Downtempo from BYLJA

Danish producer duo BYLJA create atmospheric and melodic compositions to set the scene for their distinct themes and soundscapes. With dark Nordic melancholy and inspiration from astronomy, the pair tend to create a tide of smooth ambience and elegant beats which take you on a journey through an electro-organic universe. Their music quickly engulfs your senses and creeps under your skin, creating a dream-like state.

Born and based in Copenhagen, Denmark, Marchel Mørk and Emil Aagaard met each other at a school musical and bonded over their love of cheese and synthesisers. They formed BYLJA in 2018, where they would explore the inspiring sounds of Jon Hopkins, Christian Löffler and Boards of Canada in their music. They hit the electronic genre broadly, drawing inspiration from IDM, downtempo and ambient electronica.

With their live shows, BYLJA creates a dreamy, nuanced sound and their thoughtful compositions and evolving soundscapes take the audience into a distinct futuristic universe. At times their melancholic melodies lull you into a reverie so deep that you never want their show to end.

They’ve collaborated with other artists such as Faroese GUNVA and British Phoenix and The Flower Girl, and made remixes for Czech teepee and German KIDSØ. The duo also performed on some of Denmark’s biggest festivals such as Spot Festival, Uhørt Festival, Smukfest, and Stella Polaris, and they have shared a stage with bigger names like Maribou State and Lydmor.

In late 2019 BYLJA started working on their debut EP Sojourn while being physically apart as Marchel was living in the US. Separated by the Atlantic Ocean they figured out a way to work on the same Ableton projects creating tracks that are deeply personal to them.

Lifted from the EP, released via German imprint Springstoff, comes the track “Nord”, a deeply ethereal electronic piece full of colour and mesmerising instrumentation. Building a futuristic universe with their atmospheric tones, the listener is drawn into the vast, awe-inspiring chasms of space and sound created by BYLJA.

Listen to Nord below