A-ha Return With First New Music In Seven Years
A-ha have returned with their first new music in seven years. New single I’m In is taken from their upcoming album, True North, the long-awaited follow-up to 2015’s Cast In Steel.
The Norwegian synth-pop band – Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy – spoke about their new material in a press release. Paul said: “With every album we tweak it, to see if there’s a different way to go about it.”
Magne explained the poignant message behind I’m In, saying it’s “a song about total commitment and a show of support for someone who is troubled. Real commitment is a leap of faith. Everyone knows how difficult it can be to offer commitment and support unconditionally, but this is what it takes to make anything worthwhile happen – love, friendship, change, self-improvement, careers, a better world. Easier said than done of course but it begins with an attitude, then uttering the words. After this it is all hard work to realise whatever potential your commitment has in the world. Without this attitude everything just gets bogged down with conflicting thoughts, doubts and fear. Just say it: ‘I’m in’.”
Magne added: “True North is a letter from a-ha, from the Arctic Circle, a poem from the far north of Norway with new music.”
To accompany the new album, the band made a film of the recording sessions, which took place last year in Bodø, the Norwegian city located 90km above the Arctic Circle.
The trio worked with the Arctic Philharmonic on the tracks, and the orchestra appear in the film, which will be released in selected cinemas in late summer.
Paul explained: “First, we had the idea to record a studio session live. Then, to film a studio session. That grew into more of a production with the Norwegian orchestra, the Arctic Philharmonic, who we have collaborated with.”