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- September 24, 2019
This summer, I had the fantastic opportunity to speak with Danish pop sensation, Christopher over coffee in the downtown area of Copenhagen. Watch the full interview and read more about Christopher below.
About Christopher
With a sweet, high tenor voice, a winning way with falsetto, flawless English, and no trace of an accent, Danish pop sensation Christopher could almost have been manufactured for international success. He appeared seemingly out of nowhere in August 2011, already signed to EMI, which released a YouTube video where he performed an acoustic cover of Robyn’s “Call Your Girlfriend.” The video instantly garnered thousands of hits, paving the way for his debut single and album.
Born Christopher Nissen on January 31, 1992 and brought up in the Copenhagen suburb of Kastrup, on the island of Amager, he was interested in music from a very early age and began singing at the age of three. Dreaming of stardom, he took up the guitar at 12 and began writing songs, and, while still in high school, turned up unannounced one day at EMI’s Copenhagen offices with his guitar and performed a number of his songs for the execs, who rewarded his chutzpah by signing him on the spot. His debut single “Against the Odds,” a funky pure pop ballad, was released in September 2011 and reached a respectable number 23 on the Danish singles chart. The follow-up, “Nothing in Common,” released the following January, fared much better, reaching number five. His debut album, Colours, dropped a couple of months later and hit number four on the albums chart.
It was not until 2014, however, that Christopher tasted major and international success. He had built a huge following on social media, and excitement was rife for his second album, Told You So. The album had more of an R&B feel than his debut, and showcased Christopher’s maturation and progression as both singer and songwriter. Upon its release, it peaked at number two in the Danish albums chart, but it was on streaming services that it really made its mark, topping Denmark’s Spotify chart for a staggering seven weeks. It was also released in China, where it accrued enough interest for Christopher to undertake a promotional tour. The non-album single “CPH Girls” was also a hit there, reaching number two in the QQ Charts for Western music. An ode to the beauties of his home city, “CPH Girls” featured American R&B singer Brandon Beal, who later returned the favor by featuring Christopher on his own single “Twerk It Like Miley.” Both singles went to number one Denmark. Christopher’s reputation was secured when he won several awards at the 2014 Danish Music Awards, including Pop Album of the Year. He also won Best Danish Act at the 2014 MTV EMAs. His third album, Closer was released in Denmark in April 2016, with four singles released worldwide; Tulips, Limousine, I Won’t Let You Down and Heartbeat.
By Alexandra Cole, Erik Hertel, and Josephine Kyllebæk
