Pernille Rosendahl

Pernille Rosendahl (born 22 March 1972, in Aalborg) is a Danish singer, songwriter, and producer known as a solo artist, the lead singer of the indie rock band Swan Lee, and the rock band The Storm.

Pernille Rosendahl was born and raised in Aalborg, moving to Nykøbing Falster in 1982.

She joined the reggae band Rockae in 1985 with drummer Emil Jørgensen.

In 1989, she moved to Copenhagen and started at the Sangakademiet in 1990.

Here, she met Billie Koppel, who introduced her to Annisette and Thomas Koppel, leading her to become a backing vocalist in the band Savage Rose.

From 1991 to 1994, she toured with Savage Rose and contributed to the recording of the album 'Månebarn' in 1992.

During this time, she also provided backing vocals for Zapp Zapp, Majbritte Ulrikkeholm, and Grabowski.

In 1995, she went to London where she was offered several record deals as a solo artist but declined to pursue her own path.

In 1996, Pernille Rosendahl, guitarist Jonas Struck, and drummer Emil Jørgensen recorded the EP 'Dream Away' under Pernille Rosendahl's name.

After its release, they performed a showcase in New York during CMJ Music Week with Richard Fortus and Frank Ferrer from Guns N' Roses.

Since she was 19, Pernille Rosendahl has had an active career, initially as a backing vocalist and since 1997 as a self-releasing solo artist.

In 1999, Pernille Rosendahl, Jonas Struck, and Emil Jørgensen formed and named the band Swan Lee after a song by Syd Barret.

Swan Lee released three albums on their label GoGo Records: 'Enter' (2001), 'Swan Lee' (2004), and 'The Garden' (2023).

The band struggled to secure a record deal, a journey documented in the award-winning film documentary 'Stjernekigger' in 2002 by director Christina Rosendahl.

They received DR's P3 Prize in 2002 and were nominated six times for the Danish Music Awards.

Inspired by a 2002 interview with David Bowie, the album also addressed the importance of embracing both the sad and positive aspects of everyday life.

In an interview with Julie Moestrup, she said, "He said that the saddest thing about the Western world is that modern people don't dare to embrace both the dark and the light in their everyday lives. For him, life was about accepting all the sadness and melancholy, because it's also connected to all the wonderful and fun things."

Berlingske wrote, "After a period away from the limelight, on her melancholic solo debut, 'Dark Bird,' a much more personal Pernille Rosendahl emerges, revealing a fragile musical character. How beautifully it suits her to cut to the most sensitive core."

Gaffa wrote, "The melodies are completely straightforward and slightly cool in their subdued compositions, built on a delicious R&B and a trippy electronic vibe."

In 2004, Pernille Rosendahl received the 'Singer of the Year' award at the Zulu Awards, and in 2005, she received the 'Danish Singer of the Year' award at the Danish Music Awards.

In 2005, she was named 'Singer of the Year' at the Danish Music Awards and has composed music for films and theater, becoming a prominent voice in Danish cultural debates.

Over three decades, she has been one of Denmark's most prominent female singers.

Swan Lee disbanded in 2005 but reunited in 2023.

In late summer 2007, Pernille Rosendahl and Johan Wohlert formed the rock band The Storm and signed with Universal Music in Denmark.

In 2008, they released their debut album 'Where the Storm Meets the Ground,' produced by Roy Thomas Baker.

The album sold over 25,000 copies and received a gold record.

In 2010, they released the album 'Black Luck' produced by Jacob Hansen, selling 1150 copies.

In 2011, they released their third album 'Rebel Against Yourself,' featuring the single "Lost in The Fire," one of the most played songs on Danish radio that year.

In 2013, they announced to the press that they had parted ways but intended to continue making music together.

On 1 April 2016, she released her first solo album, 'Dark Bird,' on her label Dark Bird Inc., self-financed and written and produced by Pernille Rosendahl and Søren Vestergaard.

Jonas H. Petersen co-wrote two songs.

The album was mixed by Jeff Ellis and recorded in Copenhagen and Los Angeles.

The album drew inspiration from the Højskolesangbogen, hymns by composer Carl Nielsen, the Nordic music library, Christopher Nolan's film 'Interstellar,' and Hans Zimmer's sound design.

In 2019, she released the album 'The Hurt,' also written and produced by Pernille Rosendahl and Søren Vestergaard.

The album was a personal and musical narrative about loneliness and a childhood marked by violence and abandonment.

Gaffa wrote, "Vulnerability is fully played out in the lightly dark, but always oxygenating songs. They are minimally drawn melodies that find expression through unadorned bass lines and accelerating synth pads."

Pernille Rosendahl's two solo albums were inspired by hymns from the Højskolesangbogen and the sense of community that music provides.

To offer the audience a more intimate experience of her music, she toured in churches and museums, including Christians Kirke, Hover Kirke, Dronninglund Kirke, Ansgars Kirke, Vestervang Kirke, Gråsten Slotskirke, Skagen Kirke, Trekroner Kirke, Brandkjærkirken, Sct.

Michaelis Kirke, Præstevang Kirke, Treenighedskirken, Sct.

Pauls Kirke, Virklund Kirke, Holstebro Kirke, Hinnerup Kulturhus, Kirke Hylling, Arken Museum for Modern Art, Rudolf Tegners Museum, HEART Herning, Faaborg Museum, Kunsten Museum of Modern Art Aalborg, Thorvaldsens Museum, Johannes Larsen Museet, Charlottenborg Kunsthal, and Kutuaq in Nuuk.