Drummer & bandleader Emil de Waal is perhaps best known today from his own electric-meets-African-jazz group Kalaha, but has also played with a who’s who of Danish rock, pop & jazz. He is the main man behind the project Vente.

He has played drums with an impressive line-up of names in Danish rock, pop and jazz. With bands ranging from the ’80s fusion group Bagdad Dagblad to Old News, an ensemble that plays music from de Waal’s childhood in the ’70s and features a variety of talents, such as Nulle, Gustaf Ljunggren, Jacob Anderskov, Randi Laubek and Band Ane.

He is currently a member of the band Kalaha (a constellation which also includes de Waal’s long time collaborator Mikael Elkjær aka Spejderrobot), an ensemble known for mixing electronic music with elements of jazz and African music, who just released their fourth album in February, 2021 on April Records.

“Emil to me is a musician who gives a whole lot of himself when he plays and creates music. He is fearless and playful and he has a strong desire to put life and energy into the music. His focus on where he is at stands very clear to anyone who works with him.”, says Gustaf Ljunggren.