The danish “Henley” voice…
After a lot of musicproject in the town “Elsinore” (the danish music L.A.) Henrik Launbjerg meet the guitarplayer Hans Henrik Egestorp. Together they worked on some of the demomaterial that Henrik Launbjerg had written. They recorded demoes of the songs and with this they got signed to the label Olofssongs as the band “Toys Of Joy”. In 1990 the first single “When The Rain Falls” released and was followed up by the album “One Of These Days”. This album was released in Denmark and later in Germany.
In the spring of 1995 Toys of Joy released their second album “Still Be”. This album is more “down to basic” and is recorded more like a bandproject than a studioproject. “Still Be” was a big commercial succes in Denmark, maybe because that Henrik Launbjerg´s voice is really in focus on this album. He has always been called “The Danish Don Henley” and on “Still Be” you really can hear this.
After the second album Henrik Launbjerg was established in the musicbusiness and a lot of different projects came along with this. Very soon he got leading roles in big musicals and toured around Europe with different setups. Together with his brothers Soren and Jacob he made his own musical, which he toured with in Denmark.
After this Toys Of Joy went back together, changed their name to “Tois”. They recorded a couple of demoes and a pre-single for the upcoming album, but the projects was canceled, and the band stopped.
In the last couple of years Henrik Launbjerg has worked on his own material and in 2002 his first soloalbum “Words You Don´t Say” and now the album has been released on the label Spirit Productions.
Two years after the first release Henrik Launbjerg was back on track again with the second album “Two Persons In Love”, an excellent follow up to the first album. After some touring etc. Henrik Launbjerg focused on different sideman projects and it was first in 2007 a new band project called “Gammelt Venskab” was born, a trio together with Morten Bolvig, Marie Carmen Koppel. With “Gammelt Venskab” they were recording old traditional danish songs with a huge R´n´b feeling at also with a touch of west coast due to Henrik Launbjergs excellent voice.
Early 2008 they released the album “Såd´n Var Det Ikke I Halvfemserne” (It wasn´t that way in the 90´s).
You can read more about Henrik Launbjerg at his website.
Discography
Et Rumskib For To
Noiz Music 2008
Tracks: Ingen Elsker Helt Som Du Gør, Fanget I En Drøm, Savner Dig, yuppie I 80´erne, Dine Læber, Hillerød, Endnu Et Forlis, På En Helt Almindelig Dag, Finder Vej & Kom Nu Hjem.
Musicians on the Et Rumskib For To album: Henrik Launbjerg, Fredrik Mellqvist, Mikkel Benn, Nicholas Findsen, Steffen Qwist, Rune Olesen, Marie Carmen Koppel, Eddie Chacon & Sophie Marotis.
Såd´n Var Det Ikke I Halvfemserne
Cowbell Music 2008
Tracks: Sangen Om Larsen, Såd'n Var Det Ikke I Halvfemserne, Vil Du Danse Med Mig, Sku Gammelt Venskab, Storkespringvandet, Champagnegaloppen, Bøf Med Løg, Christianshavns Kanal, To Mennesker På en strand, Dit Hjerte Er I Fare Andresen & Danse I Måneskin.
Musicians on the Såd´n Var Det Ikke I Halvfemserne album: Henrik Launbjerg, Marie Carmen Koppel, Morten Bolvig, Dan Hemmer, Steffen Qvist, Nicholas Findsen, Janus Nyeborg, Hans Henrik Egestorp & Benjamin Koppel.
Two Persons In One
Union Records 2004
Tracks: I Don´t Want You, Can´t Stop The Rain, Get Out, Fool Under Cover, These Are Days, Love Song, I Still Hate You, Run, Why, Trying To Fall & When Something Comes Alive.
Musicians on the Two Persons In One album: Henrik Launbjerg, Nicholas Findsen, Jens Fredslund, Janus Nyborg, Peter Svarre, Morten Bolvig, Rune Olesen, Julie Rugaard, Sophie Marotis, Assi Roar, Naomie E. Akvama Svarre, Maria Raff, Joachim Svarre, John Scaglione, Eddie Chcon, Mike McCormack, Carsten Lindberg, Tal Bergman & Steffen Qwist.
Solid Sensitivity "Pre-Release"
Union Records 2004
Tracks: Why, Can´t Stop The Rain, Get Out, Love Song, These Are Days, I Don´t Want You, When Something Comes Alive, Trying To Fall, Fool Under Cover, I Still Hate You, Run & When Something Comes Alive.
Musicians on the Two Persons In One album: Henrik Launbjerg, Nicholas Findsen, Jens Fredslund, Janus Nyborg, Peter Svarre, Morten Bolvig, Rune Olesen, Julie Rugaard, Sophie Marotis, Assi Roar, Naomie E. Akvama Svarre, Maria Raff, Joachim Svarre, John Scaglione, Eddie Chcon, Mike McCormack, Carsten Lindberg, Tal Bergman & Steffen Qwist.
Words You Don´t Say
Spirit Productions 2002
Tracks: Back On The Island, Only One, Perfume, Singin In The Car, Calling Mr. Romance´s Heart, Licence To Cry (Miracles), King If Sarcasm, See The Moment, Teach Me, If You Love Somebody & Making Love.
Musicians on the Words You Don´t Say album: Henrik Launbjerg, Nicholas Findsen, Jens Fredslund, Peter Svarre, Janus Nyeborg, Jacob Gurevitsch, Rune Olesen, Maria Montell, Morten Bolvig, Signe Svendsen, Morten Remar, Lars Krarup, Henrik Dam Thomsen, Jeppe Launbjerg, Søren Launbjerg, Jacob Launbjerg, Marie Carmen Koppel & Katrine Brøndsted.