A Friend in London

A Friend in London
A Friend in London at Eurovision
Background information
Origin	Vostrup,Denmark
Genres	Soft rock,alternative rock,pop rock
Years active	2005–2014
Labels	ArtPeople(2012–2014)
Past members	Aske Damm Bramming (2005–2013) Esben Svane (2005–2013) Sebastian Vinther Olsen (2005–2013) Tim Schou (2005–2014) Jesper Madsen (2013–2014) Johan Jørgensen (2013–2014) Thomas Duus (2013–2014)

A Friend in Londonwas aDanishpop rockandrockband that represented Denmark in theEurovision Song Contest 2011inDüsseldorf,Germany,with the song "New Tomorrow"and took fifth place in the final with 134 points. The group announced their split in 2014.

Career

A Friend in London (also known by its acronymAFIL) was formed in 2005 when the band members were at a boarding school inVostrup,Denmark. The lead singer, Tim Schou, won the contest Danish Young Talent 2005 which led to the recording of the band's first single, "Thoughts of a Boheme".

The Danish national radio station P3 picked up on the sounds of the band, providing airplay for the single "Shoot Me". Danish TV stationTV2used the band's track "Dead Beat" in a TV-commercial contest.

The band started touring Denmark extensively with more than 100 different gigs. Their break came in 2008 with the Bodog Million Dollar Battle of the Bands where they won the European leg of the competition reaching the final 10 qualifying round in the United States. The band refused to continue further with the competition, because of complexity of contractual aspects the organizers wanted to impose on them and other participants.

Following that, they toured Canada and the United States. The band became very popular in Canada, where since 2009 they have made three successful tours, the last being in 2011. The tour included shows in June 2009 atNXNE(North by NorthEast) andCanadian Music Weekas well as a performance atBreakfast TV,a major morning show inToronto.They ended up signing a management agreement with a Canadian music group.

2011: Eurovision Song Contest

A Friend in London took part in2011 versionof theDansk Melodi Grand Prixwith their song "New Tomorrow"written byLise CabbleandJakob Glæsner,winning the Danish preselection show and to go to represent Denmark in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest. There was controversy and allegations that chorus of the song was plagiarized from a Chinese folk song "Silk Road" and big similarities with three other songs named:Andreas Johnson’s "Sing for Me"that participated inMelodifestivalen 2006,the German group Future Trance United's song "Face 2 Face", which itself was a cover from the song "Herz an Herz" from the German band Paso Doble from the year 1986, andTake That's "Shine".One of the co-writers Jacob Glæsner commented that "the song is very popular in its expression and consist basically only of five tones. It is unavoidable that it doesn’t remind of a song one have already heard".Partly because of the criticism, the band has confirmed in interviews they will make changes to the song prior to presenting it in theDüsseldorf2011 finals.

A Friend in London performed the song at the Eurovision 2011 and finished fifth, but caused controversy when lead singer Tim Schou said in front of a live audience "You know baby, I want to...I want to fuck you!" afterDutchsingerMandy Huydtsannounced that theNetherlandshad awarded the song "New Tomorrow" twelve points.Schou later stated: "When the camera came and we got the first points I was so excited. I apologise, Europe! I apologise! We got the fifth place, baby!".

2012–14:Uniteand breakup

The band released their debut albumUniteon 21 January 2013, having pre-released the tracks "New Tomorrow", "Calling a Friend" and "Get Rich in Vegas" in advance.

Prior to the release of the album, they supportedNew Kids on the Blockand theBackstreet Boysduring their European tour. As a result,Howie D.of the Backstreet Boys is featured on a remake of "New Tomorrow". The track featuring Howie D. is found as a bonus track on the iTunes Deluxe Version. The album also featured the Canadian singerCarly Rae Jepsenon the track "Rest from the Streets".

The original band broke up in 2013 with three of the original members, Aske Damm Bramming, Esben Svane and Sebastian Vinther Olsen leaving. Páll "Tim" Schou continued with the band for a token period 2013 to 2014 with new members Jesper Madsen, Johan Jørgensen and Thomas Duus included. But after just a few months, Schou announced the band was folding for good.

In popular culture

Páll Schou, the lead vocalist of the band took part in the inaugural season of the reality television showSkjulte stjerner(meaning Hidden star) aired from 2 September to 14 October 2011 on Danish television. He introduced a young new Danish artist calledThomas Meilstrupmentoring him throughout the show and singing duets with him. Thomas and his mentor won the series and Thomas Meilstrup released his debut single "Almost There" featuring Tim Schou.

The band's single "New Tomorrow" was used as the basis for the spaceflight documentary,Challenging Endeavours: A tale of two shuttles,that premiered on YouTube in February 2013.

