Songs Of Jacob Elk

The result of two years collaboration between 4 people is now ready.

A conceptual album with 11 songs about mind and behaviour, emotions and shortcomings. A co-operation between the song-writer Jacob Elk, the singer Bjørn Fjæstad and the musicians/producers Jens Hellemann and Peter Hellemann. The American lyric Neil Furio has been helpful in refining the English text of the album.

Two years ago Jacob Elk contacted his old schoolmates, the brothers Hellemann, who since High School have been succesful in both Danish and International concert halls and theatres.

Jacob had been through a long crisis, where the shadows followed him right on to a crossroad. The turning point came at a time, where he was beginning to isolate himself from the world and his family. An inborn sensitive mind, stress and escape into alcohol abuse had overtaken his daily life. A collapse that ended with a visit to the psychiatric ward in hospital. Then Jacob realized that he needed professional help.

"I was lonely, even when in company - parties had become everyday life - but at the same time the party was over somehow. My bad characteristica had been excagerated and grew upon me like weeds. In the end, I had no control over my thoughts and feelings. I was about to give up, " - says Jacob, who managed to get on by writing and canalizing words and thoughts into the 40 songs he ended up writing.

Bjørn Fjæstad says about the collaboration: "Interpreting the songs has for me been a trip back to the seventies - - I recognized the origin of the music . The themes are eternal, but as I myself am over 50 years of age, I recognized the midway life reflections that occur in human beings and in the songs. The clash between man's good and less good sides will occur in most people in different ways when you are around 50 years of age - - then you will realize that success, results and prestige alone are not the way to become a whole person. The absorbtion and the spiritual refelction will begin to take form.