Kenneth Dahl Knudsen – Artist Interview

Tell us about yourself, where do you come from and what do you like to do outside of your artistic work?

My name is Kenneth Dahl Knudsen. Im a bass player, composer and educator from Denmark. I’m teaching at the Royal Academy of Music in Aalborg. Other than that, I’ve put out 8 albums as a lead musician and trying to keep busy with music in general.

Apart from my artistic work, I’m a father of 1 (2 almost), and I like football:)

Tell us about your artistic practice – what’s your favourite piece that you have worked on or performed?

I recently composed for the Symphony Orchestra in Aalborg which was huge for me, but my biggest work is the album called UUMMAT. I composed it in Greenland and it means a lot to me.

What opportunities have you seen in the Liberty EU programme for young artists?

It’s SUCH a good programme for young people. They get involved in professional processes and they get access to an enormous network.

Also, they get to use the skills they’ve worked on for years for a real audience in other countries.

Why do you feel it’s been important for young artists to travel and work across Europe?

Getting exposed to other cultures and having to adjust to new audiences and scenes is a vital part of becoming a professional musician. Plus, having an international network opens up so many doors.

What do you feel are three key factors affecting young artists today?

Networking and the fact that everyone is accessible, social media pressure and more and more possibilities of creating your own career.

How did you hope the Liberty EU programme would impact on you as an artist?

It’s a huge confidence boost for me and I’ve really enjoyed working with everyone involved. I would love to participate more in the future. Meeting new people is a key element in my career, and this was really great:)

How did you like performing at Journeys Festival International in Leicester?

It was so much fun! I wish we got to know each other much more, but that’s a thing for the future hopefully. We had a GREAT time!

You can listen to the first album of the Liberty Orchestra on Spotify here.

Image Credit: Chris Patrick Photography at Journeys Festival International 2022 in Leicester, with Kenneth Dahl Knudsen in the middle.