Amalie Bruun

Last updated

Amalie Bruun
Amalie Bruun 2015.jpg
Bruun performing with Myrkur at Roskilde Festival 2015 in Denmark
Background information
Birth nameAmalie Bruun
Also known asMyrkur
Born (1985-01-06) 6 January 1985 (age 39)
Copenhagen, Denmark
Genres Post-black metal, indie pop, dream pop, Nordic folk
Occupation(s)Singer, actress, multi-instrumentalist
InstrumentsVocals, piano, guitar, nyckelharpa, mandola
Years active2006–present
Labels Relapse, Downtown
Website myrkurmusic.com

Amalie Bruun (born 6 January 1985) is a Danish musician, actress and model. She is the leader of the one-person black metal project Myrkur and the former lead singer of the indie pop band Ex Cops, which was active from 2011 to 2014. Bruun's identity as Myrkur was initially anonymous.

Contents

Career

Music

Amalie Bruun released her debut album in 2006. She wrote the record with her father Michael Bruun. She is a pianist and guitarist and also writes songs with other composers, including Moh Denebi. In 2008, she created the title song for the reality show Paradise Hotel , entitled "If You Give It Up". Amalie Bruun moved to New York later in 2008 and won the New York Songwriters Circle international award. [1]

In 2010 she released the EP Branches, which was recorded at Pirate Studios in New York in partnership with Watt White. She began modeling, starring in a Martin Scorsese-directed Chanel advertisement and the music video for The Lonely Island's 2011 song "Jack Sparrow" featuring Michael Bolton. [2]

In spring 2012 she released the single "Siren", written and produced in collaboration with Mark Saunders on A:Larm Music. In 2013, Amalie also appeared on R.A. the Rugged Man's album Legends Never Die , providing background and chorus vocals for track 3, "Definition of a Rap Flow". In 2015, she once more appeared alongside R.A. on "Dark Streets" – track 12 of Malik B.'s Unpredictable.

Both Ex Cops and Myrkur have garnered Bruun critical acclaim from publications including Pitchfork , [3] Spin , [4] and NPR Music. [5] Bruun has also appeared with Myrkur and Ex Cops at renowned music festivals such as Roskilde Festival in Denmark, Wacken Open Air in Germany and South by Southwest in Texas.

In 2022, Bruun provided vocals for the score of the Netflix series Vikings: Valhalla . [6]

Ex Cops (2011–2014)

Bruun formed the indie pop band Ex Cops in 2011 as a duo with Brian Harding. The band drew comparisons to music released on Sarah Records and Flying Nun Records. [7] Ex Cops released two albums: 2013's True Hallucinations and 2014's Daggers. [8] Daggers was produced and co-written by The Smashing Pumpkins lead singer Billy Corgan, and featured guest appearances from singers Ariel Pink and LP. [9] [10] Ex Cops broke up in 2014, with Bruun remaining on good terms with Harding. [11]

Myrkur (2014–present)

A self-professed "black metal girl at heart", [12] Bruun was revealed to be the writer, performer and producer of Relapse Records black metal project Myrkur in 2014. [13] The project's name comes from the Icelandic word for darkness. [14] Bruun became a black metal fan after listening to Darkthrone's Transilvanian Hunger album for the first time. [2] She released a self-titled EP under anonymity before she revealed her identity in September 2014. [15] Her debut album under the Myrkur moniker, M, was produced by Ulver frontman Kristoffer Rygg and featured members of Mayhem, Arch Enemy and Satyricon in her backing band. [16]

Bruun received a torrent of sexist backlash from metal fans after beginning the Myrkur project, at one point deactivating her Facebook account because of endless death threats. [17] [18] She released her second album as Myrkur, Mareridt , in 2017. With her third album Folkesange, released in 2020, Bruun shifted from black metal to making traditional Scandinavian folk music. [14]

Bruun also appeared on the EP The Alchemy Project by the Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, on the song "Sirens – Of Blood and Water", alongside Charlotte Wessels. A music video for this song was released on 11 November 2022. [19]

Personal life

In 2018, Bruun married the American drummer and personal trainer Keith Abrami, known for playing drums in death metal bands Artificial Brain and Shredded. [20] On 4 May 2019, Bruun announced via Instagram that she was expecting her first child. Bruun gave birth to her son Otto on 21 September 2019. [21]

Bruun formerly dated Brian Harding, the other half of the indie pop duo Ex Cops. [22]

Bruun is daughter of the Danish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Michael Bruun and has two brothers, William and Jonas. [23]

Discography

As Amalie Bruun

With Ex Cops

As Myrkur

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Smashing Pumpkins</span> American alternative rock band

