Biography

Den Sorte Skole is more than a DJ duo. They are composers, sonic explorers, and a mindset—a way of existing in music that refuses to conform. For two decades, they have been Denmark’s biggest underground act, filling large venues without having a single hit, moving effortlessly between avant-garde art and club culture. They have shaped and reshaped their identity, always a step ahead, always insisting that music should be more than just playlists and trends.

Listening to Den Sorte Skole means stepping into an unpredictable sonic universe. Just when you think you’ve figured them out, they move somewhere else. For 20 years their evolution has been relentless, never repeating themselves, never settling. They have built a practice rooted in transformation, merging the past with the future, sampling with composition, underground with establishment. They do exactly what they want—and by doing so, they have created something that sounds like nothing else. Their history is one of rebellion. Built on illegal sample-based music, they challenged copyright laws, fought for artistic ideals, and created a body of work that defies easy categorization.

Den Sorte Skole is a school in itself—an ongoing study of sound and musical possibilities. Whether performing at festivals, composing for symphony orchestras, or collaborating with visual artists, they demand that listeners go deeper. Their audience spans generations—some have followed them from the beginning, others are just now discovering their unique world. Their performances, whether on massive festival stages or in intimate concert halls in DK or abroad, are meticulously curated journeys. Every note, every transition, every silence is intentional.

By Majken Overgaard

Selected Awards & Recognitions

  • Nordic Council Music Prize Nomination (2020) for Symphony no. II.

  • Crown Prince Couples Cultural Award (2017). Denmarks most prestigious cultural award.

  • LA Times’ Top Albums of the Year (2016) for Indians & Cowboys.

  • Danish Music Awards World (2016) “Best Album” for Indians & Cowboys.

  • Danish Critic’s Award Steppeulven (2014) “Composer of the Year” for Lektion III.

  • The New Yorkers’ list of the “5 Most Overlooked Albums” (2013) for Lektion III.

  • Danish HipHop Awards (2006) “DJ of The Year”.

Selected Recent Works and Concerts

  • Jeppe på Bjerget, music for theater by Christian Lollike, Århus Teater (2025).

  • Den Blå Time, music and sound for installation at Christiansborg Slotskirke with

    Spøgelsesmaskinen (November-December 2024).

  • The Orchestra of the Soft Assistance, music for Henrik Vibskov performance, opening of Milano Fashion Week (August 2024).

  • Refrakto, audiovisual piece with visual artist group Vertigo. Performed in churches 2021 to 2024 - ex. Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Roskilde, Luzern, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Antwerpen, Jaisalmer.

  • Let’s Dance, music and sound for dance-performance at DR’s Koncertsal with 100 school-kids dancing, DR Symphonic Orchestra, Carl Nielsen 2. Symphony and Tim Rushton (January 2024).

  • Natten, music and sound for theater-concert at Store Scene, Århus Teater (2023) with Marie Højlund and Nicolai Faber.

  • Sandmanden, music and sound for Christian Lollike, Århus Teater and Sort/Hvid (2022).

  • No Predicted Land, Marina Abramovic & Ulay, music for full-length documentary for Louisiana Channel (2022).

  • Symphony no. I, II and III with Karsten Fundal & Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra (2014, 2016 og 2020), Radio House, Cph.

  • Audiovisual festival shows and concerts across Europe - ex. Fusion Festival (DE), Dour Festival (BE), Le Guess Who (HL), Sines Festival (PO) and Glastonbury Festival (UK).