Words by Jack Humphrey

Norway’s Kate Havnevik may have been on the electro-pop scene for a while now, but with every vibrant release, she proves herself to be an artist guided by pure creative vision alone — wholly detached from trends, kitsch, or pandering. Whether it’s an original record, a film score, or a collection of inventive remixes, Havnevik abides by her own blend of musical styles, mixing lo-fi alternative, synth-pop, and singer-songwriter sensibilities in her expansive career. With her music having been featured in such American television programs as Grey’s Anatomy and The West Wing, Havnevik has quietly built up a sizable underground fanbase on the strength of her unwaveringly steady artistic vision.

This new offering “Into Dark” follows Havnevik’s sublimely introspective comeback single “Starlight Fires” with a strikingly different vibe. Produced by longtime collaborator Guy Sigsworth [Britney Spears, Madonna], this buzzing electronic banger mystique and cosmic radiance from start to finish. “Into Dark” may ride on a single note throughout it’s entire three minute runtime, but it unquestionably makes the most of it. With Sigworth’s arpeggiating synth lead somewhat reminiscent of ’80s pop band Berlin and Kate Havnevik’s fantastically mysterious delivery, this jam is never wanting for a “breakout moment” or any sort of change of pace. Sigworth remarked on “Into Dark’s” genesis:

“While we were jamming…, we found this really cool sound using a ring modulator. Kate immediately began singing something beautiful over it. I then realized that, cool as it was, it could only actually play one note. I kept obstinately repeating that note, so as not to break Kate’s melodic flow. It started out sounding like a mouth harp but gradually became much more fierce and aggressive.”

With a booming industrial lead dominating the chorus, “fierce” is a pretty apt description. Rhythmic beats reverberate throughout the consciousness, Havnevik’s vocals trail off into the ether with pitch-perfect vibrato, and the listener is held captive by the bizarre enigma of it all.

That same feeling of curiosity and unknowing is definitely a foundational element of “Into Dark’s” lyrical content as well. On this track, Havnevik is longing to vanish from this plane of existence, hoping to simply slip away “floating off to nowhere” at her first opportunity. Havnevik herself spoke a bit on the eccentric origin of the electric record:

“The lyrics are inspired by a book we’d both read about people who fake their own death. Most people who do it are either fleeing the law or committing insurance fraud. We were more drawn to the idea of people wanting a second chance, wanting to re-invent themselves, wanting an escape.”

In a bold dichotomy against the serene “Starlight Fires,” “Into Dark” explodes with unexpected force and signifies Kate Havnevik’s upcoming LP to be her most sonically diverse of her career, a bold ask for an artist over two decades in, but one that’s hardly unexpected from the stalwart Norwegian singer-songwriter. Indeed, Havnevik has used each unique phase and era of her artistic journey to broaden her sonic palette and expand her own creative boundaries without much regard for what’s “cool” or in vogue on the larger mainstream stage, from her extensive collaborations with Guy Sigsworth to her recent work on a forthcoming Netflix film. Together, “Starlight Fires” and “Into Dark” are brilliant teases for the body of work Kate Havnevik has in store, faithful and representative of the styles she has become known for, letting fans of all things synth-pop and singer-songwriter music know that there will surely be something for them, no matter how niche their tastes may veer.

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