Back in June we wrote about Norwegian songwriter and producer Marit Othilie Thorvik, AKA Jouska, with the single ‘Flower Moon’. A song, we wrote, which “leans into dream pop dimension of the project to invoke a sense of detachment, the vocals drifting through a wash of ethereal tones as though untethered yet longing for solid ground.” Now Jouska has announced new full-length album How Did I Wind Up Here?, to be released in October with Koke Plate, and Thorvik has shared new single ‘Pierced’ to further signal the direction in which the project has evolved, along with with help from Hans Olav Settem, Elias Tafjord (Sassy 009, Why Kai) and Bård Kristian Kylland (Giddygang).
Because while the previous Jouska record Suddenly My Mind Is Blank was crafted from a notably polished electro pop, the new record sees Thorvik favour something more textured, wrapping raw emotion with a gauzy style. The result, as ‘Pierced’ shows, owes a debt to both dream pop and trip hop. A sound full of contradiction, somehow managing to conjure a sparse night time atmosphere without sacrificing any weight, and managing to pair emotional immediacy with an ambiguously dreamy drift.
This juxtaposition speaks to the track’s thematic concerns too. “This one grew out of a shame tied to being seen at all,” Thorvik describes. “I’ve always struggled with visibility. Part of me wants to be seen and heard; another part just wants to disappear. Artistry brings that tension to the surface. I often feel like I’m stepping into a role that doesn’t quite fit, exposing parts of myself I’d rather keep hidden. It feels too personal, too raw, and often uncomfortable. This song captures that feeling.”
Photo by Hans Olav Settem