on occasion band members have expressed their fondness for artists such as Stina Nordenstam, Björk, Tori Amos, Sigur Rós, Tom Waits, Mogwai, Mark Hollis and Talk Talk. In 2010 the band released their fourth album, Alt Er Tabt, which translates to "all is lost." The album was released on April 6 by Paper Bag Records.
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