Finding inspiration in the home with Kasper Bjørke
Kasper Bjørke pictured in his at-home studio, together with the Mio Stool & Side Table.
Danish Musician Kasper Bjørke talks about the vital role of the home as a source of creativity and inspiration, and the influence design and art has on his artistic process.
I have always been a collector. As a child, I collected comics like Spiderman, Spawn, and Batman. As I grew into my teenage years, it evolved into vinyl records, which sparked my great passion for music. Later, I became fascinated with classic Danish furniture designers, and in the past 15 years, I've been collecting art.
Mio Stool & Side table, pictured by Kasper Bjørke’s bedside.
“I can enter an almost uplifted and meditative state when I observe the artworks. I have curated the art in my collection based on how they resonate with me in different ways, aligning with different facets of my personality.”
Even though I have always had a penchant for collecting, I do not see myself as materialistic. On the contrary, I do not view art and design as materialism, which to me encompasses cars, clothes, gadgets, and the like. I buy art because the pieces bring me joy and enhance my quality of life. I can enter an almost uplifted and meditative state when I observe the artworks. I have curated the art in my collection based on how they resonate with me in different ways, aligning with different facets of my personality.
Most furniture is a necessity in a home, but like art, ours is carefully selected. We rarely replace anything, and if we do, it is only if something is broken. We never go after the latest trends or something we stumble upon. We invest in objects that can last us a lifetime. For example, our sofa is 15 years old and quite beaten up, but that is precisely the point — it holds stories. Just as I have a personal dialogue with the artworks on the walls, the entire family has a close relationship with the furniture. I take pleasure in the thought that our furniture and art can be passed down through generations. Our children will remember sitting and drawing on the folk chairs by the large wooden dining table.
Mio Stool & Side Table paired together with the Mio Coffee Table.
Mio Stool & Side Table styled in Kasper Bjørke’s livingroom.
I spend a significant part of my work managing artists like Oh Land and Trentemøller, as well as the producer Vasco. But when there is a gap in my schedule, I work on my own music. It has become a sanctuary for me; sitting down in my home studio and letting my creativity flow uplifts me. Time disappears when I make music. I would not like having to hop on my bike to go to some half-empty music studio somewhere in the city. My ideas typically come quite impulsively, so it is wonderfully efficient to have my studio in the apartment.
I draw inspiration from what surrounds me, and I spend many hours in the apartment, so the art and furniture in our home are definitely an important part of the creative process. My art collection goes in many different directions: some pieces are abstract, others figurative. Some works are almost humorous, while others are serious. How I am influenced by the different pieces can be the starting point for what kind of music I feel like making. If I look at a Landon Metz piece, it can put me in a meditative state, while a photograph by Matthew Stone can give me a cold and almost industrial approach to the music. An expressive John Copeland piece can make the music almost aggressive. I pick up on what emanates from the works.
Kasper Bjørke's new album 'Puzzles' was released on April 5th by hfn music. The album features collaborations with a wide range of musicians and vocalists. From the California-based indie-disco troubadour Woolfy to the Icelandic trio Sísý Ey, as well as other long-time collaborators: Toby Ernest, Jacob Bellens, and Tomas Høffding (WhoMadeWho).
You can listen to a curated selection of Kasper Bjørke’s music here.
Photos by Lasse Dearman
As told to Ditlev Fejerskov
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