The New LoFi

Danish producer, Lars Fiil, creates an introspective jazz album for his second release: “New Ground”

Danish pianist and composer, Lars Fiil has been one of the latest rising jazz stars coming out of Europe. Over the last decade, he has been pushing the boundaries of this once American-led genre.

In 2011 Lars released his first album, Reconsideration, with his Lars Fiil Quartet. The album received great reviews and was nominated for a Danish Music Award. The quartet won the prestigious Young Jazz competition around the same time.

Since then Fiil has released 5 albums in his own name. The latest release was in 2023 and it was called “Connections.” The record was a collaboration with oud-player Bilal Irshed and it merged middle-eastern influences with nordic jazz. Among his releases are also two albums with the septet Fiil Free — a group that gathers some of the most prolific improvisers on the European jazz scene.

This year Fiil has announced his sixth studio album: New Ground. To tease the upcoming release, he has released two new singles: “It Is What It Is” and the title track, “New Ground.” “It Is What It Is” creates dreamy, atmospheric waves that combine a unique blend of synthesizers and acoustic piano. Joining him on the new singles are Nicolai Kaas Claesson on electric bass and Matt Carroll on drums; both of which add depth and dynamism to the piece.

Check out the two new singles below, and keep an eye on Lars Fiil’s Bandcamp page for the release of New Ground later this year.