Composer | Arranger | Producer | Pianist

Classically trained and with a comprehensive approach, Carl’s goal is to truly touch the listener with his music, whether as part of a project, or on its own.

The signature sound of Carl Falkenau is a captivating synthesis of elements ranging from dreamlike soundscapes to expressive gloomy motifs, all cast in an unmistakably cinematic and often broadly orchestrated setting.

Of Swedish and German descent, Carl Falkenau Löfvenhamn grew up in Falun, Sweden. He started playing the piano at age four and made his first teetering attempts at creating his own music shortly thereafter. This eventually led to his first official gig at age sixteen while a student at Musikkonservatoriet, Falun. For this event, he composed and performed spectacular intro music coordinated with a fireworks show for a 10 000-visitor trade fair.

Two years later, Carl wrote a baroque inspired piece for strings performed by the school’s chamber orchestra and was awarded the Hugo Alfvén Scholarship at graduation. He spent the following years studying classical piano, composition and educational science at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and received his Master’s degree in 2006.

Traditionally Contemporary

Carl has always considered himself to be a multifaceted composer. Since his mid-teens, he had an extraordinary interest in everything from programming synthesizers to complex orchestral notation. His body of work includes music for educational media, soundtracks for Scandinavian TV shows, arrangements for a variety of Swedish artists, chamber music, a choral symphony, and heavily orchestrated cinematic metal record releases as his alter ego The Grim.

In addition to working from his own studio in Southern Sweden, Carl teaches classical piano at the Lund Cultural School.

Carl was nominated twice for the Best International Film Music award in the International Film Music Competition at the Zurich Film Festival, 2019 and 2023,

Biography by Sarah Y. Masters

Carl collaborates with a wide range of corporate clients, record labels, and industry professionals. These are some notable mentions from 2003 to present:

TV 4 Sweden

SVT

Bonnier

Liber

IBM

Svea Produktion

MTG Viasat

Roasting House

Anders "Butta" Börjesson

Ghost

The Royal College of Music, Stockholm

Dead End Exit Records

RedJet Records

Black Lodge Records

Photography by Jens C. Hilner