Described by Uncut as Norway’s new pastoral folk voice, Juni Habel‘s forthcoming album ‘Carvings‘ is out on 13th January via Basin Rock (Europe / Rest of the World) then Badabing (USA) and Koke Plate (Nordics). It was recorded in an old converted schoolhouse that is situated in the countryside a couple of hours south of Oslo and is where she resides with her lovely eccentric grandmother who can be seen standing on the balcony in the video and on the album cover. Despite navigating personal shadows between darkness and light, this never overburdens the songs that have a beautiful homespun and fragile feel about them, each one like a mini-masterpiece that unfolds gently.
“I knew I wanted to write from a larger perspective. I wanted to write about the course of nature, and the people in it – life and death, beauty and tragedy.” Juni says, “loss – the search for the dead – grasping to find the words, and liberation of giving that up. I also wanted to explore my own kinship with nature – a sense of belonging, and notice what is around with gratitude and zest for life.”
Watch the video for her latest album single Chicory, out later this week. The song is delicate and captivating, quirky and dreamlike, gentle, like spider silk and whispers. That gratitude and zest for life she talks of laces her music with hope.
This beautiful bit of background makes the album all the more enchanting – Just as her more featherweight debut album All Ears would attest, the timelessness of Juni’s music has evolved from her lived experiences. Growing up with six younger siblings alongside horses, hens, sheep and pigs on the family farm, she was a Forest School child with grubby knees from climbing trees, building cabins and playing rugby. Today, between woodland walks neighbouring the tiny village of Rakkestad, tending her kitchen garden and creating plant dye art as a school teacher, little – and a lot – has changed since eschewing the city in favour of koselig-cohabiting with husband Emil, friend Isis, cat Lisa, dog Sajo. Living alongside them is Grandmother Inger, who gave Juni her first guitar aged 10 and has always been a big influence on her life. Look carefully, you will even see her peeking from their home on the album sleeve.
“She makes everyone comfortable and welcome. She paints, plays piano, travels, and fights tirelessly to get her message into the world – to recognise people’s psychological reactions as logical, rather than sick. We all belong together in a greater unity, which she practises in her own life.”
Pre-Order Carvings via Bandcamp here: https://junihabel.bandcamp.com/album/carvings
