Liss (band)

Liss
Genres
Years active2015–2022
Labels
Past members
  • Søren Holm Nielesn
  • Villads Tyrrestrup Øster
  • Vilhelm Tiburtz Strange
  • Tobias Laust Hansen

Liss was a Danish pop band. Formed in 2014 in Aarhus, the group consisted of Søren Holm (lead vocals), Vilhelm Strange (guitar), Villads Tyrrestrup (bass and backing vocals), and Tobias Laust (drums). The band released its debut song, "Try", in early 2015, and received attention in the international indie music industry, signing with Danish indie label Escho and British XL Recordings that year. They released their debut EP, First, in May 2016, followed by EPs Second in 2019 and Third in 2020. The band was plagued by Søren Holm's issues with mental illness, and he died by suicide on 25 May 2021.[5] Their debut album, I Guess Nothing Will Be The Same, recorded in 2020, was released in June 2022. In 2025, Danish newspaper Politiken ranked "Try" as the 91st-best Danish pop song of all time.

History

2014–2016: Formation and early work

The band, unnamed at first, formed in 2014. Lead singer Søren Holm and guitarist Vilhelm Strange were high-school classmates, while bassist Villads Tyrrestrup and drummer Tobias Laust went to efterskole together. Strange met Laust at a party, where they agreed to play together, and the four first met in September 2014 in Tyrrestrup and Laust's rehearsal room in western Aarhus.[6][7] With little production experience, they recorded several demos. Laust showed one of them, "Try", to record producer William Asingh, also known as Vera, his girlfriend's brother; he was enthusiastic about the song and agreed to produce and mix it properly. "Try" was uploaded to SoundCloud in early 2015. The platform required a username to upload it, and so they named themselves Liss, a Danish girl's name.[6][8] Asingh sent the song to Nis Bysted, founder of the Copenhagen-based indie label Escho, who also forwarded it to Imran Ahmed, head of A&R at the British indie label XL Recordings.[6][9] The band played for Bysted and Ahmed in their rehearsal room in February 2015, and they signed to Escho, with Bysted as their manager; soon after they also played their first gig as opener for the XL Recordings–signed band Jungle in Aarhus.[10] They played at Roskilde Festival, Denmark's largest festival, in June 2015.[11]

For a Danish band with only one independently released song in their discography, Liss received an unusually large amount of interest from the international music industry in their first full year as a band, with dozens of music executives flying into Denmark to hear them.[12] "Try" was released again via Escho in August 2015,[13] followed by "Always" in October,[14] a demo of which had been played in Pharrell Williams's radio program Othertone.[15] The band signed with XL Recordings in November 2015.[12] In 2025, "Try" was ranked 91st in Politiken's list of the 100 best Danish pop songs of all time.[16]

Liss released "Sorry" in March 2016 as the lead single from their debut EP, First, which was released that May, distributed internationally by XL Recordings and domestically by Escho.[17] The EP was met with positive reviews, with Danish critics complimenting the band's funk-tinged pop sound and Holm's soulful vocals.[18][19] In support of the EP, Liss played gigs in the UK in May and in the US in June.[20][21] They moved to Copenhagen in mid-2016. In October 2016, they were nominated at P3 Guld for the main prize, P3 Prisen, and performed "Sorry" at the ceremony.[22] At the Danish Music Awards the following month, Liss was nominated in the category "Danish group of the year", while the First EP was nominated in the categories "Danish Release of the Year" and "Danish Urban Release of the Year".[23][24][a] However, Søren Holm suffered from anxiety and depression, and in November 2016 he was admitted to a psychiatric ward after a series of panic attacks; he was discharged in December. The band did not release new music in the following two-and-a-half years, only sporadically performing live.[1][25]

