Out today across major streaming platforms worldwide, TEENS - Questions to Teenagers marks the first collaboration between the award-winning composer and singer-songwriter Teitur and record label Naxos. On this new album, which will be his 9th solo album, Teitur joins Danish chamber ensemble Ensemble MidtVest for a collection of songs with words from Nordic teenagers answering questions about their lives.
Characteristic for Teitur’s artistry is his never-ending drive to express the emotions and thoughts that occupy him in that specific period of life of creating the album. His lyrics are very personal, expressing curiosity, vulnerability, longing and a whimsical sense of beauty in the small things of everyday life. He started writing songs as a young teenager. This new album circles back to explore these themes from a different angle: through the voices of teenagers in the Nordic countries today.
In the process of creating TEENS, Teitur sent out a questionnaire to the local high-schools in the region. From the replies he received, he began writing music. In his own words, 'Teenagers are a voice not often heard or not something you sit down with for months at a time. Their answers were inspiring, weird and wonderful. I tried to make the music sound like the teenagers I met.'
The album consists of 18 songs. It’s an eclectic mix of heavy and light topics, from existential questions of whether to go with your gut feeling or with your heart to as-a-matter-of-fact statements, like ‘I’m really quite confused’ and ‘I’m hungry’. From replaying Snapchat takes, to describing what’s not to like about spiders. Teitur adds: ‘The teenagers are honest and tell great stories. Not wanting to tell a story and saying your questions are dumb, I don't know, man, I just got here, is also a story.’
Teitur has never been shy to explore new music constellations. Previously, he has composed for chamber-, jazz- even baroque orchestras as well as ensembles such as the folk-trio Dreamers Circus. Ensemble MidtVest and Teitur have long had an ongoing relationship. However, this album is their first recording together. Consisting of a string trio, wind quintet and a pianist, the ensemble proves itself to be a flexible constellation for Teitur’s music throughout the album. In addition, Teitur is joined by contributing vocalists Ólöf Arnalds (Iceland) and Nive Nielsen (Greenland).
Listen to TEENS - Questions to Teenagers below:
Find more info about the work and explore the score below:
