About

Tailcoat is a Swedish-Danish ensemble that blends Nordic musical traditions with modern and global influences, creating a rich and cinematic soundscape. The band’s unique instrumentation includes the Swedish nyckelharpa, Norwegian Hardanger fiddle, cittern, electric bass, and a diverse array of percussion. This combination results in an innovative and dynamic style that bridges past and present.

Formed by a group of long-time friends and collaborators, Tailcoat is known for their ability to tell stories through instrumental compositions, evoking both danceable energy and deep emotions. Their music has been described as both intricate and accessible, appealing to listeners across genres.

With performances at major festivals and venues across Europe, Tailcoat continues to push the boundaries of Nordic-inspired music, captivating audiences with their vibrant and expressive sound.

How it started

There are many versions of this story, but at its core, the band came together from multiple directions at once—no one really knows exactly how or when. It all started with friends making music together. Henriette and Rasmus found themselves playing endlessly, discovering new ways to express their music until "it all just clicked." Meanwhile, Mårten, Villads, and Rasmus happened to play a small dance gig in the suburbs of Scania. Then Emil, Rasmus, Villads, Mårten, and Henriette found themselves gathered in a recording studio. At that moment, Rasmus and Henriette realized—this was simply too good not to turn into a band.

Recording Tall tales in tiny pieces

We recorded our debut album, Tall Tales in Tiny Pieces, at The Village in Copenhagen—a process of pieces coming together. After a pre-production phase in Stockholm, we spent five long days recording the album with August Wanngren. Once the recording was complete and the mixes started coming in, we sat down and listened. What did it sound like? It felt like the stories we were trying to tell were tall tales, broken into small pieces. Emil suggested the name, and we all agreed—this was the perfect fit.

What HAPPENED next?

In the years that followed, we played concerts far and wide—refining the music from our album and composing new pieces. We grew both together and individually as musicians, constantly exploring new ideas. Our journey took us as far north as Sweden’s Delsbostämman and all the way to Austria for the Folk Art Festival. Along the way, we’ve collected countless small anecdotes, but those are reserved for our live audiences—and, from time to time, as hints on our Instagram.

What happens next?

Right now, we’re working on an exciting new project, soon to be revealed—one that pushes our music in new directions and explores mesmerizing, repetitive structures. Stay tuned!