Norwegian songwriter Ane Brun has been releasing a stream of singles in recent months, as she teases us about a forthcoming album – her eighth – which she’s promising for some time in the near future. The most recent new track from Brun is called “Honey” and stems from a pretty amazing backstory, as she explains:
“I had a pen pal for many years. We started writing to each other when we were about 13 and kept it going for about a decade. The letters faded away as the age of emails took over, but those handwritten notes from our teens were long, intense and personal.
“In our thirties we decided to swap our old letters to each other, and soon after a shoebox full of thick envelopes arrived in the mail. Reading through my own words opened up a lot of doors to memories I had long forgotten. In that same box was a cassette tape. Luckily I had held on to my old Walkman, so I dug it out and excitedly pressed play…
“There it was! The light, clear voice of my 18-year-old self. As the tape rolled, my jaw dropped. Her energy struck me and I was filled with love for this young, and in many ways innocent, version of myself – this girl talking non-stop in a boundless flow of words and emotions. I was reminded of how I was back then, of how I dealt with things, and of how I’ve learned to do things differently. But it also reminded me of the lightness and the giggles that were such a big part of that time, and that I for many years had missed out on while mapping out my life as an adult.
“While listening back, I realized that the woman I am today had reconnected with the girl on the tape, and that simple act had made me feel in some way more whole. I decided to write a love song to my young self that day! This is Honey.”
There’s not really much point in adding to that already lovely story, except to say that “Honey” is a soothing and heart-swelling ode to youth and self-love. The tropical undercurrent combines with the synth washes and Brun’s timeless voice, so that we don’t just hear her reaching back, but when listening to “Honey” we actually feel like we’ve stepped with her back into the era of classic 90s alternative pop .
You can listen to “Honey” below or on your preferred platform.
News about Ane Brun’s new album should be coming soon. For now you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
