UNDER explores inner spaces through collective improvisation. The album was recorded binaurally over the course of a year in a single living room in the Lakelands of Denmark. More than fifty hours of sessions condense into nine pieces, from Sour les Pavés to La Plage.

Four voices, piano, and fretless bass unfold along with the room’s natural sounds – wind, rustling, and occasional birdsong. The voices are used freely and collectively, with melody and harmony at the core, expanded through overtone singing and timbral exploration.

A single binaural microphone was placed at the center of the room, a listening presence shaping the situation without directing it. The binaural recordings leave the sound untouched, revealing sound, voices and presence as they are. Foreground and background remain in constant relation. Something quiet and attentive stays present beneath the music, with listening at the heart of the work.

UNDER works exclusively with collaborative free improvisation, with the voice at the core of the music. Three of UNDER’s members — Tine, Jens, and Karen — have explored free vocal improvisation together for more than twenty years. Their work began in the eight-voice ensemble Vokalorkestret, Over time, they expanded their practice through open forums and collaborations with Music For People. Early influences ranged from Bobby McFerrin’s circle songs to graphic notation and soundpainting. Gradually, they were drawn toward completely free form, developing a shared aesthetic and a common musical language.

In 2023, inspired by a dummy head microphone, they began recording improvisations as a way of sharing their practice and inviting others into their musical process.

Jesper, a full-time fretless bass player and vocalist, joined the group, anchoring the music with his craft and musicality. For UNDER, music is inseparable from awareness, communication, and the experience of something larger shaping the sound.

The group understands itself as a forum rather than a conventional quartet.

The name UNDER, which in Danish carries a double meaning of “beneath” and “miracle,” reflects the group’s pursuit of depth, surprise and connection.