As a 90s child, growing up in a small village outside of Aarhus, Denmark, Asbjørn was a boy unable to find himself in the masculine stereotype set out by millions before him. Instead he saw himself in strong women such as Madonna and Beyoncé and from then on, a passion for music was harboured.
Now based in Berlin he's gearing up to release his album 'Pseudo Visions' on November 6 via Sinnbus, unafraid to push boundaries and break the mould. We got the chance to chat to him about the future - find out what he had to say below...
For those who may be new to your music, how best would you describe your sound?
It's unpolished and brave pop music. It's a psychedelic playground.
What challenges have you faced in the music industry so far?
It's a challenge to redefine masculinity in an industry so focused on stereotypes. Women have fought for decades to create an open ideal, by being brave and by standing up for themselves. I have always related more to women than men because of this I think. The men of pop are suffering under these archetypical limitations and youth culture is way ahead. The male ideal that the pop industry is clinging on to is simply not reality anymore.
How difficult would you say this career path is in terms of making a name for yourself?
(laughs) I guess I could have chosen easier professions. I always wanted to be a paleontologist. Very obsessed with dinosaurs. Anyways, I try not to think about this too much, it is such a shallow element to use energy on and it's not constructive. It's just life, you know? I live it, write about it and have these insane moments of complete surrender to people I don't know at all. As long as I can do that I am living the dream.
How important is it for you to have creative control over the work you produce?
To me it's a constant balance between control and loss of it. If I was in complete control it would be one dimensional. Nothing is ever 100% you. Even you, as a person, you're put together and defined by the people around you and the way they see you. That's beautiful to me and it's very much the same way I make music, videos, album covers and so on. I take in what other people see in me, reflect in them and end up with a momentarily true outlet. The next day everything might have changed.
Where do you draw influence and inspiration from for your work?
My new album is called 'Pseudo Visions', and that is actually a definition of those moments that leave a mark. They appear when I completely let go of my mind, my body, my heart and dare to be in exactly that feeling. And when you look back at it, it seems like reality stepped back for a moment and opened up this secret place in yourself.
If you could collaborate with anybody going forward, who would you choose and why?
Troye Sivan. L e l f. Olly Alexander from Years & Years. Blood Orange. Kindness. All of these men are redefining masculinity and I admire them a lot.
Tell us a random, funny fact about you that not many people know.
I still sleep with my childhood teddy, Tigermouse, every night. Best spoon ever.
Do you have definitive aims or goals for your career?
I wanna be invited on stage by Taylor Swift and walk super fiercely down the runway with her - then I can finally pull out of music and dig up dinosaurs. Really I just want to keep making honest music and hopefully make a difference for some people out there, like some people do for me. It's a wonderful exchange.
Where do you hope to be this time next year?
Maybe having a Sunday roast after playing a great UK tour. And then I wanna be very totally into my next release, however that may look or sound.
What should we expect from you in the coming weeks and months?
'Pseudo Visions' is out in Europe on November 6 and I am kicking off the first leg of the tour in Germany and Switzerland. After that I will travel as much around in Europe as possible, as quickly as possible, play and live as much as possible.
