Building on the haunting beauty of his 2020 debut album Chants From Another Place, Swedish songwriter Jonathan Hultén returns with his new album, Eyes Of The Living Night, out now via Kscope.
Described as “an album that shimmers, taking listeners through the decades of rock, synth-pop, blues and folk on a journey best described as ambient dream-grunge,” Hultén also has a new single out, entitled ‘Riverflame’.
Speaking on the inspiration behind ‘Riverflame’, Hultén said: “While some things seem to be so durable and unwavering that it will last forever, even the most steadfast things could end sooner than expected and without warning. The pain many of us feel at some point in our lives – Experiencing the finality of existence through loss and instability – can be disheartening, sometimes even robbing us of confidence and hope. Nothing escapes the transience of all things and the relentless flow of the river of time.
“’Riverflame’ is the little flame inside our chest that ever burns with the fervour of inspiration through the tides of time and space, nurtured by the very same realization that everything will end all too soon. Yet, rather than drawing a sombre conclusion, the fire urges you to release your soul – Dance, express yourself, and live fully while you still can, alive and full of dreams. May we all find peace with the impermanence of all things.”
You can check out the new video today for ‘Riverflame’, filmed in Kollerud, Sweden, by Jakob Johansson below.
The first single from the new album was titled ‘Afterlife’ and that too has a music video filmed by Johanssons., but this time at Westlanda Flygplats. Speaking about the single and video, Hultén said “In ‘Afterlife’, your soul is pulled into the underworld, thrust into a labyrinth with no option but to navigate its cold corridors. Haunted by its ghostly inhabitant intent on draining your life energy, you must press forward.”
“While going through this trial, you also discover hidden treasures along the way – Important emotions and insights – that help guide you on your path through the seemingly endless night. When you finally reach the burning candle at the heart of the labyrinth, you realize that all along you were on a quest to find all those hidden treasures, and that they actually were things you had once lost – namely, parts of yourself.”
The single is available digitally and you can check out the video here at RAMzine.
Recorded at Stockholm’s Chanting Studios and co-produced with Ola Ersfjord (Lady Blackbird, Tribulation, Monolord), the new album Eyes Of The Living Night is said to be “a remarkable showcase of Hultén’s distinctive blend of folk, rock and pop”, drawing influence from the likes of Bert Jansch, John Martyn and Nick Drake as well as contemporaries such as Anna Ternheim, Chelsea Wolfe and Hexvessel.
Tracks featured are: ‘The Saga And The Storm’, ‘Afterlife’, ‘Falling Mirage’, ‘Riverflame’, ‘The Dream Was The Cure’, ‘Song Of Transience’, ‘Through The Fog, Into The Sky’, ‘Dawn’, ‘Vast Tapestry’, ‘ The Ocean’s Arms’, ‘A Path Is Found’ and ‘Starbather’.
Eyes Of The Living Night will be available as a pearl blue vinyl lLP, classic black vinyl LP, CD and digitally. The album can be ordered here.
Following his supporting The Cult on tour last year, Jonathan Hultén has announced a run of US shows in 2025 supporting Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats (Tickets available here) and will also be performing at France’s LUX Festival in Montpellier on 12th November (click here).
