New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Søren Hansen, co-founder of the platinum-selling band New Politics, is embarking on an exciting new chapter in his musical journey. Now calling Nashville home, he's shifted his focus to solo work. After the release of his self-titled album in 2024, Søren is set to drop an EP this spring, featuring stripped-back versions of five deeply personal tracks from the album, including his latest single, "Water Under Bridges (Stripped)."
These tracks are a reflection of Søren's journey—capturing the highs and lows of his life, from childhood struggles to personal loss. Stripped down to their core, each song offers a raw, intimate look into Søren's ability to channel deep emotions into music that resonates with listeners on a truly personal level.
Søren says, "Here is my stripped-down version of "Water Under Bridges". I loved recording this version because it has such a different kind of energy compared to the album version. When I first moved to Nashville, I was still trying to find a place where I fit in as a human, not just as the guy in a band, and writing this song was a part of that thought process and me finding myself. It has always been special to me, and I hope you like it!
"I've always loved stripped-down versions of album songs," he adds. "A full production is fun but you shine a different kind of light on a song and the vocals when it is down to its bare bones - a certain kind of fragility. I wanted to record some of the songs from my debut record like this to convey that emotion and highlight the lyrics. I really enjoyed recording these and I hope you'll enjoy them, as well!"
Once you find your calling, it never lets go of you…
Søren Hansen co-founded platinum-selling alternative pop band New Politics, released five fan favorite records, and toured around the world for over a decade. Eventually, the vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer wound up in Nashville where he planted roots and carved out a lane for himself behind-the-scenes as a songwriter and producer, collaborating with a bevy of acts across genres. As he kept writing and recording music, he couldn't help but hold on to certain tunes for himself. They felt a little too close to his heart as he reflected on the ups and downs of childhood, the loss of his mom, and how he got here.
He fashioned those songs into his 2024 self-titled full-length debut album, Søren Hansen [ENCI Records].
"I never thought I would be on stage ever again," he states. "Suddenly, I started getting the urge. I created some songs I really loved, and I was proud enough of this music to want to play it live. That was the whole reason for getting into this project—to process all of those thoughts. There were things I was sorry about and things I was happy about. Finally, there was a place I could put them. Even if it was merely a folder on my desktop, that was enough for me. It was incredible to go back and be an artist again."
For Søren, music served as an anchor in the midst of a turbulent childhood in Denmark. By his high school graduation, he had lived in 13 different places and attended eight different schools. As the perennial "new kid," bullies often targeted him. In fifth grade, he received a small keyboard as a gift from the family of a friend. At 18-years-old, a guy in a bar approached him and said, "You look like a singer." A few beers later, he started singing alongside his new buddy and recognized his latent talent.
Leaving home, he studied jazz piano in Greece for a year before settling in Copenhagen for the next eight years. He landed a major label deal as part of New Politics, and a whirlwind ensued. The group notched a global hit in the form of "Harlem," garnering a platinum certification, landing dozens of syncs, and even soundtracking a trailer for the Disney mega-hit Frozen. They canvased North America with everyone from Fall Out Boy and Paramore to P!nk in addition to tallying hundreds of millions of streams.
Trading New York for Nashville during the Pandemic, he built a studio of his own and began writing and recording with the likes of Sam Palladio, Sarah and the Sundays, and Striking Matches. Simultaneously, he crafted solo tunes laced with pop universality and punchy rock spirit.
After a session with producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Femke, she sent music to ENCI Records, and Søren unassumingly and unexpectedly found himself with a recording contract as a solo artist.
"After a year-and-a-half of writing ideas, it happened very fast," he recalls. "Since I was working with so many other people, I needed an outlet. A lot of the songs were about my mom who passed away in Denmark, while I was in the U.S. There was a lot of guilt over not being there. The music was just therapy, and I was going to get to share it. A lot of the songs come from a place of recognizing something beautiful and important, but feeling like I ran away and never looked back until it was too late."
In the end, Søren is doing exactly what he what he's meant to.
"I've come to a point where I'm proud of the person I've become," he leaves in. "I'm able to tap into who Soren is. Nothing else really matters. A lot of the music come from a real place and a lot of hurts. I didn't give up, no matter what though. I always get back on my feet and keep moving. That's who I am today."
