Amalie Bruun

Amalie Bruun (born 6 January 1985) is a Danish musician, actress and model. She is the leader of the one-person black metal project Myrkur and the former lead singer of the indie pop band Ex Cops, which was active from 2011 to 2014. Bruun's identity as Myrkur was initially anonymous.

Amalie Bruun
Bruun performing with Myrkur at Roskilde Festival 2015 in Denmark
Bruun performing with Myrkur at Roskilde Festival 2015 in Denmark
Background information
Birth nameAmalie Bruun
Also known asMyrkur
Born (1985-01-06) 6 January 1985
Copenhagen, Denmark
GenresPost-black metal, indie pop, dream pop, Nordic folk
Occupation(s)Singer, actress, multi-instrumentalist
InstrumentsVocals, piano, guitar, nyckelharpa, mandola
Years active2006–present
LabelsRelapse, Downtown
Websitemyrkurmusic.com

Career

Music

Amalie Bruun released her debut album in 2006. She wrote the record with her father Michael Bruun. She is a pianist and guitarist and also writes songs with other composers, including Moh Denebi. In 2008, she created the title song for the reality show Paradise Hotel, entitled "If You Give It Up". Amalie Bruun moved to New York later in 2008 and won the New York Songwriters Circle international award.[1]

In 2010 she released the EP Branches, which was recorded at Pirate Studios in New York in partnership with Watt White. She began modeling, starring in a Martin Scorsese-directed Chanel advertisement and the music video for The Lonely Island's 2011 song "Jack Sparrow" featuring Michael Bolton.[2]

In spring 2012 she released the single "Siren", written and produced in collaboration with Mark Saunders on A:Larm Music. In 2013, Amalie also appeared on R.A. the Rugged Man's album Legends Never Die, providing background and chorus vocals for track 3, "Definition of a Rap Flow".

Both Ex Cops and Myrkur have garnered Bruun critical acclaim from publications including Pitchfork,[3] Spin,[4] and NPR Music.[5] Bruun has also appeared with Myrkur and Ex Cops at renowned music festivals such as Roskilde Festival in Denmark, Wacken Open Air in Germany and South by Southwest in Texas.

In 2022, Bruun provided vocals for the score of the Netflix series Vikings: Valhalla.[6]

Ex Cops (2011–2014)

Bruun formed the indie pop band Ex Cops in 2011 as a duo with Brian Harding. The band drew comparisons to music released on Sarah Records and Flying Nun Records.[7] Ex Cops released two albums: 2013's True Hallucinations and 2014's Daggers.[8] Daggers was produced and co-written by The Smashing Pumpkins lead singer Billy Corgan, and featured guest appearances from singers Ariel Pink and LP.[9][10] Ex Cops broke up in 2014, with Bruun remaining on good terms with Harding.[11]

Myrkur (2014–present)

A self-professed "black metal girl at heart",[12] Bruun was revealed to be the writer, performer and producer of Relapse Records black metal project Myrkur in 2014.[13] The project's name comes from the Icelandic word for darkness.[14] Bruun became a black metal fan after listening to Darkthrone's Transilvanian Hunger album for the first time.[2] She released a self-titled EP under anonymity before she revealed her identity in September 2014.[15] Her debut album under the Myrkur moniker, M, was produced by Ulver frontman Kristoffer Rygg and featured members of Mayhem, Arch Enemy and Satyricon in her backing band.[16]

Bruun received a torrent of sexist backlash from metal fans after beginning the Myrkur project, at one point deactivating her Facebook account because of endless death threats.[17][18] She released her second album as Myrkur, Mareridt, in 2017. With her third album Folkesange, released in 2020, Bruun shifted from black metal to making traditional Scandinavian folk music.[14]

Bruun also appeared on the EP The Alchemy Project by the Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, on the song "Sirens – Of Blood and Water", alongside Charlotte Wessels. A music video for this song was released on 11 November 2022.[19]

Personal life

In 2018, Bruun married the American drummer and personal trainer Keith Abrami, known for playing drums in death metal bands Artificial Brain and Shredded.[20] On 4 May 2019, Bruun announced via Instagram that she was expecting her first child. Bruun gave birth to her son Otto on 21 September 2019.[21]

Bruun formerly dated Brian Harding, the other half of the indie pop duo Ex Cops.[22]

Bruun is daughter of the Danish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Michael Bruun and has two brothers, William and Jonas.[23]

Discography

As Amalie Bruun

  • Amalie Bruun (2006)
  • Housecat (EP) (2008)
  • Branches (EP) (2010)
  • Crush (EP) (2012)

With Ex Cops

  • True Hallucinations (LP) (2013)
  • Daggers (LP) (2014)

As Myrkur

References
  1. "New York Songwriters Circle Launches 2008 Contest". BMI.com. 16 May 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  2. Everleypublished, Dave (20 April 2020). "Myrkur: the strange and surreal journey of Amalie Bruun". loudersound. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  3. ""Hævnen" by Myrkur Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  4. "Stream Ex Cops' Sharp New Album 'Daggers' | SPIN". Spin. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  5. Gotrich, Lars (20 July 2015). "Viking's Choice: Myrkur, 'Skøgen Skulle Dø'". NPR. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  6. "Amalie Bruun – Kjell Braaten". Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  7. Staff, BrooklynVegan. "Ex Cops releasing debut single on Other Music Recording Company, DJing on RSD, opening for Memory House". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  8. "Ex Cops Discography". Discogs. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  9. "Ex Cops Tap Billy Corgan, Ariel Pink for 'Daggers' | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  10. Staff, BrooklynVegan. "Ex Cops' new album "executive produced" by Billy Corgan (stream a track)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  11. "Interview: Myrkur talks Ex-Cops, Black Metal and Scandinavian Folk Music -". mxdwn Music. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  12. "7 Questions with Amalie Bruun". Thursday's Journal. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  13. Marshall, Wyatt (16 September 2014). "Shedding Light on the Darkness of Myrkur". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on 25 September 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  14. "Myrkur is reclaiming her Scandinavian roots and blossoming into motherhood | Interview". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  15. Staff, BrooklynVegan. "black metal musician Myrkur is Amalie Bruun of Ex Cops; EP is out now and streaming (listen)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  16. "Myrkur's Black Metal Rebirth". Pitchfork. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  17. "Protecting the Precious Flower That Is Black Metal". www.vice.com. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  18. "Of Course Crybaby Black Metal Fans Are Sending Death Threats to Myrkur". www.vice.com. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  19. "Simone Simons, Charlotte Wessels And Myrkur Come Together On New Epica Song 'Sirens - Of Blood And Water'". Blabbermouth.net. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  20. "Myrkur Talks Power of Dreams and Nightmares, Upcoming Folk Album". Revolver. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  21. "Login • Instagram". Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  22. "At Home With the Ass Kicking, Headline Making Amalie Bruun". ELLE. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  23. "Tøsedrengen Michael Bruun er død". BT. 17 May 2021.
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