Lars H.U.G.

With his wide vocal range, original phrasing and fantastic ability to read and interpret the spirit of the changing times, Lars H.U.G. has managed throughout his career to create a repertoire, which encompasses catchy pop-tunes as well as gritty new wave and experimental music. After almost 25 years on the Danish music scene, Lars H.U.G. is an established, unconventional and very popular artist, who has reached both the broad audience as well as the connoisseur. Lars H.U.G. has carved his very own niche.

Born 1953 in the village Sorgenfri north of Copenhagen as Lars Haagensen, Lars H.U.G. went to Art School, where he met and teamed up with fellow art student Johnny Voss to create the groundbreaking band Kliché in 1977. New Wave rather than out and out punk, Kliché received critical acclaim and their first album "Supertanker" released in 1980 was compared to the work of Brian Eno and David Bowie. The second album "Okay Okay Boys" released in 1982 raced up the charts, and Kliché toured the country incessantly. Kliché wrote itself into Danish Rock history as an innovative band with a characteristic style. They disbanded in 1985.

In 1984 Lars H.U.G. set the collection of poems by Søren Ulrik Thomsen entitled "City Slang" to music using the principle of chance in putting together the chord-progressions. Eventually this music was turned into a multimedia show combined with acting and props. The tour with the band aptly named "Lars Autoophug" (Lars Carbreaker) was very successful. The album "City Slang" was received very well by critics and audiences alike. In the spring of 1985 Lars H.U.G. started working on his first solo-album. This signified yet another departure in style for the artist. The album contained a few tracks from his time with Kliché, but was otherwise stylistically more mainstream. With the chart-success of the single "Elsker Dig For Evigt" ("Love You Forever"), the album "Kysser Himlen Farvel" ("Kiss The Sky Goodbye") turned Lars H.U.G. into a pop star.

H.U.G’s audience had come to expect the unexpected from the artist. And he did not let them down. His next album entitled "Kopy", released in 1989, was a trip down the memory lane with interpretations of pop songs and evergreens. This album sold more than 100.000 copies, and H.U.G. received his first Grammy for "Best Vocalist". In 1992 H.U.G. returned with the album "Blidt Over Dig" ("Gently Over You"), which to all intents and purposes summarized the various stages of his career. As the first rock-musician ever, Lars H.U.G. in 1993 received a 3-year grant from The State Arts Foundation. This caused quite a stir in the press and among politicians at the time. But the money was well spent. The album entitled "Kiss & Hug - From A Happy Boy" was released in 1996, and contained pop, cool jazz and easy-listening material in the tradition of grand music such as varies artist as Burt Bacharach, Frank Sinatra and Beatles. Spawning the hit-song "Backwards" with Swedish singer Lisa Ekdahl, the album also brought H.U.G. three Danish Grammys: "Best Vocalist", "Best Album" and "Best Danish Popular Release".

In recent years H.U.G. has concentrated more on his painting, exhibiting in various galleries, and he has performed live a number of times with The Danish Radio Light Orchestra and Swedish singer Lill Lindfors. Lars H.U.G is an artist who constantly surprises. He never fixes himself to a certain style, and experimenting in new areas regardless of mainstream fashions and trends has always been a part of his personal style. No matter which style Lars H.U.G chooses, his music and characteristic voice leave an enduring mark on the listener, and he has created some of the most significant albums in Danish Music History.