Since his debut in 2012 with his first studio album Colours, Christopher has spent the past 13 years captivating listeners with music defined by lyrical melodies and heartfelt honesty. In Korea, he rose to wider recognition during his 2019 visit, when the crowd’s spirited sing-along to “Bad” went viral on social media. Most recently, through his seventh studio album Fools Gold and the documentary Christopher: A Beautiful Real Life, he has continued to explore the questions of whether the path he is on—and the work he is doing—are truly the right ones. As he returns to Korea for his latest concerts, Christopher shares his own definition of what a “beautiful real life” means to him.

On September 6, you played a headline show at the KSPO Dome in Seoul. What was it like performing in Korea this time?
Christopher: This was the biggest show I’ve ever done in Korea, and the fans here really give everything they have when they’re in the crowd. In one word, it was a success. (laughs) Everything about it was great, but if I had to pick the moments that stood out the most, I’d say when everyone sang along to “When I Get Old” and “Bad”—that was unforgettable. And during “Orbit,” the part where it goes “oh, oh,” the fans sang so loudly I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Then when I performed “Irony,” the whole arena suddenly lit up—everyone had turned on their phone lights. It was such a powerful moment that I posted it on Instagram right away. And last time, my wife came to Korea for the first time. It was so special to have her with me. Next time, I want to bring my whole family. Just imagining my daughters getting to see firsthand what their dad does for a living makes me really proud. (laughs)

Last time you toured Korea, you mentioned that seeing the fans’ banners left such a deep impression that you had the phrases “Staying in the Moment” and “Waited for This Moment” tattooed. Did you happen to get any new tattoos during this visit?
Christopher: The night before the show, I got a small guardian angel tattooed on the back of my arm. Every time I come to Korea, I feel like someone’s looking out for me, making sure everything falls into place—so I got it as a symbol of good luck. (laughs) The reason I keep getting tattoos is to hold on to the good moments and great shows forever. It might be a highlight on stage, or a peak I hit at some point, but as time passes those memories start to blur together. By inking them onto my body, I make sure I never forget them.

Which one feels like it will hold the deepest meaning for you?
Christopher:  My family is the most important part of my life, so back home in Denmark I got a very personal tattoo to capture that meaning. At the top is my oldest daughter, then my wife, and then my youngest daughter—these are the people who matter most to me. More than just being “important,” they carry an even greater meaning in my life. The tattoo reminds me that no matter where I travel in the world, even when I’m far from home, they’re always with me. It’s thanks to my two daughters and my wife that I’m able to stay grounded and keep doing what I do.

That sounds a lot like the lyrics of “Orbit.” In the song, you describe your family as the witnesses of your life and as the ones who guide you back onto your path.
Christopher: That’s right. “Orbit” is about how my life revolves around my family. Even if I drift somewhere else for a while, I’m always moving back toward them—toward my daughters, toward home. My family is the reason I do this, and the force that keeps me going. And what I realized last year, after spending months on tour, is that there’s only so long I can be away from them.

So, just how long are we talking about? (laughs)
Christopher: The most I can be away from my family is about two to three weeks. Last year I was out on tour for two months, then home for just three days, back out for another month, home again for five days—it was just too much. When you’re only home for such short stretches, you can’t really be present with your family. Of course, whatever you do in life, there are always two sides to it. But one thing’s for sure—I’m never doing a tour schedule like the one you saw in Christopher: A Beautiful Real Life again. (laughs)

Not long ago, your documentary was released. In it, we see a contrast—you’re full of joy running around the stage in front of packed audiences, but also struggling with moments of pain and exhaustion. At the same time, it shows you enjoying precious moments with your family while also wrestling with the challenges of balancing parenthood and work.
Christopher: What was a little scary about filming the documentary was that it meant laying my personal life completely bare. My wife’s and daughters’ faces were shown, and even the way we talk to each other as a family—and the conflicts, too—were all out there. And of course, once it’s out in the world, people with opinions will always have something to say about it.

Is showing yourself in that way different from writing lyrics? You’ve often said you can only write about what you’ve truly experienced and that your songs reflect what you feel. In that sense, your music naturally carries your thoughts and your life—and sometimes it even reveals those deeply personal sides you might not always want to share.
Christopher: I’ve been making music for such a long time now, and at this point, the process feels almost like therapy. For me, if you want to tell the truth, you have to write about what you’ve seen,  experienced, and lived through. When I share something real, even if people haven’t lived the same life as me, they can still connect with my songs and see themselves in them. And I think people today are really looking for that kind of honesty. We live in a world full of filters and flawless results created by AI, but it’s hard to truly relate to any of that. If you have a platform to share yourself and the courage to do it, just showing who you are—as you are—can be enough to inspire people.

It reminds me of when you said on YouTube’s Nothing Much Prepared with Lee Young Ji, “Only a strong man can handle a strong woman. You should never change who you are.” Later, on LeeMujin Service, you even rewrote the lyrics to her song “Small Girl” as a kind of reply—“Big eyes, big smile, big voice and big personality. Baby, that's my favorite part. So just stay true to who you are.”
Christopher: Young Ji has this big laugh, a loud voice, and such a strong personality. Back then I told her those parts of her should be cherished, and that she deserves to be with someone who truly loves her for exactly that. When her song came out, I felt like she had remembered our conversation and drawn inspiration from it, so I thought it would be great to use the opportunity on LeeMujin Service to do a kind of cover. Singing it brought those memories of our talk right back—it was a lot of fun. And during Nothing Much Prepared, I really felt the chemistry between us, so after writing “Trouble,” I knew she’d be the perfect person to collaborate with. When we met up at a studio in Korea, she walked in with the same bright smile and vibrant energy she always has. (laughs) Then she stepped into the booth, took the direction I gave—like, “Maybe sing it this way”—and turned it into her own interpretation. That was just perfect. She’s such a wonderful person.

