Gundelach

Gundelach

Singer + recording artist

ABOUT

Kai Gundelach spent his formative years as an underage DJ and guitar prodigy in Oslo’s nightlife, before entering the Scandinavian music scene with a burst through debut single, “Alone In The Night”.

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The singles “Spiders” and “Fjernsynet” from Gundelach’s self-titled EP drew him critical acclaim and heavy radio rotation both nationally and abroad, leading to him playing tastemaker festivals such as Roskilde and Øya. In 2020, Gundelach received a nomination in the Norwegian Grammys in the ‘Best Electronica’ category, for his collaboration with AURORA on their song, “Cynical Mind”.

When the Coronavirus pandemic hit the world in 2020, Gundelach used the quiet time to reflect on himself and soak in all the inspiring landscapes and sounds of the Norwegian wilderness. Gundelach’s first new single of 2021, “Vi Er Nærme Nå”. which roughly translates to “We Are Close Now”, released on all major streaming platforms August, 20th!

“Music has been crucial for me during many points throughout my life where I have been really emotionally unstable or depressed. It has been a saving grace and an outlet through which I express myself.”

INTERVIEW

When did you first discover your passion for music, Gundelach?

G: When I was a teenager I really wanted to become an actor, so when I was 19 I went to school to study acting and later applied to the Norwegian national acting school, which is really hard to get into. I was incredibly nervous, unprepared, and I shakily delivered a monologue to a dark room with four judges sitting in the back. On my way out, the room was so dark that I couldn’t find the door, so I accidentally overheard the feedback from the judges, which was not very positive. I felt pretty bummed out, and on the tram ride home, I decided there and then to approach music as a career rather than a side hobby, as I had done for many years previously. It was actually very freeing to have this realization, and accept that I didn’t have it in me to live the difficult actor life.

What three words would you say best summarize your music?

G: Oh… I think this is one of the hardest questions to answer as an artist!

So tell me about your latest song release “Vi Er Nærme Nå” (We Are Close Now), which came out in August. What was the inspiration for you to write it?

G: The inspiration behind the lyrics in “Vi Er Nærme Nå” is the feeling and energy that exists between two people. It can be very vulnerable and hard to describe. It is a song about feeling human connection, whether it be a romantic relationship, between friends, between a parent and child, or the relationship with oneself, and how it can change slowly with time, or even in the blink of an eye.

Most artists say that through their art they learn more about themselves… in what ways has music helped you?

G: Music has been crucial for me during many points throughout my life where I have been really emotionally unstable or depressed. It has been a saving grace and an outlet through which I express myself. There have been periods of my life where I have only listened to one album for an extended period of time, (for example Joy Division), and it has felt like that album was my only friend, which made me feel safe.

In 2020, you collaborated with AURORA on the song “Cynical Mind” – tell us, who are some other current artists you’d like to work with in the future?

G: Yung Lean, he is a Swedish rapper who is really cool. Or maybe a French artist called Oklou, who released a really cool album last year called “Galore”.

Has the CO-VID pandemic this past year influenced you, or your upcoming music in any way?

G: The pandemic has generally been quite boring, but I think I was lucky to have become a father right at the beginning of Covid. That has definitely had a big impact on me as a person, and has shaped me as an individual. In terms of my artistry, I think the pandemic has taught me to live more “in the now”, or try to at least. I am also trying to be less critical towards myself and to just go with the flow a bit more.

Who are the first musical artists or bands that inspired you?

G: Not an artist as such, but I would say the first musician that really inspired me was my father. He has always played the euphonium, which is a brass instrument, and some of my first memories are of him practicing, which greatly inspired me to want to learn to play an instrument.

What is your favorite song you’ve written or recorded to date?

G: It differs from day to day. Right now I think “Slo Rock” from my album “Baltus”.

PROJECTS

Want to know more about Gundelach? Watch some of his videos here!