Teitur Lassen (Teitur)

Teitur left his homeland, the remote, beautiful, wild and weather beaten Faroe Islands in the far North Atlantic as a teenager. He was convinced that if he wanted to follow his dream of making his own music he had to go somewhere with the access to the technology and musical professionalism that he felt wasn’t available at home.

In 2003, Teitur released his first album, Poetry & Aeroplanes. Its simple, sincere songs made it a critical hit and he toured the USA and Canada extensively and attracted the attention of artists like Rufus Wainwright, Aimee Mann and KT Tunstall, all of whom took him on tour. During this time, he found the time to co-write the song Choux Pastry Heart on the 4M selling debut album by Corinne Bailey Rae. In 2006, he released his second album Stay Under The Stars, a record full of richer writing and bolder characters, which went Gold in Denmark and two Danish Grammies followed. By 2008, he had 700 gigs in 20 countries under his belt, earning him the reputation of one of the hardest working International artists on the road.

Third album, The Singer, recorded in a Swedish Princess’s house in Gotland, was released in 2008 in Europe and early 2009 in the UK, his first album to be issued in Britain. Garnering five star reviews in The Guardian (“deep, viscous stuff that is never less than extraordinary”) and The Independent (“a rare beast“), while the Sunday Times praised the singer-songwriter’s ” wonderfully idiosyncratic talent“. Then in October 2009, came the UK only release ‘All My Mistakes’, which was a retrospective album of Teitur’s career to date. Achieving his second Album of The Week in The Independent, Andy Gill wrote of the album: “..there’s more than enough evidence here to bear out Teitur’s assertion, in the title-track, that “all my mistakes have become masterpieces”.

Teitur continued his eclectic career path, co-writing and performing with American contemporary film musician Nico Muhly (who scored the film The Reader), and by writing for and producing other artists, including French star Nolwenn. During 2010, he recorded his again acclaimed album, ‘Let the Dog Drive Home’ in Denmark. Betty Hedges was the first UK single while in the rest of the world “You Never Leave L.A.” was the lead, accompanied by an astounding animated video. A worldwide tour followed over the next 18 months. In the meantime, Seal recorded Teitur’s song “You Get Me” as a duet with Italian superstar Mina and then recorded it for his own album, which was a top 20 hit around the world.

Teitur released a 4 track EP in September 2012 entitled Four Songs. These solo recordings, were featured during a world tour which ran from September to January 2013 and also served to try out and develop the news songs written for Story Music. In November, Teitur took a break to tour Holland with the famous Dutch wind orchestra, the Netherlands Blazers Ensemble, performing the music to the short film, Everyday Song, which he commissioned and was screened simultaneously. In 2013 he released the album Story Music, including the singles “Rock and Roll Band” and “It’s not funny anymore”. More than 70 musicians and singers ranging in age from 8-80 were brought together for the recording, with choirs. Set in the middle of the album, like a sparkling jewel is “It’s Not Funny Anymore” which features an epic orchestral arrangement by the legendary Van Dyke Parks (Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys etc). Parks had met Teitur when they were on the same bill in Athens, Georgia and wrote to him to say how much he had enjoyed the performance, expressing the hope that they might work together. “The song seemed to call out for an orchestral arrangement, so I sent the track over to LA for Van Dyke’s thoughts. I was blown away when he said he wanted to do it and by the score that he sent back, which we went on to record in Holland. I like it when you don’t know what’s going to happen next and the track provides a perfect pivotal point for the album.” Van Dyke Parks said: “Teitur’s music reminds me why I go nuts over island music. Winning Teitur’s trust isn’t just funny business–it’s an honor to orchestrate for such an accomplished composer. Teitur is, in fact, totally continental!”

In 2014 Teitur started collaborating with well known German singer Judith Holofernes on writing songs together and later in 2016 co-producing and arranging her forthcoming album set for 2017 release; whilst also appearing at the legendary Ted Conference in Vancouver in 2015, and scoring the music for a Danish documentary. In October 2016, Nonesuch/Warner released the album “Confessions”, his album collaboration with Nico Muhly and the Holland Baroque orchestra, to great critical acclaim…

In 2018 Teitur released his next album, I Want To Be Kind, and once again toured the album extensively to rave reviews, and in 2019 was featured in the Danish TV series Toppen Af Poppen, with five other well known artists covering a Teitur song each and vice versa. In April 2020 he followed up with the release of a four track EP, Modern Era, shortly followed by a collaboration with secret artist UNSECRET, called “The Future Cannot Be Known

In 2020 Teitur released the 4 track “Modern Era” EP, recorded in the Netherlands with Dutch Maestro Reyn producing, spawning the popular singles “Holiday Inn” and “Clara”.

Most recently, he has released the album "Songs From A Social Distance" with Aarhus Jazz Orchestra (2023), and he features on the latest single "Louise" from Danish artist eee gee.