From Aarhus North to Los Angeles and Bhutan – Nephew guitarist Kristian Riis does not regret his many years at uni

Kristian Riis is more than just a guitarist in the rock band Nephew. For many years, he was also the brain behind a creative community in Los Angeles that aimed to help Nordic musicians achieve commercial success, and he is currently building a business with the King of Bhutan. But how did he get here? What were his career choices, and how does he remember his time at Aarhus University?

Kristian Riis completed a Bachelor’s degree in musicology and multimedia (Department of Digital Design and Information Studies). Although he didn’t finish writing his thesis, his degree was an important springboard for him. After leaving university, Kristian worked for both the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and he was also the director of Bremen Teater. Today he works with urban development through his company Volcano, continues to support creative entrepreneurs and businesses through Danish Creative Industries, and educates cultural entrepreneurs and music artists through the Royalties programme.

21 May 2024 by Ole Frank Nielsen

What is your favourite memory from your university days?

My favourite memory is probably when Nephew got together. It was like we had our own thing going on that others didn’t really understand. But it made so much sense that we suddenly found ourselves together. We stayed up late into the night playing songs that we’d written ourselves. Recorded our first demos and it just felt right.

Who was your favourite teacher?

Charlotte Rørdam was someone who really challenged and inspired me. She was always relaxed and positive – and intelligent. She inspired Simon (Kvamm, ed.) and me to write Danish hip hop before there was such a thing as Danish hip hop. Thanks, Charlotte!

What piece of advice do you wish that you had been given in your first job (project/company)?

I’ve always had a lot of jobs. I’ve been a church singer, a Euro-pallet collector, a shop assistant, a carer for disabled people, a school teacher, a baker and lots of other things. If I think about my jobs after university, I wish I’d been told that it’s sometimes a good idea to free yourself from the books and just get stuck in without being completely on top of all the footnotes. I should have studied Kaospilot instead of Uni. On the other hand, I’ve learned to write and understand more academic texts and contexts. I’m grateful for that, and I don’t regret spending so many years at university. After all, I ended up as a Kaospilot in my own life as an entrepreneur.

What are your current interests?

My company Volcano, which builds and supports communities and social sustainability. I’m happy to be back in Denmark after running a business in Los Angeles for a while. Besides Denmark and Europe, my focus is also on Bhutan, where Volcano is building a company with the King of Bhutan. I’m working to develop the country and create growth and respect for nature, mindfulness, art, creativity and culture.

Are you still in contact with anyone from your time at AU?

Yes, I see my friends in Nephew. Although we’re taking a break at the moment, they’re still part of my chosen family. I’m also lucky enough to bump into other people from my university days, and I hope that we’ll always hang on to our friendship group from back then.