The Smashing Pumpkins is an American alternative rock band from Chicago. Formed in 1988 by frontman and guitarist Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha, bassist D'arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, the band has undergone several line-up changes since their reunion in 2006, with Corgan being the primary songwriter and sole constant member since its inception. The current lineup consists of Corgan, Chamberlin, and Iha. The band has a diverse, densely layered sound, which evolved throughout their career and has contained elements of gothic rock, heavy metal, grunge, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, shoegaze, dream pop, and electronica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Decemberists</span> American indie rock band

The Decemberists are an American indie rock band from Portland, Oregon, formed in 2000. The band consists of Colin Meloy, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee, Nate Query (bass), and John Moen (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Be Your Own Pet</span> American punk rock band

Be Your Own Pet is a punk/garage rock band from Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 2003. For most of their career, the band's line-up has consisted of lead vocalist Jemina Pearl, guitarist Jonas Stein, bassist Nathan Vasquez and drummer John Eatherly. After originally releasing early singles and EPs with Nashville-based Infinity Cat Records, the band signed to XL Recordings and Thurston Moore's label, Ecstatic Peace/Universal Records in the UK & North America respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sasami</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1990)

Sasami Ashworth, known mononymously as Sasami, is an American musician who records music in a variety of styles, from singer-songwriter ballads to heavy metal and industrial. She began her career as a member of Cherry Glazerr but went solo in 2018. Her most recent album, Squeeze, was released in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Sitek</span> American musician and record producer

David Andrew Sitek is an American musician and record producer, known for his work with his band TV on the Radio. He has also worked with bands such as Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Liars, Foals, Celebration, Little Dragon, Wavves, Beady Eye, and Weezer, and produced free jazz-influenced remixes of songs by artists such as Beck and Nine Inch Nails, and has contributed a solo track to the Red Hot Organization Dark Was the Night charity compilation. He is also a photographer and painter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlotte Wessels</span> Dutch singer (born 1987)

Johanna Charlotte Wessels is a Dutch singer and songwriter. She is best known as the former lead vocalist for the symphonic metal band Delain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deafheaven</span> American black metal band

Deafheaven is an American post-metal band formed in 2010. Originally based in San Francisco, the group began as a two-piece with singer George Clarke and guitarist Kerry McCoy, who recorded and self-released a demo album together. Following its release, Deafheaven recruited three new members and began to tour. Before the end of 2010, the band signed to Deathwish Inc. and later released their debut album Roads to Judah, in April 2011. They popularized a unique style blending black metal, shoegaze, and post-rock, among other influences, later called "blackgaze" by reviewers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chelsea Wolfe</span> American singer-songwriter and musician

Chelsea Joy Wolfe is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Her work blends elements of gothic rock, doom metal, and folk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Speedy Ortiz</span> American indie rock band

Speedy Ortiz is an American indie rock band from Northampton, Massachusetts, United States. Originally a solo project for founder Sadie Dupuis, from 2011 a full band incarnation has released three EPs and three LPs mostly on Carpark Records. As of 2022, the band consists of Dupuis, Audrey Zee Whitesides, Andy Molholt, and Joey Doubek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randall Dunn</span> United States record engineer and rock musician

Randall Dunn is an American record producer, audio engineer, composer, and musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myrkur</span> Danish dark folk/black metal band

Myrkur is a solo black metal project by Danish singer Amalie Bruun. Initially, the real-life identity of the person behind the project was kept unknown. Her identity has since been made public. Myrkur has released three full-length studio albums to significant critical acclaim, as well as a live album and two EP. Her most recent album, Spine, was released on 20 October 2023 through Relapse Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sadie Dupuis</span> Musical artist

Sarah Elizabeth "Sadie" Dupuis is an American musician who is the guitarist, lead vocalist and lyricist for the band Speedy Ortiz. She has also released two solo albums, Slugger and Haunted Painting, under the name Sad13. Dupuis has published two books of poetry. A portrait of her was featured on the August 22, 2022 cover of The New Yorker. In October 2023, Rolling Stone named Dupuis as one of The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

<i>M</i> (Myrkur album) 2015 studio album by Myrkur

M is the debut studio album by black metal project Myrkur, by Danish musician and singer-songwriter Amalie Bruun. Produced by Kristoffer "Garm" Rygg of Ulver, it was released on 21 August 2015 through Relapse Records.

<i>Myrkur</i> (EP) 2014 EP by Myrkur

Myrkur is the self-titled debut EP by the black metal project Myrkur, by Danish musician and singer-songwriter Amalie Bruun. It was released on 12 September 2014 through Relapse Records. The track "Nattens Barn" was released as the first single off the EP, with an accompanying music video.

<i>Mausoleum</i> (album) Live EP by Myrkur

Mausoleum is a live album by the Danish band Myrkur, released through Relapse Records on 19 August 2016. It consists of acoustic and choral versions of Myrkur's music, which originally had been released as heavy metal songs. Mausoleum was recorded in the Emanuel Vigeland Mausoleum in Oslo, Norway, and features the Norwegian Girls' Choir and the guitarist Håvard Jørgensen.

