Oslo-based artist ARY has unveiled her highly anticipated new album, ‘DARKSTAR’, a striking evolution in her artistic journey that showcases her distinctive voice in the Nordic music scene. Crafted in the intimate solitude of her home studio, this album invites listeners into a realm of emotional exploration, breaking through boundaries that define her sound and vision.
Following her critically acclaimed debut ‘For Evig’, which garnered a Norwegian Grammy for Best Electronic Music, ARY’s new work dives deeper into the complexity of self-confrontation, grappling with the challenges of articulating difficult truths. While her debut poignantly captured the experience of grief after losing her twin brother, ‘DARKSTAR’ expands this narrative to encompass an array of personal themes, revealing her as one of Norway’s most compelling emerging artists.
ARY’s early career saw her navigating the mainstream pop landscape under a major label, but her decision to choose an independent path allowed her to redefine her sound and identity. This journey of self-discovery laid the groundwork for her self-produced debut and continues to influence her artistic direction. With ‘DARKSTAR’, ARY delves even further into the underground aesthetic of Oslo’s music scene, fusing the essence of late-night club culture with introspective soundscapes.
The album opens with the bold track ‘Kill Me’, establishing a sweeping “dark Scandi-tech” atmosphere that sets a tone of intensity and narrative progression. Songs like ‘Long Way Down’ and ‘Withering Rose’ enhance this urgency, with the latter serving as a poignant critique of the music industry and ARY’s place within it. The track ‘Bleeding Hearts’ showcases her production prowess, characterised by intricate layered arpeggios, while ‘Formaldehyde’ and ‘Werewolves’ pull back to highlight the raw power of her haunting vocals.
Exploring a diverse array of genres, ‘DARKSTAR’ marks a conscious departure from mainstream pop. Tracks such as ‘I Switch’ reflect ARY’s evolving identity, while ‘Running In A Dream’ and ‘Matador’ further illustrate her eclectic musical influences. The album’s journey culminates in the closing tracks ‘Dark✯’ and ‘Wear Me On A Silver Chain’, which encapsulate the emotional breadth of the project, leaving listeners in a contemplative space.
Photo: Ida BjørvikEntirely autobiographical, ‘DARKSTAR’ navigates themes of estrangement — both from oneself and from others — while celebrating the fluidity of identity and the complexities of the human psyche. ARY describes the album as “a journey that begins with waking up after years in the depths of grief and realising I’ve changed so much that I’ve become unrecognisable, even to myself.” It’s a deeply personal exploration of meeting one’s own darker corners and learning to coexist with both light and dark.
As the album launches, ARY continues to build her international profile, having recently collaborated with DJ Seinfeld on a new single and gearing up for a performance at Øyafestivalen this summer. With a European tour in the pipeline for the fall, ARY’s trajectory is on the rise. Her unique sound has garnered attention from notable outlets such as The Line of Best Fit, Pitchfork, and Interview Magazine, solidifying her place in the Nordic alternative pop landscape.
With ‘DARKSTAR’, ARY offers an immersive and uncompromising body of work that resonates deeply, cementing her position as a force within forward-thinking electronic music.
