The birth of the project
Hymns from Nineveh was born in the spring of 2007. Jonas H. Petersens former band, Attrap, had just finished recording their debutalbum, when the band fell apart. Like a phoenix bird, Hymns from Nineveh rose from the ashes.
Songs of longing and doom, songs of joy and despair, faith and agony – hymns and elegies – Hymns from Nineveh works within the borders of the indie-folk genre, adding a popish, organic sensation to the melodies.
Since the foundation of the project, Hymns from Nineveh has played all over Scandinavia as well as in various parts of Europe. Hymns from Nineveh has thrilled audiences in prisons, theaters, churches, festivals, clubs and bars, and at the SPOT-festival in 2011, MOJO Magazine was left “thrumming with excitement”.
In December 2009 Hymns from Nineveh released an EP called Uncomplicated Christmassongs consisting of 5 new, folky christmassongs. It was highly praised by critics, got massive airplay, and one of the songs even made it to the soundtrack for a Danish christmas movie.
“Hymns from Nineveh” – The album
Hymns from Nineveh’s debutalbum, “Hymns from Nineveh”, came out 21st of February 2011. The album was produced at Pinligtavshed in Copenhagen by Aske Bode and Caspar Hesselager. +20 musicians contributed to the album, creating a complex and multifaceted production, spanning from extravagant, almost symphonic arrangements to the quiet and stripped down.
The album went directly to #1 on the Danish iTunes chart, and Top 10 on the Danish album chart. The album recieved great praise from the critics, resulting in a multitude of stars in the reviews, lots of airplay on Danish National TV and radio. The album was selected “album of the year” by the largest Danish music magazine, Gaffa, and it was among the 10 Danish candidates to win the Nordic Music Prize.
Endurance in Christmas Time
During the summer of 2011, The Hymnboy decided to write some more christmas songs, simply because he loves Christmas. The Album was recorded within 5 days in the Pinligtavshed studio and was released 21 of November 2011 – 9 months after the debut-album. Endurance in Christmas Time got massive attention in Danish and international media. Christianity Today named it the “indie christmas album of the year”, and the song “Anywhere with You” became a hit-single on Danish National Radio.
Is it a band or solo project?
Hymns from Nineveh is a solo project in the sence that Jonas H. Petersen has founded the project and still writes the songs; he is the Hymnboy. But – when Hymns from Nineveh play live, it is always a five piece band. You could say that Hymns from Nineveh is more an idea – a room where the the hymns and elegies can be sung. It doesn’t really matter if you think of Hymns from Nineveh as a band or a solo project – it’s the songs that are the center of attention – after all, it’s called Hymns from Nineveh.
So Mournful The Elegy, So Comforting The Hymn by Hymns from Nineveh
About the project