2019–2023: Comeback, Holm's death, and I Guess Nothing Will Be The Same

Making a comeback in April 2019, Liss released the single "Talk To Me", followed by "Reputation" the month after.[26] The two singles were included on the six-track EP Second, released in June 2019.[1] The sound was described as synth-driven alternative pop, with songs featuring bouncy synthesizers, punchy drums, dreamy guitar arrangements, and lo-fi and atmospheric textures.[27][28][29] This was followed by the five-track EP Third in July 2020.[30] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Liss moved to Holm's father's old farm to work on their debut album.[31] Recording was finished in late 2020.[32] They released a series of non-album singles: "Leave Me on the Floor" in October 2020, "Only Kisses" together with producer Vera in March 2021, and the double single "Precious / Leave Me on the Floor" in early May 2021.[33][34][35]

Production of the album was finished in April 2021.[31] However, on 25 May 2021, Holm died by suicide at the age of 25.[32] The band ceased to make new music after his death. With encouragement from Holm's parents, the three remaining members released their debut album, I Guess Nothing Will Be The Same, in June 2022 via Escho.[32] The record was described as pop with electronic textures, synthesizers, guitar interplay, and soulful vocal delivery, coupled with often melancholic lyrics. It was warmly received.[36][37][38][39] Rolling Stone UK wrote: "The album showcases the group's deft pop hooks and the interplay between Holm’s unique voice and his bandmates' dreamy instrumentation, while Nilüfer Yanya appears on album standout 'Boys in Movies'. It’s a beautiful if bittersweet tribute to Holm."[40] Soundvenue placed it at number 13 on their list of the 20 best Danish albums of 2022.[41]

A five-part podcast about the band and Holm's death, titled Liss - Tonerne af en afsked (Liss – The Sound of a Farewell), was released by Danish national broadcaster DR a few weeks after the album, consisting of interviews with Strange, Laust, and Tyrrestrup.[42] In November 2023 they released "Receiver", which had been used as a jingle in the podcast.[43][44]

Discography

Albums
  • I Guess Nothing Will Be the Same (2022)
EPs
  • First (2016)
  • Second (2019)
  • Third (2020)
Singles
  • "Try / Always" (2015)
  • "Sorry" (2016)
  • "Talk to Me" (2019)
  • "Reputation" (2019)
  • "Waste My Time / Off Today" (2020)
  • "Another Window" (2020)
  • "Only Kisses" (with Vera; 2021)
  • "Precious / Leave Me on the Floor" (2021)
  • "Receiver" (2023)
  • "Country Fuckboy / Exist" (2022)
  • "Boys In Movies" (2022)

