Agnes Obel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Agnes Obel
Obel performing in 2020
Background information
Birth name	Agnes Caroline Thaarup Obel
Born	(1980-10-28) 28 October 1980 (age 44) Copenhagen, Denmark
Origin	Berlin, Germany
Genres	Chamber pop neo-classical jazz
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter musician
Instruments	Vocals, piano
Years active	1990–present
Labels	PIAS Recordings Deutsche Grammophon Universal Classics
Children	1

Agnes Caroline Thaarup Obel (born October 28, 1980) is a talented Danish singer, songwriter, and musician. She lives in Berlin, Germany. Agnes is known for her beautiful piano melodies and calm, dreamy singing style.

Her first album, Philharmonics, came out in 2010. It was a big success, selling many copies and winning five awards at the Danish Music Awards in 2011. Her second album, Aventine (2013), was also very popular in many countries.

Agnes Obel's third album, Citizen of Glass (2016), was praised by music critics. It even won an award called the IMPALA Album of the Year. In 2018, she helped create a special music collection for the Late Night Tales series. Her fourth album, Myopia, was released in February 2020.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Agnes Caroline Thaarup Obel was born in Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark, on October 28, 1980. She grew up with her younger brother, Holger. Their home was full of interesting objects and musical instruments collected by their father. Her mother, Katja Obel, played classical piano music by composers like Bartók and Chopin.

Agnes started playing the piano when she was very young. Her piano teacher encouraged her to play what she enjoyed. This helped her develop her own unique style. She found inspiration in the music of Jan Johansson, who mixed European folk tunes with jazz.

In 1990, when Agnes was ten, she joined a small band. She sang and played the bass guitar. The band even performed at a festival. In 1994, she had a small role in a short film called The Boy Who Walked Backwards. Her brother, Holger, was the main character in the movie.

Agnes went to a special school called Det frie Gymnasium, where she could focus on music. However, she later left school to learn about sound recording techniques in a studio.

Agnes Obel's Music Journey

2008–2010: Philharmonics Album Success

Agnes Obel released her first album, Philharmonics, in 2010. She did everything herself: writing, playing, singing, recording, and producing the music. She said she was always drawn to simple melodies, almost like children's songs. For Agnes, the piano and her singing are equally important.

Most songs on Philharmonics were her own, but she also covered "Close Watch" by John Cale. She also sang "Katie Cruel," a traditional folk song. In 2011, she released Live à Paris, which included a cover of Elliott Smith's "Between The Bars." She also sang "The Christmas Song" with Editors singer Tom Smith.

Obel performing in Brussels (2011)

Critics really liked Philharmonics. They described her music as calm, beautiful, and pure. One reviewer said her voice was gentle and graceful, like a "fey siren." The album was also a big hit, selling many copies. In March 2011, Agnes performed in the United States for the first time at the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival.

A special version of Philharmonics was released in February 2011 with extra songs. The album was certified gold in Belgium in June 2011. The song "Riverside" won an award for Best Song of the Year in 2011. In October 2011, Agnes won the European Border Breakers Award, which celebrates new European music talents. In November 2011, she won five Danish Music Awards, including Best Album and Best Debut Artist.

2011–2014: Aventine Album Release

Agnes started working on her second album in 2011. She focused on instrumental pieces with just the piano. She found it harder to write lyrics at that time.

In January 2013, she began mixing her new album. On June 20, 2013, she announced that the album, Aventine, would be released on September 30, 2013.

Agnes recorded Aventine very closely, using microphones near her voice and piano in a small room. This made the music feel very personal and intimate. She performed at the iTunes UK Festival in London in September 2013.

Critics praised Aventine as a "fascinating collection of remarkable pieces." The album was described as a beautiful and unhurried record. It was said that Agnes creates her own musical world, like a "bubble" or "bell jar," where she can make music freely.

In October 2014, a deluxe edition of Aventine was released with three new songs. It also included a remix of "Fuel to Fire" by the famous director David Lynch, who loved Agnes's music. In October 2014, Agnes performed at L'Olympia in Paris for the first time.

