Hiya Kenio, thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today. Grab a brew and take a seat.
Thanks for joining us today…
Tell us bit about where you are from and how you got into music?
Thank you for having me. I am from the island Fyn in Denmark, and I got into music at a very young age when my older brother introduced me to rock music. I started music school at around 9 years old and started my first band at 16. Now I’m 36, a lot of experience richer with multiple projects behind me.
What’s the live music scene like in Odense, Denmark right now?
It’s thankfully growing and it’s because of a strong community, where everyone in the cultural scene pitches in to create something magical across genres and fields. I recently held a special event at the venue Musikhuset Posten in Odense, where I had Carl Nielsen’s Children’s Choir join me for a few songs on stage. Crossovers like that are what makes culture grow. The support for the project from the local community has been phenomenal and I am thankful for each and every one who keeps showing up.
Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you, of course)?
There are so many talented artists that I could name drop and I will definitely try to restrain myself a little. I am the proud owner of Metalvation, which is a showcase in cooperation with Musikhuset Posten and my company named Beneath the Music, where we hand pick rock/metal artists we believe have what it takes to make a name for themselves. This year (2026) we had the honor to have September Kid, Crows in a Murder, Aviya and Nirmata. Last year we were blessed with Abandon Agony from Sweden, who ended up playing Sweden Rock that same summer.
What’s the biggest thing you hate having to do to showcase your music?
That’s a tough one, because I love everything about the process. That feeling of building up towards something and you’re being the one dictating the game. I am in complete control of how I’ll surprise the audience next, which is always fun to do. However, I would say press releases. I have no problem in selling an artist I truly believe in, and even though I believe in myself, I have trouble putting a pitch into new words continuously. Like, how can I sell myself without sounding like I am repeating myself. I am better at doing that visually, than on paper. That I can admit.
What are your ambitions for the band?
First and foremost, to have fun. It’s contagious. If we have fun, the audience has fun. Creating something others wish to be a part of. Building community around a common cause and standing for something. The world is a big place and there’s a lot of people out there we still haven’t met. Hopefully, we’ll get that opportunity.
What’s your view on the Music industry today?
It feels like a sandcastle that is losing its foundation to be honest. We see independent artists being able to build their own little camps around the large castle, building communities and actually flourish, without help from the larger cooperations. The things that get offered aren’t as appealing as they once were. Throw AI into the mix and we start to question; where is my place in all of this noise? … I think we are truly back to square one, where we need to think as entrepreneurs. Build our name in neon lights from the ground up and never let that light go out.
Whats the biggest thing you have learned recently as you progress with your music?
That the social media gurus don’t know everything. There are definitely some credible ideas and strategies out there, but they can’t necessarily be implemented in your current environment. Social media ruins artists. They ruin the mystery behind the artist. Artists are meant to be creative, expressive, provocative and make you think. They aren’t meant to dance around for views. Social media is a strong tool for communication, but a good Instagram post is not a strategy. Focus on writing good music and have someone else dance around to your sound on social media.
What’s currently in your ears and on rotation at the moment?
I’ve fallen head over heels for artists like Scatterbrain, Fight the Fade and we can’t ignore the new material from The Rasmus. Linkin Park will always be in my rotation. I also dream about the ultimate collab between NF and Memphis May Fire. Could you imagine?
What was your worst experience on stage? Any funny stories to share?
I think the worst experience has been taking the stage to a completely empty room. I think a lot of artists can relate to that. Driving for several hours, setting up the gear, doing soundcheck and even taking the day off from work, just to play in front of an empty room.
I’ve had that happen as a venue had forgotten to activate a ticket link, so it said Sold Out when people tried to buy tickets. It happened during a cultural event in a town named Aarhus, where the only one who stayed behind to watch the show was there to lend the bathroom. These types of situations really test your motivation as an artist. That feeling you get is soul crushing and can make you want to quit instantly. Funny enough, the show in Copenhagen the next week was in front of 400 people. So, don’t let those days defeat you, because you never know what the next show will be like.
Got any fun, funny stories from life on the road?
During a tour with Ill Niño, they had waited for my band to finish our set. This was our first show of the tour by the way. They waited for us backstage and as we entered the backstage area, they completely drenched us in tequila. We all got drenched one by one, and it was their way of saying “Welcome to la familia”. Experiencing that as a rookie band was so confusing, but also heartwarming. I will always be grateful for them giving us that experience.
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
BreakDown is the first single of the coming album that is set to be released during spring of 2027. BreakDown was the catalyst song for the huge change in my entire way of operating.
After being in bands for plus 18 years, I decided to go solo in 2022. I’ve written two albums and a few singles on my own, under the name Kenio, experimenting with my boundaries as an artist and my capability to understand how to write in different genres. After playing rock for 18 years, you kind of wish to try other things as well.
My song Forever, which can be heard on my album Shine, was hand picked as the lead single by my fans during a livestream listening event. It ended up earning “Track of the Week” twice on Rock Radio UK, which made me lean towards that type of rock sound during my next songwriting process.
When my producer, Mark Rushton, heard the demo for BreakDown, he just turned around in his chair and was like; I think you need to re-think if this is simply a Kenio song, or something more. I ended up putting together a team of musicians, producers and contacts within the business while figuring out what he meant by that statement.
The team is now named The Nuraxi Team, and BreakDown is our common release under my name. He knew from the second he heard the demo that the song represented something more than just another release. I will be forever grateful for him to see that.
What was the recording process like?
I wouldn’t say my process is what you’ll typically see in rock songs. I usually start all my ideas on a keyboard and program beats, like if I was writing a hip-hop track. I mainly focus on getting the chorus right first and then build the rest of the song around it.
The writing process for this record was particular unique for me, because I tried writing the music and the lyrics completely independent of each other. I wrote the music as I felt the instrumental journey should sound like, and I only wrote the words I felt I had to say.
Making them fit forced me to think in different ways a melody could sound like, or a rap flow could fit in. It somehow created a sound I haven’t heard before, which I am very excited about.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
I think it is perfectly balanced. Tweak it too much to one side and it’ll be too much noise, the other and it’ll be missing some elements that gives it that energy.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Don’t let anyone dictate when your journey is over. You’re the writer of your own story and the only one who can decide when your dream is dead is you. There is no such thing as perfect. Stay awesome, stay you!
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