Own Road

One of the Danish alt-folk scene's finest songwriters is ready to take his powerful body of work to the next level when Own Road takes the stage with his ever-growing repertoire of songs backed by an accomplished new live band

Never one to follow the latest trends, Own Road has for more than a decade charted his own unique course through the Danish music scene. At times this has led Simon Skjødt Jensen – the genius behind Own Road – down winding, experimental musical pathways; at others, he has kept to the beaten track of indie folk. Ultimately the destination is always the same: the great flowing river of song, which he has a rare gift for tapping into with melodies that feel at once brand new and ancient.

From the start Own Road has been Simon Skjødt Jensen's space to be himself. After singing in a range of other projects he felt the urge to experiment and find his own voice and learn how to produce his own music, a journey which in 2010 bore fruit with the release of Own Road, whose mixture of psychedelic loops and lo-fi off-kilter folk melodies moved the legendary Danish music critic Torben Bille to heap praise on the project for its boldness and "spellbinding depth", which brought to mind The Incredible String Band, Leonard Cohen and Donovan.

A string of releases and countless concerts have followed in the wake of that first record, cementing Own Road's place as a unique and original voice on the Danish alt-folk scene. While he remains very much a maverick, Own Road has in recent years had a desire to open up the musical conversation, both by bringing in other musicians and, in a novel twist to the singer-songwriter formula, working with other lyricists and fellow songwriters who are invited to share the reins. Own Road electrifies the resultant songs with his trademark presence and strong voice, equally at home quietly telling a story or channelling raw, heartfelt longing.

But even Skjødt Jensen's road less travelled has space for new companions, and Skjødt Jensen has put together a band that is breathing new life into his music – both the brand new numbers which can be heard on an upcoming LP due for release in 2024, and old favourites given a chance to spread their wings in new arrangements that explore the songs’ deeper nuances. Tracks hitherto rarely heard live are given a new lease of life by the new and expanded Own Road line-up, which alongside Skjødt Jensen on guitar and vocals features Liv Lumia Hurtigkarl (violin, backing vocals), Rasmus Prik Kalmark Andersen (guitar, backing vocals), Daniel Gudnason (bass) and Lasse Smith (drums, backing vocals).

Skjødt Jensen continues to draw inspiration from the American folk & roots traditions and the likes of Neil Young and Bill Callahan. And backed by his new band he is ready to take his rich and varied repertoire of original songs to the next level – his sublime voice and sense of melody still taking centre stage, treading their own unique path through a timeless musical landscape.