a-ha Release MTV Unplugged – Summer Solstice
For immediate release:
A-HA RELEASE MTV UNPLUGGED - SUMMER SOLSTICE
06 OCTOBER 2017 (Toronto, ON) – Today, a-ha releases MTV Unplugged – Summer Solstice via Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. Comprised of a collection of performances from when the band played their first two acoustic concerts ever during the Norwegian summer solstice in June 2017, the appearance commemorates a journey into their own past. For two weeks, the band rehearsed the acoustic arrangements which their producer Lars Horntveth had worked on for more than half a year. At the nearby Øygardshallen, a-ha played in front of an audience of only 250 fans per show.
The beauty of the North Atlantic, the light of the midnight sun and the exclusivity of the event are only one half of the story. The other narrative thread is about a-ha playing new arrangements and stripping down their songs to their compositional essence. In this context, Morten Harket stresses the crucial role of arranger/producer Lars Horntveth, “He inspired our music by presenting completely new arrangements, even tapping into elements which we had declared to be ‘untouchable’. Lars deserves the credit for bringing the band closer together than we had been in a very, very long time.”
As part of the MTV Unplugged shows, a-ha performed 17 of their songs with completely new arrangements as well as two new premieres and two cover versions. a-ha and their backing band played exclusively on vintage acoustic instruments, with a total of four renowned guest vocalists teamed up for duets with Morten Harket. Ian McCulloch, vocalist and mastermind of Echo & The Bunnymen, was greeted on stage by a-ha on the first night. On the second night, they were joined by Alison Moyet, Highasakite’s Ingrid Helene Håvik and American singer Lissie. Watch the MTV Unplugged performance of “This Is Our Home” here.
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