If you were just the right age, at just the right time in 1985, you’d see this video all day long on MTV: Norwegian pop band a-ha’s Take On Me. It was cutting age with its distinctive animation and the catchy tune sold 7 million singles worldwide.
Were they a “One Hit Wonder?” In the US you could argue that they were, their follow up single, The Sun Always Shines on TV sold 5 million and reached #1 in the UK, but things faded quickly after that in the United States, though a-ha continued successfully in their home country.
That was a long time ago, but the Scandinavian trio have new music and a new movie coming out, both are called True North.
The film will be released in select cinemas worldwide on September 15th and the album drops October 21st. You can watch the trailer below, the cinematography is breathtaking:
The new single, I’m In sounds more robust, a bit meatier than the synth-based tunes from the 80s. Morten Harket’s vocals sound pristine, richer than you might have remembered. And he is handsome as ever, the bastard, who turns 63 this week. By the way, I am speaking to a mainly American audience, so I should point out to them that a-ha have released new music in every decade since the 80s, and have kept the same original lineup. Not bad. Here’s that single for you:
The original plan was to film the guys’ recording sessions at the studio 56 miles above the Arctic Circle, joined by the Norwegian orchestra, Arctic Philharmonic, Harket, Paul Waaktaar-Savoy and Magne Furuholmen ended up expanding the project.
An album and film that detail the band’s vision of a collective connection to the environment were born. “True North is a letter from a-ha, from the Arctic Circle, a poem from the far north of Norway,” says Furuholmen.
Also from the band’s camp:
“In recurring vignettes, the multidimensional True North film follows this narrative arc through actors portraying life in the North as well as documenting the band recording music over two days in Bodø, Norway. This is a unique release from a-ha that embodies the spirit of their new songs, with long-time a-ha collaborator Stian Andersen at the helm as director: ‘It’s been an honourable assignment to direct the True North movie. It’s also been a great pleasure to write and create the narrative to match a-ha’s beautiful songs in this film.’”
The True North film is out in select cinemas worldwide on September 15, 2022 via Trafalgar Releasing. Tickets on sale – visit ahatruenorth.com for locations and ticket information.
As for the album, dropping October 21st, you can pre-order now and sign up for further information also at ahatruenorth.com
