With a Greek mother and a Danish father, Veronica grew up between two cultures whose contrasts and connections have shaped her musical outlook.

 

After spending her formative years in Greece, Veronica returned to Denmark to pursue a career in music, starting out in soul bands, big bands and later joined the experimental jazz band, Virtual Fantasy. She gained a conservatory education in music and began performing on Danish TV shows and in musicals, including Hair, which had successful runs in Copenhagen and Paris.

 

Recognition of her talents grew and she released her debut album, Pieces in a Puzzle via Sundance Records in 2003. This album married her acoustic jazz compositions with electronic programming and the album gained extensive critical acclaim. It became Danish National Radio’s “Album of the Week” and enjoyed regular national airplay. International performances then beckoned and she was delighted to receive invitations to perform at major festivals, including the Bangkok Heineken Jazz Festival, the Beijing Jazz Festival and the Ladies’ Jazz Festival in Poland.

 

Her desire to keep exploring new musical avenues led to a fruitful collaboration with the acclaimed bass player, composer and neuroscientist, Peter Vuust. She made a guest appearance on the album, Image of Falling, released in 2005 on Imogena Records, attracting a new Swedish following for Veronica. Peter and Veronica have since made a trilogy of albums together. Their second album September Song was nominated as “Danish Vocal Jazz Album of the Year” in 2014 and Leaves of Love was welcomed by fans and critics alike in 2017, again on Imogena Records.

 

Veronica released her second album, Happiness is Not Included in 2007, a collection of acoustic-led compositions and choice covers of some of her favourite songwriters, including Paul Simon, The Beatles, James Taylor and Tom Waits. In the same year, Veronica received an award from the Danish Songwriters’ Association (DPA), acknowledging her songwriting talents.

 

Since her conservatory days, Veronica has been a frequent guest with Klüvers Big Band (now Aarhus Jazz Orchestra) and has performed several times with the Athens Big Band in Greece. She also toured Sweden with the Bohuslän Big Band in their Duke and Ella Sessions and contributed to their Christmas album Good Time Christmas.

These experiences inspired her third release, I’m The Girl - a live recording with Klüvers Big Band at the Aarhus Jazz Festival. The album came out in 2010 and highlights Veronica’s ability to connect with both band and audience, blending her own material with interpretations of jazz classics. It gained an international dimension through guest appearances by American vibraphonist/marimbist Dave Samuels and drummer Dennis Mackrel.

 

In 2013, Catching Waves was released on Stunt Records, a return to original material. This release received another award from the Danish Songwriters’ Association (DPA), in the form of a unique funding opportunity to create new music (the Kaj Møller’s Grant). Riding on this creative energy, she then released Presents Passed in 2015, also on Stunt Records. This album marked a return to her jazz influences and fulfilled a lifelong dream for Veronica to curate an album of lesser-known gems from the Great American Songbook.

 

In the years since Presents Passed, Veronica has remained a strong presence on the live scene, performing both with her own ensemble and in new collaborations. A rewarding partnership with internationally renowned bassist Mads Vinding led to the live album Live at Nødebo in 2022. That same year she toured with the Danish Radio Big Band on their Merry Christmas Baby concerts, adding her distinctive vocal warmth to classic holiday repertoire.

 

Now, with the release of Serenity in 2025, Veronica presents her sixth album and her most reflective work to date. The songs invite the listener into a space shaped by calm, depth and stillness, and they carry her unmistakable love for Nordic jazz and the craft of songwriting. She describes the process as “a kind of archaeological excavation” - the song is already there, but it takes sensitivity, curiosity, and persistence to unearth it.

 

The album's title reflects Mortensen's journey toward finding calm and balance in an increasingly noisy world. Reaching midlife has brought room for clarity and acceptance, themes that find their way into the lyrics. The songs touch on the bittersweet moment when children leave home, the sense of helplessness in the face of global events, and the small, meaningful details that give life value. With honesty and a touch of humor, she also explores the transformations of middle age, the idea that even winding roads lead somewhere meaningful, and how one person can leave a lasting mark on another’s life.

 

With Serenity, Veronica Mortensen adds a new chapter to her career, marking her growth as both songwriter and performer, always true to her unique voice and musical expression.