The truth is, holding on to that individuality isn’t always easy—and neither is finding people who value and appreciate it in you.
Christopher: Still, I believe we have to be able to show ourselves exactly as we are—because no one’s perfect. We all have our flaws and quirks, but when you find someone who loves every part of that, it feels so easy, so natural. Living as your true self is always easier. There’s nothing harder than putting on a mask and pretending to be someone you’re not. Of course, everyone has their own way of looking at life, but for me, I want to show myself as I am. When I listen to the artists I love, I feel all kinds of emotions—like, “I matter. It’s okay to be happy, it’s okay to be sad. My voice is being heard.” I hope listeners can feel that through my music too. Because in the end, music is what allows us to really look into our own feelings.

Now that you’ve wrapped up all your shows in Korea, how are you feeling in this moment?
Christopher: Over the past four months, I’ve played some of the biggest shows of my career—from one of the largest festivals in Denmark to the KSPO Dome in Seoul. Finishing the concerts in Korea left me with mixed emotions. On one hand, I’m so happy to be going home to spend time with my family. On the other, I feel a bit sad knowing it’ll be a while before I perform in Korea again, and that this wave is coming to an end. Now it’s time to start paddling toward the next one.

In your documentary, you described what you’re chasing as “adrenaline” and “waves.” What do you see as the next wave for you?
Christopher: First, I’ll be in the studio writing and composing a lot of songs. With the documentary and the album both out, it feels like the right time to start working on a new record. I see it as the start to hiking up a mountain. Creating new music is always exciting—it gives me the chance to grow, and there’s always room to keep growing. Next year, I’ll also be headlining the biggest show I’ve ever done in Denmark. I find so much joy in taking what I’ve done before and pushing it further, or doing it in a new way that surpasses who I was before. A few years ago, I even got to act in the Netflix film A Beautiful Life. It’s that sense of experimenting, trying new things, and continuing to explore that really excites me.

You’ve said that every wave eventually comes to an end, but it’s still worth riding. How has it felt to keep chasing them, knowing they’re not eternal? With Fools Gold, you also reflect on the sacrifices made along the way toward your dreams.
Christopher: What I came to realize while making this album is: “I need to be present in the moment. I need to exist fully. And I need to follow my instincts.” That’s why the record begins in a more lyrical, reflective tone, but by the end I’m almost crying out in desperation—wishing someone would show me the way, give me the answers. I’m doing my best, but I still don’t know if I’m really getting it right. Through this album, I wanted people to be able to relate to that feeling. Because I think everyone has experienced that kind of desperation at some point—not knowing if the path you’re on is the right one, or if the work you’re doing is really what you’re meant to be doing.

But the truth is, the question “Am I getting this right? Is this really the right path for me?” is one you ultimately have to answer for yourself. And even when you don’t have the answer, there are times when you just have to keep asking, keep moving forward, and not stop.
Christopher: That’s how “Fools Gold Pt. I.” came to be. At the time, I was missing my family deeply and found myself asking a lot of questions. I’ve always believed in pouring everything I have into life, in giving it my all—but I didn’t want to lose sight of what truly matters. So the song carries questions like: “What is the most important thing in my life? I’m chasing this as if it’s everything, but when I finally reach the end, will the gold really be there? Am I making the right choices right now?”

Do you feel like you’ve found the answer to that question?
Christopher: I wish I had—but unfortunately, I haven’t found the perfect answer yet. I’m still searching. What I do feel, though, is that I’ve started to get a sense of what I really want, how I can find the balance I’m looking for, and what I shouldn’t be doing along the way.

So what do you feel you’re really searching for right now?
Christopher: I see what I do as the greatest privilege of my life. To be able to turn what I truly love into my work—to wake up every morning and do what I’m passionate about—that’s an incredible gift. Honestly, it feels like beating the odds of a one-in-a-million lottery. (laughs) Another privilege is being able to show my kids, firsthand, what it looks like to chase a dream. I hope that one day, when they grow up, they’ll find something they can be just as passionate about as I am with music. And not only pursue it for themselves, but also step out into the world, inspire others, and become a source of light. If my daughters can live as their true selves while doing what they love, then I’ll feel I’ve fulfilled my purpose as a father. In that sense, everything I do holds enough meaning.

So, in the end, that’s what you’d call a truly beautiful real life. (laughs)
Christopher: It really has been such an incredible journey. (laughs) I’m proud of how much I’ve grown, developed, and evolved along the way. For me, a beautiful life means one where family and touring coexist—and I find happiness in both. They might seem like they’re in conflict, but I’ve embraced them as equal parts of my life. Whether I’m at home with my family or out on tour, I try to live fully in the moment. Right now, being in Korea means giving everything I have so that the fans can enjoy it all. And when I go back home, I devote myself 100 percent to my family. I’ve poured so much effort into this that I sometimes wonder if I could ever do it all over again—but looking back, I can honestly say, “Yeah, I did it well.” (laughs)