With Gabbarein's latest release Jeg Hører Deg, you are transported into a mystical world of sophisticated artistry. The delicate instrumentation sits delightfully beneath Cecilie Hafstad's magical voice, the combination of glacial ambience and human vocal emotion provides a transfixing tonal masterclass.
Gabbarein are a Nordic ethereal folk duo comprising of Cecilie Hafstad (Norwegian vocalist & sound healer) and Christopher Bono (American composer & producer). Their name derives from an encounter Cecilie had, during the session recordings, with an injured White Reindeer. The animal remained near them for the full week and she felt a special connection with it, helping to energize her creativity. They decided to name the project Gabbarein, the Sami name for White Reindeer.
Cecilie Hafstad says that "‘Jeg Hører Deg‘ is about a breakup quarrel between a husband and wife, and the final fight they had before leaving each other and going their separate ways. The agony of the push and pull of trying to understand each other, but not getting it at all. The track is a play from each side, both trying, begging to be heard, hoping to fix it and move past it. But even though the love was so strong, they both gave up that day and left one another. This is a very sensitive and powerful song for me as I channelled back to that fateful day in my early 20s. I got to relive the scene and re-visit my emotions. The heartache and pain of it all. It really helped to heal that wound. But we all go through it and most can relate. One can still be crazy in love and it ends up not working out."
The video, featuring the spectacular mask art of Norway’s Damselfrau, is equally absorbing, especially if you are a lover of that bleak Scandinavian culture.