Lukas Graham Biography

Lukas Graham is a Danish pop and soul band. It consists of lead vocalist Lukas Forchhammer, drummer Mark Falgren, bassist Magnus Larsson, and keyboardist Morten Ristorp. They earned international attention with singles like “Mama Said” and “7 Years”.

Danish Export

The band took form in Denmark in 2011, with original founding members Lukas Graham Forchhammer, Magnus Larsson, Mark “Lovestick” Falgren and Anders Kirk (later replaced by current keyboardist Morten Ristorp and former keyboardist Kasper Daugaard). They initially started by posting homemade YouTube videos of them performing singles called “Criminal Mind” and “Drunk in the Morning” and shared them on Facebook accruing several hundred thousand views. Their efforts didn’t pass unnoticed and the band earned a contract with Copenhagen Records in late 2011. Prior to officially releasing any music, the band gained a lot of appreciation in their home country and already sold tickets for an upcoming tour.

European Stardom

Their first release, “Lukas Graham” (2013) was a hit in Denmark, embarking the band in multiple tours through Europe that will gain them major popularity. It had four songs on the European charts, including “Drunk in the Morning”, “Better Than Yourself (Criminal Mind Pt 2)” and “Ordinary Things”. The fall of 2013 marked their deal contract with Warner Bros. Records, who signed them with the intent of bringing their music to the United States. Thus the band spent extended periods of time in Los Angeles writing and recording for their US debut.

American Stardom

The band released their European version of their second album “Lukas Graham” (often referred to as the “Blue Album”) in 2015 and their US version in 2016. The US version of the album received new artwork, a reworked track listing, and a wider global audience. It featured the singles “Mama Said”, “Strip No More” and “7 Years”, the last of which peaked at number one on multiple European charts and at number two in the US. The band performed their single “7 Years” across multiple tv shows, earning themselves their globally breakthrough and also multiple award nomination. In June 2016, keyboardist Kasper Daugaard left the band, stating that “touring life” isn’t something he enjoys. He was replaced by the band’s producer and former keyboardist, Morten Ristorp.

Musical Style

Musically, the band uses a pop sound that combines elements of folk and soul. They often use relatable themes in their Lyrics, like drinking and growing up poor. Their hard upbringing contributed a lot on the shape of their music.

Photo source Ticketline.co.uk