Mr. Conroy is a Faroese-Danish singer-songwriter in the gerne of pop-rock. 

Style & genre

Mr. Conroy brings a refreshing presence to the music scene with their melodic, melancholic and alternative sound that is both catchy and uncompromising.

Melodic in the form of catchy melodies that can pass the campfire test. The music also has that special Scandinavian melancholy that ABBA, A-ha, and Roxette are notorious for adding to pop music. Furthermore, their alternative stance is marked by a refusal to conform to transient pop trends.

The blend of classically inspired piano, synths with an eighties wibe, a swinging rock band and a distinctive grandiose vocals is truly unique.

Biography

Mr. Conroy was formed in January 2021 when songwriter Remi Thomsen wanted to play his songs along with others, record them and maybe publish the strongest of his songs. 

Drummer Kenneth Gøtsche, guitarist Jens V. Jakobsen and bassist Kim Scheutz were contated to join a hybrid between a band and a solo artist dubbed Mr. Conroy in January 2021. 

Mr. Conroy released their debut album "Ignite the light" in August 2022 and a follow up album "Left behind" in November 2023. In 2024, two new songs were released as singles only. 

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Formation

In december 2020, Remi Thomsen, just turned 40, realized that something was missing in his life. In fact, a business coach helped him realize that he missed playing music with others. Since the hiatus of the band Claiborne since 2010, Remi had written songs and recorded demos but not together with others.

Remi contacted drummer and long term friend Kenneth Gøtsche whom he had known since 1993 and played in the band Claiborne with from 1994 to 2010. Remi also contaced guitarist Jens V. Jakobsen also a long term friend since 1994, who played together with Remi in the band Jeremus from 1996 to 1997. Kim Scheutz was an acquaintance of Remi’s, who Gøtsche suggested for bass duty. Kenneth and Kim had a joint background together in the Korn cover band Kornjam. Kim is also the bassist in the band Juno Bell, which opened for Claiborne in 2009 at the release concert for the album Sustain (2009).

Mr. Conroy rehearsed together for the first time in January 2021 and started preparing the recordings their debut album.

The name Mr. Conroy

Originally, the band were looking to fill in the last word of words of the name “Remi and the …” but the members had a hard time finding the right word. The band were looking for something clever like "Jerry and the Pacemakers" or "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers".

“Remi and the safe words” was considered, but deemed too controversial and not a match for the seriousness in the music. Hundreds of names were considered and after Kim suggested Mr. something, Remi came up with Mr. Conroy.

Conroy is an old irish surname (originally Ó Conaire”) and the word means wise advisor or man. Remi thought it to be a nice meaning as the songs are personal about life and existing in the modern world from a man’s perspective.

The meaning of Conroy in acient times: King or Ruler, was not a part of the basis for deciding on the name.

As to whether Mr. Conroy is Remi or the band, the answer is still blowing in the wind, or yes.

Debut album: Ignite the light (2022)

The songs for Mr. Conroy’s debut album were selected from a large pool of songs that Remi had composed and written over several years. 12 songs were selected for the album in close dialog with Gøtsche.

The album title “Ignite the light” is from the lyrics to the song “Endless war” on the album and signals new hope and a new beginning.

Mr. Conroy went to Ark Recording Studio in June 2021 to record drums, bass, piano and some of the guitars. The rest of the guitars and the vocals were recorded afterwards with Jens as technician.

The recordings were finished in March 2022. Kasper Sandbjerg from K Mix & mastering mixed the album, finished in June 2022. The album was released on 25 August 2022.

"Ignite the light" includes the singles “America”, “As you were” and “The turning” all of which were released after the release of the album.

Especially “As you were” received attention in terms of radio play and streams. "As you were" was nomitated for "Radio hit of the year 2022" on Faroese national radio, KVF, where the song was played intencively.

Mr. Conroy played their debut concert at Drop Inn in Copenhagen on 30 September 2022 celebrating the release the debut album. See the setlist here.

Second album: Left behind (2023)

Of the 10 songs, that were picked for the album, 6 dealt with the life and death of long time close friend Rasmus Rasmussen and 4 songs did not.

The album title is from the song “Neon lights” where “Left behind” refers to Remi’s feelings after Rasmus decided not to live anymore in October 2012.

"Left behind" includes Mr. Conroy’s first instrumental song “Song for Rasmus” as well as the first guitar solo (on “Tried to die”). Also the album included the first song with a co-writer in addition to Remi ("Around & Around" by Remi Thomsen and the late Rasmus Rasmussen).