Alternative Folk from Havard

Hailing from Norway, singer-songwriter Havard has earned a reputation as an artist for his honesty and hauntingly beautiful blend of alternative folk brimming with storytelling, instrumental flair and poignant vocal expression. With his unique sound, he connects with listeners on an emotional level, forging musical moments that explore life’s most significant themes such as pain, hope, love and longing.

First unveiling his sound in 2018, he released the debut single “Refugee,” which he followed up with sophomore outing “Rising Tide” and his first full-length record, Dark Rooms, the next year. On Dark Rooms, Havard offered an unflinchingly personal reflection on some of his toughest life experiences including abuse, mental health struggles, divorce and suicidal thoughts, turning these painful moments into a deeply moving musical offering.

In August, he returned following a hiatus from sharing his original sound, released the new single “Love In The Sunshine” and announced his upcoming second album, Mercy Sea, which is set to address profound ideas of hope, fear, loneliness, faith and doubt. Havard describes this collection as a reflection of life’s many twists and turns, narrated through a rich folk fabric. Produced by Fredrik Wallumrød, Mercy Sea brings together a talented band and features collaborations with artists like Maria Solheim and Hildegunn Garnes Reigstad.

Now, Havard offers listeners a second taste of what’s to come with his latest single, “Alone At A Table For Five.” This powerful track continues his tradition of candid storytelling, centring on the context of loneliness and the search for belonging. Inspired by Havard’s own experiences, the song paints the picture of a man isolated in public, a man who drinks alone, sitting at a table for five, trying to connect with strangers who remain indifferent to his presence.

Opened by the soft taps of percussion, a laid back bass line is met by atmospheric flutter of guitar notes before Havard’s deep voice enters to spin poignant lyricism via hushed delivery. Backed by gentle vocalisations, the arrangement subtly swells with the patter of dusty drum shots as the instrumentation casts a hazy atmosphere of smokey guitar tones and the vocal layers lay down delicate melodies to create an emotive and thoroughly engrossing sound.

It’s a superb showcase of Havard’s highly original sound and knack for piecing together alluring arrangements to bring his thoughtful songwriting to life in spectacular fashion. As Havard prepares to release Mercy Sea, he continues to prove himself as an artist committed to exploring life’s most profound themes and we can’t wait to see what he’s got in store.

Commenting on the single, he shares, “Love comes in many forms, and friendship is one of them. The lyrics were born from a three-day trip to my childhood home where we tried to write songs. We wrote about everything under the sun, aiming to convey that life can one day be good, even when you’re trapped in what feels like insurmountable darkness.”

Listen to Alone At A Table for Five below