As a biting cold snap settles in for the first week of 2026, there is perhaps no song more seasonally apt than the latest offering from Juni Habel. Hailing from rural Norway, Habel has returned with a “perfect slice of winter forest folk” that feels less like a mere recording and more like an invitation into a frozen, quiet world.
The title track and lead single from her upcoming third album, Evergreen In Your Mind (due April 10 via Basin Rock), captures Habel in her element—literally. Recorded in the stillness of her home and the local schoolhouse where she works, the track finds her hiding in the colourless snow of the forest, navigating the tension between the pull of nature and the demands of modernity. Watch the stunning accompanying video, which was shot by Malin Longva (www.malinlongva.com) in Rakkestad, Norway.
See how they go, how they fly
how they slide through the
snow in the forest, is colourless
is where we would hide
would hide
For listeners who cherish the delicate tapestries of Vashti Bunyan, Myriam Gendron, or the early work of Julie Byrne, Habel’s newest material is essential listening. While The Times has previously compared her to Nick Drake and Karen Dalton, this new record marks a significant stride forward. Working with co-producer Stian Skaaden, Habel has embraced a newfound playfulness and rhythmic “groove” without sacrificing the fragile elegance that defined her 2023 breakthrough, Carvings.
‘Carvings’ is a captivating musical and poetic experience, a fearless conception that is thoroughly contemporary while almost traditional in its authenticity of expression and directness of communication. Juni is a voice that needs to be heard.
David Kidman, KLOF Mag
Habel describes the album as existing between two worlds: the physical surroundings used for organic percussion and an imagined, dreamlike space. It is an exploration of patience—a result of long hikes into the hills and a deliberate search for stillness. “We always aim to capture effortlessness,” Habel notes, “but the way of getting there is anything but effortless.”
With its evocative cover shot in the grand, high mountains of Rondane, Evergreen In Your Mind promises to be a powerful companion for those seeking connection in the quietest months of the year.
Pre-order: Bandcamp and Basin Rock website