Notes

Comments
  1. ^ Danish: Årets Danske Gruppe, Årets Danske Udgivelse, and Årets Danske Urbanudgivelse.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d "Danish alt-pop band LISS was tapped for stardom, then disappeared.…". The Face. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  2. ^ "Liss". DR. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  3. ^ "I Guess Nothing Will Be The Same". Bibliotek.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Meet the Danish four-piece making bright, unorthodox R&B". Dazed. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  5. ^ Monroe, Jazz. "LISS Frontman Søren Holm Dies at 25". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Sigurd Hartkorn Plaetner (22 June 2022). "1:5 - Bandet Liss opstår". Liss - Tonerne af en afsked (Podcast) (in Danish). DR P3. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  7. ^ Gore, Sydney (19 May 2016). "You're Going To Love The Sound Of Liss". Nylon. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  8. ^ Taylor, Trey (12 May 2016). "Discovery: Liss". Interview Magazine. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Imran Ahmed's In Real Life Joins the AWAL Fam". AWAL. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  10. ^ Sigurd Hartkorn Plaetner (22 June 2022). "2:5 - Det store gennembrud". Liss - Tonerne af en afsked (Podcast) (in Danish). DR P3. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  11. ^ Wolkoff, Christian (10 June 2015). "Soundvenue holder kæmpe fest på Roskilde Festival – se hele programmet for Street City". Soundvenue (in Danish). Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  12. ^ a b Christensen, Ralf (3 May 2024). "Liss: 'Vi er én person'". Dagbladet Information (in Danish). Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  13. ^ Wolkoff, Christian (15 August 2015). "Top Tracks: Her er ugens ni bedste nye sange". Soundvenue (in Danish). Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  14. ^ Liss (1 October 2015). "Always". Escho. Retrieved 30 November 2025 – via Apple Music.
  15. ^ Wolkoff, Christian (9 September 2015). "Danske Liss fik Pharrell til at lave premiere på deres nye nummer 'Always'". Soundvenue (in Danish). Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Here is our top-100 of the best Danish pop songs". Politiken (in Danish). 11 June 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  17. ^ Holm, Mette (15 March 2016). "»Man udvikler sig jo«: Q&A med Liss om debut-ep'en 'First'". Soundvenue (in Danish). Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  18. ^ "First | Anmeldelser". bibliotek.dk. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  19. ^ Holm, Mette. "Liss eleverer deres signaturlyd til nye højder på funky debut-ep". Soundvenue.
  20. ^ "Liss stream all-killer 'First' EP in full". DIY. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  21. ^ "LISS Concert & Tour History". Concert Archives. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  22. ^ Tabart, Malene (15 June 2019). "Succesen slugte Liss: »Vi var for unge til at vide, hvornår vi skulle trække stikket«". Soundvenue (in Danish). Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  23. ^ "De nominerede til Danish Music Awards 2016 er..." IFPI Danmark. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  24. ^ Østrup, Kirstine Møgelbjerg (12 November 2016). "Her er aftenens vindere ved Danish Music Awards". underholdning.tv2. (in Danish). Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  25. ^ Skaarup, Nikoline (16 April 2019). "Liss bryder tavsheden: Hør den selvproducerede single "Talk To Me"". bandsoftomorrow.com (in Danish). Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  26. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (22 May 2019). "Liss unveil sleek new offering "Reputation"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  27. ^ Hummelgaard, Ida (18 June 2019). "18 jun Liss – Second". bandsoftomorrow.com (in Danish). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  28. ^ Aukdal, Sofie Kock (18 June 2019). "Liss har været væk i tre år – men intet af magien er forsvundet". Soundvenue (in Danish). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  29. ^ Dall, Christoffer (26 December 2021). "En tilforladelig modning". Gaffa (in Danish). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  30. ^ Aukdal, Sofie Kock (24 July 2020). "'Third' er en stilsikker afrunding på Liss' ep-trilogi". Soundvenue (in Danish). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  31. ^ a b Marcussen, Nikolaj Bjørn (26 June 2022). "Succesfuldt band mistede forsangeren". Din Avis (in Danish). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  32. ^ a b c "Liss: "When Søren passed away, I wouldn't have expected us to be we are now"". The Face. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  33. ^ "LISS share new track 'Leave Me On The Floor'". DIY. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  34. ^ "Only Kisses by Vera & Liss on Apple Music". Apple Music. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  35. ^ Svidt, Ole Rosenstand (4 June 2022). "Liss-sanger Søren Holm er død". Gaffa (in Danish). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  36. ^ Aabling, Björk Brandt (10 June 2022). "Liss - I guess nothing will be the same". Bands of Tomorrow. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  37. ^ Østergaard, Marie Ulrich (10 June 2022). "'I Guess Nothing Will Be the Same' er et rørende monument over Liss og Søren Holm – og et smittende popalbum i sin egen ret". Soundvenue (in Danish). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  38. ^ "5 hjerter: Det lyder præcis som det popalbum, man havde håbet på, at Liss ville udgive". Politiken (in Danish). 10 June 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  39. ^ McCarthy, Neive (10 June 2022). "I Guess Nothing Will Be The Same". DIY. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  40. ^ "4 albums you need to hear this week". Rolling Stone UK. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  41. ^ Hjort, Kristian Karl og Malthe (5 December 2022). "Årets 20 bedste danske album". Soundvenue (in Danish). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  42. ^ Larsen, Birgitte Stoklund (1 July 2022). "Ny podcast fortæller om en vennegruppes lidt for tidlige møde med døden". Kristeligt Dagblad (in Danish). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  43. ^ "Receiver by Liss on Apple Music". Apple Music - Web Player. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  44. ^ Stolberg, Kjartan F. (2 December 2023). "Ugens Top Tracks: Liss' fans bad dem om at udgive Receiver', og bandet opfyldte ønsket". Soundvenue (in Danish). Retrieved 2 January 2026.
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