Reflections on 2024 and a look into 2025

It’s been a while since I updated this space. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on the year gone by - what worked, what didn’t, and how I want to approach 2025. It’s easy to let time drift by, one task leading to the next, without stepping back to check where things are headed. This holiday, I’ve made an effort to pause and take stock.

New responsibilities at Koncertkapellet

This year began with a significant change. On January 1st, I stepped into the Kapelvært (chapel host) role at Koncertkapellet in Roskilde, a concert house for acoustic music. It’s a fantastic space, both acoustically and atmospherically, and it comes with a Steingraeber C-212 grand piano that’s a true joy.

This wasn’t a planned move - I wasn’t looking for a day job as such. But the opportunity came up, and it ticked all the right boxes: music-related, flexible, and full of variety. It felt like the kind of role that could keep me rooted while still leaving room for my own projects. Now, a year in, I’m settling into the rhythm of it.

It’s been an adjustment, balancing this new responsibility with my creative work. After years of freelancing, committing to something more structured felt a bit daunting, but it’s been rewarding. I’ve been involved in shaping something meaningful, and while it’s taken a lot of focus, it hasn’t taken me away from music or the other parts of my life that matter.

A tough year in the garden

The garden didn’t have its best year, though.

I started the season with a solid plan and plenty of motivation. But the reality of a fox picking off my ducks, followed by weeks and weeks of relentless rain, threw everything off. The rain brought an army of slugs, and without ducks to keep them in check, the sprouts I planted were gone by the following day. By midsummer, I had to admit defeat and leave the sad leftovers to the slimy beast.

There were also wins, though. The polytunnel produced a decent haul of tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplants. Early potatoes, garlic, and peas made it through, as well. And I got four Muscovy ducks to patrol the garden. In September, one of them hatched 16 ducklings. Now, with 20 ducks in total, I’m gearing up for a better season in 2025.

The plan for next year is to be more prepared. I’ve put up an electric fence for foxes, moved the chickens to the garden over winter to scratch for slug eggs, and a more focused planting strategy. Beans, tomatoes, kale, garlic, squash, and flowers are on the list. I’m cautiously optimistic.

Music

Having two active bands - Klingra and Afenginn - means I’m always balancing multiple creative projects, and while both have had their share of focus, Klingra has been the more active this past year. Here’s a closer look at what 2024 brought for each.

Klingra

This year was a significant one for Klingra. Our debut album, …eftir, was awarded the Faroese Music Award for Alternative Album of the Year—a moment that felt like a deep acknowledgment of the work and vision behind the project. While I couldn’t attend the ceremony myself, watching Dánjal and Heðin accept the award on stage was a proud and humbling experience. I caught the moment live on Faroese television. Watch it here.

We also released …droplets / dropar…, a 212-page coffee table book that goes beyond being a companion to the album. Designed by Liv Anastasia Ikkala and published by Sprotin, the book is an immersive dive into the themes and stories that shaped the music. It weaves together poetry, photography, personal anecdotes, and traditional Faroese recipes to paint a vivid picture of life in the far north.

At its heart is the story of Færingehavn, a remote Greenlandic harbour where generations of Faroese fishermen endured icy waters and harsh conditions to provide for their families. Through collected anecdotes, letters, and reflections from Abbi (Dánjal’s late grandfather whose voice threads through the book), …droplets / dropar… explores resilience, longing, and the connection between people and place.

It’s also a deeply personal work, blending stories of loss and solidarity with poetic reflections inspired by the lyrics of …eftir. For anyone who wants to go beyond the music, the book offers a window into the soul of Klingra. Read more about it here.

On the live front, Klingra toured both Denmark and the Faroe Islands this year, performing as a trio and as a full band. Each format brings its own dynamic energy, and I’ve loved exploring how the music evolves in different settings.

Another exciting development is our collaboration with Second to the Left, a new booking agency that now represents both Klingra and Afenginn. I’m thrilled to see where this partnership takes us.

Afenginn

Afenginn had its own highlights this year, even though it’s been a quieter period for the band compared to Klingra. A standout moment was our performance at the Heartland Festival, where the entire extended Afenginn family came together. With 11 musicians on stage and many of our families present, the weekend felt like a celebration! The energy of that gathering stayed with me long after the show and brought a lot of good energy.

Looking ahead, 2025 marks the beginning of an ambitious new chapter: the Movements trilogy. This three-part series of albums is a single, interconnected piece of music - a 100–120-minute journey designed for both listening and movement. Each album will feature two immersive, 20-minute compositions, blending acoustic and electronic elements in an organic and expansive way.

The trilogy will explore themes of flow, chaos, stillness, and transformation. It’s music that invites a physical response, whether through dancing, swaying, or simply letting the rhythms carry you. The instrumentation will be rooted in the familiar - clarinet, violin, mandolin, piano, cello, and percussion - but layered with subtle electronic textures to create something otherworldly.

The first album, with the working title Movements I, begins production in six weeks with Heðin Ziska Davidsen (yes, the same Heðin as in Klingra) as producer. The plan is to release singles throughout 2025, with the full album arriving in September. Movements II and Movements III will follow in the upcoming years.

This trilogy is both a challenge and a thrill to create. It’s a step into new territory for Afenginn, blending the meditative with the dynamic, the structured with the spontaneous. I’m eager to see how it takes shape and to share it with audiences in the coming years.

Health and balance

On a personal level, 2024 has reminded me of the importance of balance. Sleep is a work in progress - I’ve always been an early riser, but that only works if I’m disciplined about early nights. Regular exercise, fresh air, and limiting screens in the evening are things I’m focusing on.

I’m also trying to be more mindful about how much I take on. I love what I do, but it’s easy to overextend, especially when the work is meaningful. This year, I want to carve out more space for rest and recharge, without losing the momentum in the things that matter.

Looking forward

2025 feels like a clean slate, with plenty to look forward to. There’s the trilogy project with Afenginn, another season in the garden, and hopefully some time to experiment with ambient music and production. And new Klingra stuff as well. Bring it on!