2015–2017: Citizen of Glass Album

During her 2014 tour, Agnes started thinking about her third album. She wanted to use fewer pianos and explore other old keyboard instruments like the spinet and harpsichord.

In June 2015, Agnes began recording the new album. She worked with new musicians for the string parts.

Agnes Obel (piano) with Charlotte Danhier (cello) and Sophie Bayet (violin) in Germany (2014)

In June 2016, she released the song "Familiar" from the upcoming album. Agnes recorded, produced, and mixed the song herself. Her husband, Alex Brüel Flagstad, directed the music video. The song featured violins and cellos, and Agnes's voice was described as "strangely moved."

For Citizen of Glass, Agnes used violins, cellos, harpsichords, a spinet, a celesta, and a rare electronic instrument from the 1930s called a Trautonium.

In September 2016, she released another song, "Golden Green." This song was about how we often compare our lives to others. In October 2016, "Stretch Your Eyes" was released, which was a new version of an older song.

Citizen of Glass came out in October 2016. Critics called it a "sumptuous, odd and modern album." It received very positive reviews and won the IMPALA Album of the Year Award 2016.

2018-2020: Late Night Tales and Myopia Albums

In February 2018, Agnes Obel signed with Deutsche Grammophon, a famous classical music label. This showed how much her unique style was appreciated.

In May 2018, Agnes put together a special collection of songs for Late Night Tales. This album, called Late Night Tales: Agnes Obel, included music by artists like Nina Simone and Henry Mancini. Agnes also added new songs and a haunting version of a Danish song called "Glemmer Du." She explained that this song is about how time and love change, and memories are what remain.

On October 29, 2019, Agnes announced her fourth album, Myopia, and released the song "Island of Doom." She worked on Myopia in her own studio, without outside influences.

Agnes said "Island of Doom" is about the feeling when someone close to you passes away. The song features her on piano, vocals, and keys, with cello, creating a calm and beautiful sound.

Agnes explained that Myopia is about trust and doubt. It explores whether you can trust your own feelings and instincts. On January 7, 2020, she released the single "Broken Sleep." Her partner, Alex Brüel Flagstad, created the video, which matched the song's flowing and beautiful style.

Myopia was released on February 21, 2020. Critics described the songs as "obscured like frosted glass" and "meticulously pretty."

In June 2020, Agnes showed her Berlin studio in a video for the first time. She usually works alone at night in her private studio.

2021-2022: Recent Activities

In December 2021, it was announced that Agnes Obel would perform at the 2022 Rock Altitude Festival in Switzerland. She performed on August 13, 2022.

Agnes is also working on music pieces for a clinic in Denmark that helps with depression treatment. She believes that music has a strong and mysterious effect on our minds.

Agnes Obel's Artistic Style

Agnes Obel performing at Les Nuits Secrètes (2014)

Musical Style

Agnes Obel creates unique and sometimes mysterious music. It blends different styles like neo-classical, jazz, and chamber pop. Her music often features calm harmonies, interesting sounds, and a touch of sadness. She uses instruments like violins, cellos, and electronic sounds to create an intimate feeling.

Influences

Agnes is inspired by many artists. She likes singers like Roy Orbison and French composers such as Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, and Erik Satie. She also admires writers like Edgar Allan Poe, photographers like Sibylle Bergemann and Robert Mapplethorpe, and the director Alfred Hitchcock. She loves Hitchcock's mysterious and simple style.

Agnes is also a big fan of experimental filmmaker Maya Deren. She sometimes tests her music ideas with Deren's films. She especially loves Nina Simone, saying her vocals seem to come from nowhere, like magic. Besides classical music, Agnes listens to artists like Mort Garson, The Smiths, and Françoise Hardy.

In February 2017, Agnes performed "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen as a tribute to him at an awards show.

Personal Life

Agnes Obel met her husband, Alex Brüel Flagstad, when they were both 13 years old. They started dating ten years later and moved to Berlin in 2006. Alex is a photographer and animation artist. He has directed many of Agnes's music videos, including "Riverside" and "Aventine." They have a daughter together.

Discography

Studio Albums

Compilations

EPs

Singles

Other Charted Songs

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Agnes Obel para niños