<i>Mareridt</i> 2017 studio album by Myrkur

Mareridt is the second studio album by Myrkur, the black metal project of Danish musician and singer-songwriter Amalie Bruun. The album was released on 15 September 2017 through Relapse Records. Mareridt was recorded between Seattle, United States and Copenhagen, Denmark, and was produced by Randall Dunn. The album's title is Danish for 'nightmare', in reference to the frequent occurrences of sleep paralysis and nightmares which provided the inspiration for much of the album. The album's release was promoted with the release of three singles: "Måneblôt", "Ulvinde", and "De tre piker". The album received widespread acclaim from music critics upon its release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristin Hayter</span> American singer and pianist

Kristin Hayter is an American singer and pianist. She started releasing music in 2017 and performed under the Latin name Lingua Ignota. In 2023, citing the unhealthiness of reliving her trauma through her performances, Hayter retired the Lingua Ignota project. She embodied a new persona under the moniker Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter.

<i>Folkesange</i> 2020 studio album by Myrkur

Folkesange is the third studio album by Danish band Myrkur, led by singer Amalie Bruun. It was released on 20 March 2020 under Relapse Records. Folkesange diverts from the style of the band's previous black metal albums into folk music. The album consists of renditions of Scandinavian traditional music performed with period instruments such as mandola, lyre, nyckelharpa and talharpa as well as of original acoustic compositions.

Black Dresses was a Canadian noise pop duo consisting of Ada Rook and Devi McCallion, formed in 2017. Their debut album, Wasteisolation, was released independently in 2018. The duo released three additional albums, Thank You (2019), Love and Affection for Stupid Little Bitches (2019), and Peaceful as Hell (2020), before breaking up in 2020 in response to harassment received by McCallion. Despite maintaining their declaration of disbandment in 2020, Black Dresses released three additional albums, Forever in Your Heart (2021), Forget Your Own Face (2022), and Laughingfish (2024). Upon releasing Laughingfish, the band announced that it would be their final album.

<i>The Alchemy Project</i> 2022 EP by Epica

The Alchemy Project is the third EP by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It features seven songs, all co-written and performed with guest artists. The lyrical content mainly deals with apocalyptic themes.

References

  1. ↑ "New York Songwriters Circle Launches 2008 Contest". BMI.com. 16 May 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 Everleypublished, Dave (20 April 2020). "Myrkur: the strange and surreal journey of Amalie Bruun". loudersound. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  3. ↑ ""Hævnen" by Myrkur Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  4. ↑ "Stream Ex Cops' Sharp New Album 'Daggers' | SPIN". Spin. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  5. ↑ Gotrich, Lars (20 July 2015). "Viking's Choice: Myrkur, 'Skøgen Skulle Dø'". NPR. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  6. ↑ "Amalie Bruun – Kjell Braaten" . Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  7. ↑ Staff, BrooklynVegan. "Ex Cops releasing debut single on Other Music Recording Company, DJing on RSD, opening for Memory House". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  8. ↑ "Ex Cops Discography". Discogs. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  9. ↑ "Ex Cops Tap Billy Corgan, Ariel Pink for 'Daggers' | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  10. ↑ Staff, BrooklynVegan. "Ex Cops' new album "executive produced" by Billy Corgan (stream a track)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "Interview: Myrkur talks Ex-Cops, Black Metal and Scandinavian Folk Music -". mxdwn Music. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  12. ↑ "7 Questions with Amalie Bruun". Thursday's Journal. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  13. ↑ Marshall, Wyatt (16 September 2014). "Shedding Light on the Darkness of Myrkur". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on 25 September 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  14. 1 2 "Myrkur is reclaiming her Scandinavian roots and blossoming into motherhood | Interview". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  15. ↑ Staff, BrooklynVegan. "black metal musician Myrkur is Amalie Bruun of Ex Cops; EP is out now and streaming (listen)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  16. ↑ "Myrkur's Black Metal Rebirth". Pitchfork. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  17. ↑ "Protecting the Precious Flower That Is Black Metal". www.vice.com. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  18. ↑ "Of Course Crybaby Black Metal Fans Are Sending Death Threats to Myrkur". www.vice.com. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  19. ↑ "Simone Simons, Charlotte Wessels And Myrkur Come Together On New Epica Song 'Sirens - Of Blood And Water'". Blabbermouth.net. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  20. ↑ "Myrkur Talks Power of Dreams and Nightmares, Upcoming Folk Album". Revolver. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  21. ↑ "Login • Instagram". Archived from the original on 26 December 2021.{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  22. ↑ "At Home With the Ass Kicking, Headline Making Amalie Bruun". ELLE. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  23. ↑ "Tøsedrengen Michael Bruun er død". BT. 17 May 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.