Hanne Hukkelberg embarks down a cyber-social rabbit hole on 'IRL'

Hanne Hukkelberg embarks down a cyber-social rabbit hole on 'IRL' — "...one of the best writers of electronic pop music the Nordics has produced in the last decade. Her new album is set to be something special." - The Line Of Best Fit — “tightly orchestrated pop” - Pitchfork — “finely crafted pop” - The Guardian Hanne Hukkelberg returns – in relatively short succession – with new single ‘IRL’, signalling a real life renaissance for one of Norway’s most acclaimed, influential and vital artists. Hanne Hukkelberg's 5th album will be out later this year.   Stream ‘IRL’ on SoundCloud here (or by clicking on the player below) ‘IRL’ follows Hukkelberg’s first new music in five years, ‘The Whip’ – both chronologically and conceptually – serving a continued study of cyber society and virtual reality. ‘The Whip’ observes the filtered pursuit of perfection, while ‘IRL’ cautions constant connection and the loss of self to cyber: “I’m so social, baby, but I don’t know myself…” “The lyric is inspired by the parallel reality we live in – the digital reality, internet and social media especially,” Hukkelberg explains. “This has such an impact on my life and I’m often made aware of how addicted I am to this 'beast’. How can something that is not part of our basic nature be so consuming?” Despite the track’s more simulated sensibilities, Hukkelberg – alongside co-producers Mai Elise Solberg and Kristoffer Bonsaksen – details a much more IRL–approach to production, which includes a selection of field recordings and samples spanning back as far as 2012. “The owl-ish sound you hear at the beginning is from my son’s animal book (with speakers), which I sampled. There’s also an iPhone recording I made in 2012 of my feet wading through the snow, although I don’t remember where. The synth sound comes from a didgeridoo-esque instrument that I bought at a hippie camp outside Tel Aviv on a spontaneous trip when I was 18.” Not forgetting: “shitty handclaps”, “mouth percussion” and an almighty door-slam that closes the track. ‘IRL’ is taken from Hanne Hukkelberg’s fifth studio album – OUT 2017 –which joins a nationally adored and internationally acclaimed back catalogue including ‘Featherbrain’ (2012), ‘Blood From A Stone’ (2009) and Norwegian Grammy Award-winning LP ‘Rykestrasse 68’ (2006). Spanning more than a decade, her career is celebrated by the likes of Pitchfork, BBC, KCRW, The Guardian, MOJO, Uncut, The Quietus, Drowned In Sound, The Line Of Best Fit and Clash. Follow Hanne below to keep up to date on more information on her upcoming album.   Hanne Hukkelberg's new single 'IRL' is out now via Propeller Recordings. Website Facebook Twitter Instagram SoundCloud Spotify