Jarle Skavhellen - Northern Lights (2020) Hi Res

Rising Norwegian singer-songwriter Jarle Skavhellen shares heartfelt new release, Northern Lights, features delicate delivery with hushed strumming as he candidly discusses fear and feelings. An avowed fan of Gregory Alan Isakov’s Evening Machines, Jarle sought out the producer Tucker Martine (My Morning Jacket, The Decemberists, Neko Case, Sufjan Stevens, R.E.M.) for what would become the Northern Lights EP. Martine obliged to take the reins behind the board, and Jarle recorded at the producer’s Portland, OR studio for two weeks. During the recording process he was able to further explore his longstanding influence of Americana. It happened subconsciously being naturally under the inspiration of the U.S.

“We really made the most of a short period of time. It was my first time in Portland, and Tucker was incredible to work with. He had a clear vision of which direction to take the songs in. The plan was to do a stripped-down mostly acoustic album. When we started playing, it became a separate thing. It was a creative environment. If one of us had an idea, we just went with it. We never stopped each other.

The Americana vibe was never really a conscious choice. It just happened. I listen to a lot of folk. That usually bleeds into Americana at some point. I’m a big fan of J.J. Cale and Ry Cooder, some of those influences snuck into this record as well as simply being in the States."