FÉ
I’ll always be a massive fan of those 80’s records and getting to hear a record like “Highway Road” by FÉ is just incredible. The Danish pop duo has just released an anthemic record with “Highway Road”. Featuring big vocals, catchy melodies and an explosive production, Victor Salomonsen and Frederikke Bohr’s delivered an energetic, nostalgic and efficient song that everybody will love.
A must listen !
Hi guys, how are you? What's your story?
We are great and looking forward to releasing our single! :-)
Thank you for showing interest in our music.
So, we met 3,5 years ago through common music connections and immediately bonded musically. We were passionate about the same sounds, harmonies, effects, and it felt very natural to begin writing together. It was a match made in heaven!
Soon after our initial meeting in June 2021, Victor became a permanent member of FÉ. We had now become a duo! We released our first single together (FÉ’s third single) in the late fall of 2021 and two other singles came quickly after that.
Since our last release, Girlfriend in 2022, “life happened” as we both started other jobs, slowing down the finalizing of the debut album. Even if it took longer than expected, we are now ready with our debut album - and it feels amazing!
We both had songs from previous collaborations that we hadn’t gotten to release, and Highway Road was one of them.
"Highway Road" is your latest single - what's the inspiration behind this song?
Victor started producing 80’s music back in 2018 and was experimenting with sounds from the synth-wave pop genre. So he brought a snippet of a synth melody to the writing session with Danish singer and songwriter Nanna Bottos - and Highway Road was born.
Could you describe the songwriting/production/recording process for this song? How was it like to work with Nanna Bottos on this song?
Victor: The song was written by me and Nanna Bottos, whom I had a project with before I met Frederikke. The song was so good that I thought it would be sad if the song didn’t see the light of day.
Nanna and I wrote the song within 4 hours the first time we met each other for a songwriter / recording session. We spoke briefly about our ideas, and from those - and my synth idea - it went fast, in a good and creative way.
Could you list a few records that inspired "Highway Road"?
The Midnight - Endless Summer
Sunglasses Kid - Graduation
Giant - Time To Burn
Michael Bolton - The One Thing
What's your favorite thing about this song?
Frederikke loves the energy and the vibe of the song, making her feel like she’s driving towards the sunset with her loved one by her side, the wind in her hair, and in a state of total freedom. It has a vibe of a new adventure beginning and all the thrill and excitement related to that.
Victor: The power, energy, and the catchy chorus !
What made you want to release "Highway Road" as a single?
Because we wanted to share it with the world! The song has so much power and energy that it would be sad, if the song didn’t see the light of day.
What can you tell us about the artwork?
So, it’s no secret that we both LOVE the 80’s. We’re both born in this decade, but sadly never got to experience being an adolescent of the 80’s.
We imagine there was a more savage and bold way of life, as well as in the arts. Without Social Media people weren’t informed of everything all the time, perhaps making us less afraid and more free?
The art was bold and distorted, and there were lots of effects in play. No dim lights - it had to shine, sparkle, be written out in neon!
We hope that the bright pink color and the old cassette tape will transport you right back to when you were listening to your new favorite song on your walkman, wearing a big t-shirt, leggings, and your new, white sneakers.
What do you want people to feel when listening to this song?
Energy, passion, drive, freedom, adventure, possibilities. And nostalgia about the 80’s!
In your opinion, what makes a good song?
Frederikke: a good song moves me. It can be the lyrics telling me something old in a new way, the timbre of the vocals, the effects in the production used to express something… There is no recipe, but when I hear it, I’m not in doubt! A good song expands my world.
Victor: for me it has to have a catchy chorus, like a climax.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Victor: In Denmark, the music scene is very generic. So I would hope that people would take more ‘chances’ in terms of the way music is being written and produced today.
Frederikke: difficult question. There will always be conditions and things that you’d like to change. A positive spin on today’s music business is that many more artists, ourselves included, can release their music without being dependent on the big labels that used to have monopoly on creating artists and releasing music. This same thing can also be a challenge. Because as an independant, upcoming artist it’s hard to get a voice and stand out in the many many many songs that are released every day.
If I could change something in the music business in Denmark, it would be that the radio hosts, bookers, managers, promoters etc, dared to run bigger risks and disregard trends, hype etc a bit more. If we only follow trends, the risk is that the market and the scene become uniform, and maybe even political. And if there is one thing that art shouldn’t be - it's uniform.
How would you describe the Danish music scene? Any artist(s) you'd like to recommend?
Denmark is a small country, with a small music scene, leaving less room for niche genres than in bigger markets. It’s a real challenge for upcoming artists in more niche pop genres to get airplay, reviews, and articles on bigger commercial platforms. Of course, the commercial market needs to evolve around some kind of demand from the public - however, if the public never learns of all the niche and sub-genre artists, there will never be a demand for them.
Both Victor and Frederikke love the LA-based duo The Midnight with Danish producer Tim McEwan.
And Victor’s mother, Sanne Salomonsen! She is very popular in Denmark and has been ever since she hit the stages as a very young woman. She has an amazing voice and stage presence, still in her late 60’s. Frederikke grew up listening to her voice and her songs - and Sanne Salomonsen is one of her absolute favorite singers.
What advice would you give to young artists out there?
Frederikke: Do the music you love and you will create your own unique story. And keep going. Step by step. We can only imagine the possibilities and scenarios that we already know of, but remember, and trust, that often in life, if we keep working on our dream, something will materialize, creating new opportunities.
Victor: Keep believing in your vision and your artistry, because you have to make music for YOU, and not for others. Then it's a major plus, if people pick up on your music and think it’s fantastic.
In your opinion, what would make the world a BETTER place?
Victor: Make Love, Not War - Be more kind to each other overall in the world.
Frederikke: I think the world is an amazing place and I feel very lucky to get the chance to have a ride in life’s roller coaster. However, I do think it is very sad that the people who have the most power in the world are only interested in keeping it or getting more instead of actually trying to do some good and fight for more justice and equality in the world. And I wish that we would start to add real value to all that doesn’t fit into the “fact box” or has a clear conclusion. The intangible is, in fact, what makes our world grow bigger and what brings people together. Like music.
What biggest life lessons have you learned this year?
Victor: Take a break. Be better to make the right choices by being in touch with your mind and body.
Frederikke: I know it sounds like a big cliché, but nonetheless it’s true: love heals <3
What can we expect to hear/see next from you?
Another single in not too long, and then, finally, our debut album.
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