I want to start off this first volume of my letters by saying a warm and heartfelt thank you for being here. Going forward, these letters will be where I first share about new music and upcoming concerts and occasionally offer glimpses into my creative process. But more than that, it will be a space for writing about topics within the realms of human existence and emotion, and exploring how we can connect deeper to our inner and outer landscapes through music, art, nature and the beauty and poetic wonders that nourish the heart and soul. Most of all, it is my hope that these letters will come to serve as a space of connection and shared ideas and I invite you to join the conversation by commenting on the posts or sending me an email.
(Photo by Asia Werbel)
“I am a forest, and a night of dark trees: but he who is not afraid of my darkness, will find banks full of roses under my cypresses.”
(Quote from Friedrich Nietzsche in Thus Spoke Zarathustra.)
As the last snow melts away and small flower buds start to peak into the season ahead, concluding the dark winter months here in Denmark, I am reflecting on the materiality of darkness and how it can nurture and inform the light.
This coming Thursday 5th of March 2026, I will be playing a concert in darkness at Nivaagaards Malerisamling (concert info & ticket link) in relation to the current exhibition “Skovens Tid” (Time of The Forest) together with cellist Line Felding. We will be sharing songs from my debut album “Water” along with some new compositions. Something truly magical happens when we are together with music in darkness. As if time stands still and the space and sounds expand into deeper realms of presence, listening, calm, connection and inner reflection. I hope to see some of you there.
It is a well known fact, that there is no light without darkness, yet this is something we as humans sometimes struggle to accept, despite the fact that darkness is an inevitable part of our human existence both physically and metaphorically: Darkness is an existential and emotional impact we must learn to navigate and be present with.
The space between darkness and light continues to inform my work. My debut album “Water”(listen here) was greatly inspired by the relationship between darkness and light and the alchemical process of healing and transforming existential darkness into light inspired by the wisdom of darkness in nature.
I can still vividly remember walking through a forest alone in complete darkness for the first time. Growing up in the countryside next to this forest, I came into this experience gradually. Spending hours playing in the forest as a child until sundown, building caves, creating potions and magical formulas among witches and trolls. Across seasons the forest became a natural habitat of both familiarity and continued curiosity, wonder and exploration.
I had come to know every inch of this forest, but driving home on my bike from the bus one evening in autumn I discovered that in the dark, the forest turned into something completely new and unfamiliar. At first it felt unsettling and made my skin crawl and my heart beat faster. But at the same time I felt a thrill and quiet curiosity emerge that stopped me in my tracks and drew me to slow down and explore this feeling further. Somehow, I instinctively knew, that this was a darkness that I had to become familiar with. I got off the bike and decided to walk the rest of the way home. A complete aliveness and expansion of the senses had emerged. With eyes widened I followed the movements and dance of the almost bare branches beneath the dark blue starry sky under the crescent moon - revealing their movements and outlines framing the luminous eyes of the fox and the calling of the night owl.
A howling. Fast crunchy steps through dry leaves entering the corner of my wide open ears. The darkness had a materiality I could almost touch, smell, taste and feel. Like a soft and infinite velvety cloak with no beginning or end. A translucent composition of softness and density with a stark presence and a vast all-encompassing silence.A liminal space for expansion of all the senses that somehow swallowed my own separated shape, only to dissolve it into an entirely new composition - allowing me to become a fully integrated part of my exterior surroundings and in this somehow also part of something much bigger. It provided a feeling of complete calm and presence. I think this was the first time I subconsciously felt a deep truth arise:
Inside the darkness, there is a gate. A portal. And if you have the courage to enter with complete truth and presence in your heart and become one with it, the gate will open not only to darkness but to light, love, presence, connectedness and all the beauty and poetic wonders that nourish the heart and soul - to the flame that kindles our life force.
(Photo by Asia Werbel)
From my own experiences of walking through darkness outside in nature and moving through existential darkness within I have found that the real danger lies - not in exploring the darkness but in the darkness that remains suppressed and unacknowledged. Trying to deny the existence of darkness and fear only allows it to grow over time and eventually it gains more power over our subconscious and our lives.
Looking at darkness with honesty and presence can certainly feel daunting and at times almost like a profound breaking point that forces us into surrender. But it is a great misunderstanding that darkness grows and amplifies when we acknowledge it and speak about it. In fact the opposite is true: Because it turns out - darkness doesn’t grow when we shed light on it and allow ourselves to become acquainted with its material. Quite the opposite: It starts to dissolve and allows for a far greater light to emerge. Daring to explore darkness and being present with it, not only expands our capacity for darkness but also our capacity for light, love, happiness and joy.
Concert: My next concert in Darkness at Nivaagaards Malerisamling 5th. of March 2026 (Nivå, Denmark).
Music: Charcoal by Brambles is one of my all time favourite albums and a beautiful soundtrack for nocturnal exploration.
Thank you for reading. I welcome your thoughts!
If you know someone who you think would appreciate these letters or my music, I would love for you to share it with them via these links: Link to my Water album. Link to sign up to my Letters.
Wishing you a beautiful spring,
Fie.
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