Malene Mortensen & Christian Sands - Malene & Christian (2026)

Malene & Christian is the result of a long musical friendship between Danish vocalist Malene Mortensen and American pianist Christian Sands that began in 2014 and comes full circle nearly a decade later.

The album was recorded in Copenhagen in 2025 and blends original compositions with new interpretations of jazz standards. Sands serves both as pianist and producer, shaping a sound that feels intimate while still expansive. At the core of the project lies a shared emotional experience. Both artists entered the recording process after personal breakups, and the music reflects themes of loss, healing, and renewal.

Mortensen’s songwriting is driven by emotional honesty and storytelling. Her lyrics explore vulnerability and resilience, capturing the feeling of moving through darkness toward light. Songs such as Weight and Sea and Transient Dreams stand alongside timeless standards like I Didn’t Know What Time It Was and Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream, creating a dialogue between personal reflection and the jazz tradition.

The core quartet developed the music organically through live performances before entering the studio. Their interplay is warm, spacious, and lyrical, rooted in the Scandinavian jazz sound while remaining open to international influences.

The album is further enriched by guest musicians and string arrangements by Yuma Sung, adding depth and new colors to the musical landscape. Together, they create a universe that balances strength and fragility, tradition and renewal.

Malene & Christian is an album about finding light after crisis and about music as a companion through change.

Malene Mortensen: Vocals
Christian Sands: Piano
Thomas Ovesen: Bass
Rasmus Kihlberg: Drums

Strings:
Villads Littauer Bendixen, violin
Lara Biancalana, cello