New Music From Julianna Barwick, “Forever”

Chris / Bands, IMF, Videos / alex somers, amiina, forever, jonsi, julianna barwick, mum, nepenthe, sigur ros / 3 Comments

I’m loving this new song “Forever” from Julianna Barwick, off her upcoming album Nepenthe (out August 20 via Dead Oceans).  Take a listen below in her album trailer below.

Nepenthe is Julianna’s third full-length album, which was recorded in Reykjavík, Iceland, in the dark cold days of February.  In ancient Greek literature, nepenthe was a magic drug of forgetfulness used to wipe out grief and sorrow. The title suggested itself to Julianna, who experienced a death in her own family in the middle of making the record, but it also refers to the music consoling her during the isolation she was going through – on her own, in a foreign country with a terrible internet connection – during the sessions. Nepenthe‘s heady potion is about moving forward, finding a way through difficult times – of retaining a feeling of hope.

The record was produced and engineered by Alex Somers (musician/producer of Sigur Rós, Jónsi, Jónsi & Alex) with crucial contributions from string ensemble Amiina, guitarist Róbert Sturla Reynisson from múm, and a choir of teenage girls.

Nepenthe is intimate without being introspective. Instead it’s a radiant array of light-dappled choral works, drawing a powerful sense of hope from the depths of despair.