Morten Friis

Morten Friis, born in Copenhagen, is a Danish multi-percussionist, conductor, and producer. He graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Music, specializing in percussion and orchestral conducting. In 1988, he founded the percussion duo Safri Duo with his childhood friend, Uffe Savery. Initially, Safri Duo started as a classical ensemble, performing arrangements of works by Bach, Chopin, and other composers, as well as contemporary pieces written specifically for the duo. For a decade, they were in high demand, giving over 1,000 concerts and recitals worldwide and releasing five albums.

In 1998, Safri Duo began exploring the genre of dance and electronic music. Inspired by the rave scene in the UK, they aimed to blend electronic music with live percussion using their classical instruments. In 2000, they released their first single in this genre, Played-A-Live. The following year, Played-A-Live became the fourth best-selling single in Europe, bringing the duo international recognition and multiple awards, including an MTV Award for Best Nordic Act and a German Echo for Best Dance Act. This hit single was followed by their album Episode II, which reached No. 2 on the German charts. Throughout their 30-year career, they have collaborated with numerous artists, including James Galway, Jean Michel Jarre, Michael McDonald, Youssou N'Dour, and Rolando Villazón.

Recently, Safri Duo completed two sold-out tours in Denmark, showcasing their new concert format, the Episode I and II Tour. This format combines music from both Episode albums, blending classical and electronic repertoire with stories from their career. When he is not producing music for other artists or performing with Safri, Friis is working on his new classical solo percussion project.