Farao — the alias of Norwegian producer Kari Jahnsen — will release her new album, Magical Thinking, on November 14. Her third album, it finds inspiration (and its title) in the quotidian epiphanies found within Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking. The songs wander through intense moments of grief, change, love, and hope. Themes made all the more impactful when considering that she gave birth to two children in the time since she released her last record as Farao.
Recorded between Oslo and Berlin, the album was functions as a catalog of her influences and affections, offering deep detours through ’90s R&B, ’80s disco, ambient music, and spiritual jazz. It was was co-produced and mixed with longtime collaborator Ådne Meisfjord. Her latest single, “Voice Continues”, features ambient legend Laraaji and is our fourth taste of the album, following previous singles “Dreamy Ride“, “Waiting for You“, and “Spiritual Garden“.
“Voice Continues” is an elegiac look at memory and emotional upheaval, filled with moments of hypnogogic revelation that are bound up in gossamer truths. Her voice is a spirit calling out to us, acting as an aural illumination that strips away the hazy nature of the environment in which we find ourselves. It’s gorgeous and inviting and sinks slowly and effortlessly into the inner chambers of our subconscious.
“Working with Laraaji on ‘Voice Continues’ was a dream,” Farao explains. “His music radiates warmth and openness, and together we created a space where our sounds could breathe. Laraaji has an amazing way of turning sound into light, inviting you inward while still feeling expansive.”
Listen to the track below.
Magical Thinking:
1. Waiting For You
2. Spiritual Garden
3. Dreamy Ride
4. Hey Ladies
5. Full Moon
6. Xiang Xiang
7. Magical Thinking
8. Endelig
9. Voice Continues (feat. Laraaji)
10. Tschüssi
11. Sleep It Off
Magical Thinking is due out November 14 on Western Vinyl. You can pre-order the album here. Follow Farao on Facebook and Instagram.
