Frans Bak

Biography

Frans Bak played piano throughout his childhood and later graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Music. Experimenting with music in different bands, he fused together his classical training with different genres, sounds and modern technologies, and in doing so, has carved out a unique sound through his own compositions - ambient, melodic, atmospheric. Bak is known for creating dreamy and intense soundscapes for immersive listening experiences. 

Today, Frans Bak works as a highly accomplished composer, with over thirty years experience scoring for the film, TV and advertising industry, receiving international critical acclaim for his compositions for Nordic, French, American and British TV series including "Disparue", "Doctor Foster" and "Lilyhammer". A pioneer of the Nordic noir genre, his mesmerising music for "The Killing" (the original Danish TV series "Forbrydelsen" as well as the US remake) set new musical standards for crime TV and inspired other composers to apply the ‘Nordic feel’. He has also scored three Oscar nominated shorts: "Ernst & Lyset", "Helmer & Son" and "Skal vi være kærester?"

Frans Bak released the album "Sound of North" (SON) in 2016, bringing together new music and a number of critically acclaimed compositions. Inspired by his own upbringing and roots in Scandinavia, he encapsulates the mood of ‘his north’ mentally and geographically, presenting its unique spirit and atmosphere; coolness, calmness, mindfulness, consistently pushing musical boundaries.

In 2017, Frans Bak scored the 1948 Danish silent movie "They Caught the Ferry", bringing his unique brand of dark-tinged tension and suspense to the film. More recently, he composed for the TV series "Conspiracy of Silence", delivering his signature intense, atmospheric sound, entwined with a hopeful melodic ambience.

In early 2020, he worked on the German drama "Geborgtes Weiß" and is set to release "Piano", an album of new musical works, preceded by two single releases. Playing the piano of his childhood again, Frans Bak revisited his early years, creating simple and beautiful piano melodies whilst incorporating his extraordinary musical journey to date.

Film

Geborgtes Weiß, 2022
Directed by Sebastian Ko
Feature

Corner Office, 2022
Directed by Joachim Back
Feature

Buster's World, 2021
Directed by Martin Miehe-Renard
Feature

Conspiracy of Silence, 2018
Directed by Charlotte Brandstrom
TV series

No Trace, 2018
Directed by Miranda Sajdak
short film

L’Art du Crime (Art of Crime), 2018
Directed by Charlotte Brandstrom
TV series

Klassefesten 3, 2016
Directed by Birger Larsen
Feature

Gerningsstedet 2, 2016
Directed by Jesper Mauritzen
Documentary

Noma – My Perfect Storm, 2015
Directed by Pierre Deschamps
Documentary

Doctor Foster, 2015
Directed by Tom Vaughan, Jeremy Lovering, Bruce Goodison
TV series, 5 episodes

Disparue, 2015
Directed by Charlotte Brandstrom
TV mini series, 8 episodes

Albert, 2015
Directed by Karsten Kiielerich
Feature (animation)

Men & Chicken (Mænd og høns), 2015
Directed by Anders Thomas Jensen
Feature

Death Valley, 2014
Directed by Andrew Glassman
TV series

The Killing, 2014
diverse directors
TV series, 6 episodes

Gerningsstedet, 2014
Directed by Jesper Mauritzen
Documentary

Bleu Catacombes, 2013
Directed by Charlotte Brandstrom
TV-feature

The Killing, 2013
diverse directors
TV series, 12 episodes

MGP Missionen, 2013
Directed by Martin Miehe-Renard
Feature

Forbrydelsen III (Kommissarin Lund), 2013
diverse directors
TV series, 10 Episodes

13 Steps down, 2012
Directed by Marek Losey
TV mini series

The Killing, 2012
diverse directors
TV series, 13 episodes

Lilyhammer, 2012
diverse directors
TV series, 8 episodes

Min søsters børn alene hjemme, 2012
Directed by Martin Miehe-Renard
Feature

Den som dræber (Nordlicht – Mörder ohne Reue), 2011
diverse directors
TV series, 12 episodes

Krysters Kartel, 2009-2011
Directed by Jesper Rofeldt
TV series

The Killing, 2011
diverse directors
TV series, 13 episodes

Sky, 2010
Directed by Mikkel Sørensen
short film

Superbror, 2009
Directed by Birger Larsen
Feature

Forbrydelsen II (Kommissarin Lund), 2009
diverse directors
TV series, 10 episodes
Nomination Emmy – Best Foreign TV-series

Forbrydelsen (Kommissarin Lund), 2007
diverse directors
TV series, 20 episodes
Nomination Emmy – Best Foreign TV-series

Helmer & søn, 2006
Directed by Søren Pilmark
Oscar nomination - Best Short Film

Henning Mankell – Mittsommermord (Steget Efter), 2005
Directed by Birger Larsen
Feature

Nikolaj & Julie, 2002-2003
diverse directors
TV series, 20 episodes

Die fünfte Frau (Den 5:e kvinnan), 2002
Directed by Birger Larsen
TV series, 4 episodes

“7”, 2002
Directed by Anette Tony Hansen
TV series

Prinsessen & Medaljonen, 2001
Directed by Ulla Raben
TV mini series

Hvor peberet gror, 2000
Directed by Anders Lund Madsen
TV series

Dronningens gobeliner, 2000
Directed by Lars Mortensen
Documentary

Far, mor & blypperne, 1999
Directed by Ulla Raben
TV series, 10 episodes

Under Overfladen, 1999
Directed by Morten Køhlert
Feature

Afmagt, 1998
Directed by Martin Schmidt
Feature

Kys, kæerlighed og kroner, 1998
Directed by Louise Andreasen
short film

Albert, 1998
Directed by Jørn Faurschou
Feature

Forbudt for børn, 1998
Directed by Jesper W. Nielsen
Feature

Hvornår kommer stygerne?, 1998
Directed by Jacob Banke
short film

Skal vi være kærester, 1997
Directed by Birger Larsen
Oscar nomination Best Short Film

Hatten rundt, 1997
Directed by Gunnar Frøberg

Davids Bog, 1996
Directed by Lasse Spang Olsen
Feature

Far, mor & blyp, 1996
Directed by Ulla Raben
TV series

Ernst & Lyset (Ernst und das Licht), 1996
Directed by Thomas Villum
Oscar nomination Best Short Film

Sidste time (Final Hour), 1995
Directed by Martin Schmidt
Feature

Aberne & det hemmelige våben, 1995
Directed by Jannik Hastrup
Feature (animation)

Operation Cobra, 1995
Directed by Lasse Spang Olsen
Feature

Flemming & Berit, 1994
Directed by Lone Scherfig
TV series, 8 episodes

Frihedens Skygge, 1994
Directed by Birger Larsen
TV series, 4 episodes

Jo værre jo bedre, 1994

Sku’ du spørge fra nogen?, 1994
Directed by Ulla Raben
TV series

Bullerfnis, 1990-1992
Directed by Ulla Raben
TV series

Karlsvognen (Zwischen Himmel und Erde), 1992
Directed by Birger Larsen
Feature

Barnepigen, 1993
Directed by Niels Gråbøl
short film

Dance of the Polar Bears (Lass die Eisbären tanzen), 1990
Directed by Birger Larsen
Feature

Casanova, 1990
Directed by Morten Lorentzen
Feature

Piger er en plage, 1990
Directed by Birger Larsen
short film

Guitarracisten, 1990
Directed by Søren Fauli
short film

Dagens Helt, 1989
Directed by Søren Fauli
short film