Members

• Páll "Tim" Schou – lead vocals, guitar (2005–2014)
• Aske Damm Bramming – bass, backing vocals (2005–2013)
• Esben Svane – drums, backing vocals (2005–2013)
• Sebastian Vinther Olsen – guitar, backing vocals (2005–2013)
• Johan Jørgensen – guitar, backing vocals (2013–2014)
• Jesper Madsen – bass, backing vocals (2013–2014)
• Thomas Duus – drums, backing vocals (2013–2014)

Discography

Albums

Album Title	Album Details	Peak chart positions
		DEN
Smukfest 2012 (live)	Release date: 29 October 2012 Label:Next2Live Format: digital download	-
Unite	Release date: 21 January 2013 Label:ArtPeople Format: CD, digital download	14

Extended plays

Title	Details	Track list
A Friend in London EP	Release date: 3 November 2009 Label: Fontana North Format: digital download	1. What A Way (3:33) 2. The Light (2:37) 3. Freddie (4:40)

Singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions						Album
		DEN	BEL (FLA)	IRE	NL	SWI	UK
2009	"What A Way"	9	—	—	—	—	—	A Friend In London EP
2011	"New Tomorrow"	2	94	9	58	39	78	Unite
2012	"Calling a Friend"	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Get Rich in Vegas"	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other songs

• "Thoughts of a Boheme" (2005)
• "Dead Beat"
• "Easy" (3 June 2006)
• "Solo Machine" (2010)
• "Break and Fall"
• "New Tomorrow"– Song for Africa (4 October 2011)
• "Gorgeous" Christmas song (Dec-2011)re-recorded as "Christmas Love" (27 November 2012)
• "New Tomorrow" (feat.Howie D) (2012)
• "New Tomorrow" (vs. Crystal Lake) (2012)
• "Rest from the Streets" featuringCarly Rae Jepsen(2013)

Videography

The band released music videos for various songs via Guineapig Productions.

Title	Release Date	Details
The Light	Release date: 9 October 2009 Publisher: Guineapig Productions	Ib Christian Henricson – camera and editing. Lena Nyhus – set-manager, co-director and Organizer. Sara Samsø – director Kenny Aleksandr – styling Gregers Dahlin – gear and band-care.
What A Way	Release date: 28 March 2010 Publisher: Guineapig Productions	Tori Cooper – solo ballerina. Thure Lindhardt– actor. Ib Christian Henricson – director, editor Lena Nyhus – director, editor, set manager/producer Tim Schou– editor Kenny Aleksandr – styling
Now You're Here	Release date: 15 May 2010 Publisher: Guineapig Productions	Frederikke Maarup Viskum – actress Ib Christian Henricson – director, editor, set manager/producer Marie Louise Henricson – director, editor, set manager/producer Mengting Hou – editor
New Tomorrow	Release date: 9 May 2011 Publisher: Guineapig Productions
Calling A Friend	Release date: 26 September 2011 Publisher: Guineapig Productions	Ib Christian Henricson – producer, director, film editor Marie Louise Henricson – producer, production manager, first assistant director Bente Deshales – production manager Lasse Londahl Henriksen – second assistant director Mengting Henricson – production assistant

Directors included Ib Christian Henricson, Marie Louise Henricson and Lena Nyhus

• 2008: "Shoot me"
• 2012: "Get Rich in Vegas"
• 2013: "Rest from the Streets" featuringCarly Rae Jepsenwith the actressMathilde Norholt

After breakup

Tim Schou

Band member Tim Schou, in 2011, he appeared in the Danish TV showSkjulte stjerner(meaningHidden Stars) onDR1Danish television station as mentor and costar with the child singerThomas Meilstruppresented by the mononym Thomas, performing many songs including a mashup of "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"/"Baby","Over the Rainbow",a mashup of A Friend in London songs"New Tomorrow"/"Calling a Friend",a mashup ofListen (Beyoncé song)"/"Dancing on My Own"and in the final a mashup of"Moves like Jagger"/"Run to You"and a repetition of" "Over the Rainbow". Thomas alongside mentor Schou went on to win the series.

In 2013, Schou landed the leading roleHairthe musical in the role of Claude. The play played at the Oestre Gasvaerk Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark. Also in 2013, he was the winner of Danish TV showStjerner på vippen,being the Danish version ofSplash.

After the break-up of the band, Tim Schou continued a solo career. In 2014, he landed a role as Flounder in the Danish version of a Disney musicalThe Little Mermaidthat played at TheRoyal Danish Theatreand opera, Copenhagen. Also in 2014, he played D'artagnan in the musical comedyThe 3 Musketeersthat played at the Oestre Gasvaerk Theater in Copenhagen.

In 2015, he was signed to Sony/ATV and Iceberg Publishing and engaged in a tour notably in USA, UK (supportingAaron Carter), Germany, Sweden etc. Singles include "Supernova" in 2014, "Goodbye" in 2015, "Novocaine" and "Medicine" in 2016.

Discography

• 2011: "Almost There"
• 2014: "Supernova"
• 2015: "Goodbye"
• 2016: "Novocaine"
• 2016: "Medicine"

External links

• Tim Schou Official website