Karen Marie Ørsted, the Danish post-punk princess also known as MØ (pronounced ‘Muhh’), is set to perform at Dublin’s inaugural Longitude festival in mid-July. Despite widespread acclaim – which includes comparisons to industry starlets such as Grimes, Santigold and Lykke Li – she remains cripplingly shy and, perhaps as a result, shrouded in mystery.
Earlier this year MØ found herself at the center of a hotly-contested bidding war. Before the ink had dried on a contract with Sony the blogosphere ignited with chatter. Within a matter of days the Guardian, the NME and online tastemakers Pitchfork touted her as one to watch in 2013. The hype was undeniable. It was a blistering start to the year but a long way off from what can only be described as humble beginnings back in rural Denmark.
“I remember my father listening to Sam Cooke and Billie Holiday when I was growing up,” she says. “I liked those old records. But when I was about seven I got my first album. It was the Spice Girls’ debut. It spoke to me. I was so amazed and thrilled that music could make me feel different emotions. From that point on I wanted to create music. It’s where my obsession began.”
During the years that followed Sonic Youth and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs replaced the Spice Girls in her record collection. She began writing lyrics and eventually started composing songs on a battered piano her parents owned..
“Over the years I’ve sang, played drums and bass in a lot of weird bands and music projects. My aim has always been to create music that stirs people.”
MØ began collaborating on a track with Ronni Vindahl from No Wav, part of a songwriting and production team based in Copenhagen and Los Angeles that works with Pharrell Williams, amongst others.
“I sent Ronni a few a cappella tracks by email. He started producing and mixing different elements together. When I heard the first cut I was like ‘Wow! Fuck! This is how I want my music to sound.’ All the pieces fell into place. It was magical.”
That track, christened Maiden, was released in May 2012 to critical acclaim. It marked MØ’s first step into the limelight. The atmospheric hooks and haunting vocals were present even if the production was a little lo-fi. By August the pair had established a workflow and another track, Pilgrim, was released. On it she sings: “Old wise river take me to the sea, breathe free – like pilgrims.” If this is a critique of modern society could MØ yearn for a simple life free from distractions?
“Pilgrim is my middle finger to a shallow, plastic world, which causes illness to the body and soul,” she says. “We never find the time to come to peace with each other or ourselves because of all the constant noises, meaningless discussions and politics.”
Her debut album is slated for international release during the summer. The as-yet unnamed album is inspired by the people around her. “I have many friends that are so confused about life. The album is about living and about being afraid of not doing what you should do. When crippled by fear doing nothing is a vicious circle some of us end up in.”
Unsurprisingly, MØ admits she has always been attracted to the darker side of life. “I like to play with the dark side. When I was 19 I didn’t want to do anything. My priorities were getting drunk and partying. It’s funny that people can be so selfish. It’s not that I don’t sympathize with them because I have been a moody teenager myself but young people in general are so melodramatic.”
Longitude takes place over three days, July 19-21, in Marlay Park.
