Clapper

Soul, UK jazz and the energy of instrumental hip-hop

Rooted in Aarhus, Clapper combine soul and UK jazz with the energy of instrumental hip-hop. The result is a soundscape where rhythmic precision meets melodic freedom, driven by off-kilter grooves, tempo changes and collective improvisation.

Since their debut album On Tempo (2023, Super Bad Disco / HHV) and the live release Under The Radar, the band have established themselves as a strong voice on the Scandinavian scene. The band consists of Frederik Emil Bülow (drums), Adrian Christensen (bass), Jeppe Lavsen (guitar) and Malthe Jepsen (Rhodes & synth) — four experienced musicians who also play in bands such as Abekejser, Hvalfugl and İpek Yolu.

Their energetic live concerts offer razor-sharp grooves, intense tempo changes and infectious musical joy. Now they visit Svanekegaarden for a concert featuring their new album With Friends.

With Friends will be released on November 6 this year and expands CLAPPER’s distinctive soundscape with contributions from an international lineup of guest artists, including Walter Smith III, Sanyu, Musina Ebobisse, Mathias Heise, Oilly Wallace, Ronja Rose Andersson and Jonas Due. For understandable reasons, these guests will not be appearing at the concert, although several of them have performed at Svanekegaarden on multiple occasions.

In true CLAPPER style, the album blends soul jazz with instrumental hip-hop and RnB, enriched by improvisations from some of today’s finest musicians. From Walter Smith III’s virtuoso saxophone solos and Sanyu’s soulful vocals to Ronja Rose Andersson’s evocative harmonies, each guest brings their own expression while remaining rooted in CLAPPER’s collective sound.

“We’ve never been interested in fitting into one particular genre,” says guitarist Jeppe Lavsen. “The music comes from playing together, experimenting and trusting each other creatively. This album simply opened up the circle to friends we admire.”

Together, the quartet deliver their customary dynamic arrangements, sharp rhythmic shifts and a live energy that has become a defining feature of the band. Politiken described a CLAPPER concert as “an almost perfect experience” and wrote that the band’s music “engages both brain and heart,” while GAFFA noted that CLAPPER proved that “a frontperson is overrated.”

With Friends embraces precisely this spirit: less focus on the individual and more on connection, trust and shared musical expression. This time, friendship takes center stage.

Photo: Alexander H. Jespersen