Tina Dico

Tina Dico is a Danish singer-songwriter from Aarhus, born as Tina Dickow in Aarhus and raised in Aabyhøj near the city. She is active in pop and indie contexts and is inspired by songwriters such as Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. Her father introduces her to music at a young age through his large hi-fi system at home. After public school, she attends a music boarding school and later high school.

Early work and first bands

During her early years she performs with the cover band Fester Kester. In 1997, while in her third year of high school, she appears in the erotic Danish television series Karrusel, starring alongside Peter Steen and Michael Falch. Although she is offered further acting parts afterwards, she turns them down because she does not want to be known as the “naive girl from Jutland”.

In 1998 she introduces Fester Kester to one of her own songs, and the band goes on to win two talent contests that year: Talentspot on Danish TV2 and Vi har scenen, har I musikken? in Aarhus. Later in 1998 she forms the band Tina Dickow and Sheriff, and that year the single “Your Waste of Time” is released. It is chosen as Song of the Week on Danish national radio’s P3 and gives her wider attention.

Finest Gramophone and early releases

After discussions with established record labels, she decides against the way they want to market her and instead takes a bank loan to start her own label, Finest Gramophone, in 2000. The label’s first release is Fuel in 2001. The record receives a modest critical response, but it establishes her potential as an artist.

Also in 2001, she meets her manager Jonathan Morley at the SPOT festival in Aarhus. She signs a four-year contract with him and later, in 2002 at the MIDEM festival in Cannes, signs with the English publisher Kojam Music.

Move to England and international collaborations

At the start of 2002 she moves to England, looking for more challenge and distance from what she sees as a comfortable environment in Denmark. Through her work with Morley she enters the English music scene and collaborates with Australian singer Holly Valance on the song “Send My Best”.

The album Notes is written during her time in England and reflects feelings of loneliness and fear in London. It is recorded in two days and released later that year. The album receives strong critical praise and wins both a Steppeulv award for Composer of the Year and a Danish Music Award for Songwriter of the Year.

While working with Holly Valance, she meets Sam Hardaker from the English trip-hop-lounge duo Zero 7. She is invited to collaborate with them and records “Home” and “The Space Between”, both of which appear on Zero 7’s album When It Falls. She then tours extensively with the group, performing more than 100 shows across Europe, the USA and Asia.

Later releases and awards

In 2004 she releases the EP Far, which includes new versions of songs from Notes, one track from Fuel and a new song. It is intended as a follow-up to the attention from the Zero 7 tour. That same year she signs a multinational record deal with Sony UK and begins recording her international debut, but the deal is cancelled in early 2005 after the Sony and BMG merger. The rights to the songs return to her, and the album is released with the Danish company A:Larm in June 2005.

The album reaches number one on the Danish album chart, ahead of acts including U2 and Coldplay. In January 2006 she wins the P3 Award, which includes DKK 100,000, and in March 2006 she wins the Danish Music Award for Singer of the Year.

Other recordings

She also appears on Side By Side - Duets Vol. 1 by AM, a release containing original songs and cover versions performed with a group of friends including Meiko, Susie Suh, Julianna Raye, Buddy and Rick Garcia. Her contribution includes a cover of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”.