Sweden's multi-instrumentalist and genre-defying artist Sofia Härdig continues to push boundaries with her latest single, "Pale Fire", a mesmerising collaboration with renowned musician Bebe Risenfors. The track is from her upcoming album, Lighthouse Of Glass, due on 11 April via Bark At Your Owner.
"Pale Fire" emerged from an intense period of creative isolation during which Härdig wrote hundreds of songs. "I wrote on my own in solitude for almost two years. I read a lot, wrote a lot, and recorded more than a hundred songs", Härdig recalls. "I was in this cave of writing." The magic of "Pale Fire" crystallised when Risenfors, who spontaneously joined Härdig for a performance in Malmö, added his distinctive touch to her original demo. "I remember opening the song on my phone and listening on headphones while sitting in a park. I started crying and listened on repeat. The best birthday gift ever", says Härdig of first hearing Risenfors' contributions.
"Pale Fire" showcases Härdig's signature sound, which draws influence from alternative rock, post-punk, and new wave while maintaining her distinct artistic voice. The track is part of a larger body of work that represents what Härdig describes as "the tip of the iceberg of a long cycle of lyrics, often a novel/short story that I have built in solitude". Anchored by brooding piano work and haunting chord progressions, "Pale Fire" unleashes the full force of Härdig's commanding vocals while highlighting her masterful touch as both producer and songwriter. The single is accompanied by striking visuals created in collaboration with a close friend and photographer, Jessica Nettelblatt, who was so moved by the demo that she immediately envisioned the cover art, listening to the track on repeat during the photoshoot. For fans of Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, and Anna Calvi, "Pale Fire" further cements Sofia Härdig's position as one of Sweden's most compelling alternative artists.
Her upcoming album, Lighthouse Of Glass, self-produced by Härdig, represents a bold step forward in her artistic evolution. Recorded between her home studio and a three-week residency at Visby Center for Composers, the album features an impressive roster of collaborators. The recording process became a unique blend of creativity and community, with Härdig's kitchen and tin roof serving as unconventional meeting points for the musicians. "Working with Bebe was such a treat - he really got what I was after", Härdig explains. The album also features contributions from two of Sweden's finest guitarists, Robert Johnsson (Robert Johnson And The Punchdrunks) and long-time collaborator John Essing (Bob Hud), with Grammy-awarded Nille Perned handling the mixing duties. Link
Lighthouse Of Glass tracklist:
01. April
02. Collision
03. Lighthouse Of Glass
04. Kingdom Come
05. Pale Fire
06. Thursday Morning In Bloom
07. Kind Of Light
08. Crown
09. In Silence
10. Strange Race
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"We only make an album when we feel genuinely inspired. You can't just say, "OK, I'm going to record a new album", because without inspiration, it would be boring." - Gregor Mackintosh
"It would be an exciting thing to be a part of the fourth The Sisters Of Mercy album. I think my role has changed in the last few years." - Ben Christo
"It's a dark album. According to me, it's the darkest yet in our discography. It's also very suggestive, very introverted, less direct, and might be less friendly..." - Daniel Moilanen
"Goth people want to have fun sometimes too. I guess if your listening time is 99% dark, sad songs or evil black metal songs, sometimes you want 1% joy, and here I come." - Franck Hueso
