Earlier today, a press release was sent out from Universal Germany about Morten’s second single, “Scared of Heights”. The single will be released outside Norway on March 23, and there will be a music video for the song as well.
The single cover is below, and the press release text follows.
It is the next chapter in a story about a great band – a new beginning following a triumphant farewell. Deep inside, Morten Harket felt that the whole story had not yet been told: The story of a-ha, with its unforgettable songs. “I definitely didn‘t want to do anything half-hearted: But I had the feeling that it was not the end of the road”, he recalled, looking back to December 2010. In Oslo, after 25 years, a-ha had finally broken up. A break-up without ill-will, opening new doors.
With the light, up-tempo arrangement of “Scared of Heights” came the first “post a-ha era” song. Upon hearing the intro, it was clear: Morten Harket had listened to his heart. He is taking the band’s special aura into the future – in his own way. Unlike in his earlier solo albums, he is not trying to stick or relate to any specific genre, but is clearly dedicating himself to the art of the great pop songs. This is obvious when his unmistakable voice floats through an arrangement penned by Norwegian songwriter Espen Lind, co-writer of Trains 2009 hit “Hey Soul Sister”. This is when the spirit of a-ha unites with Harket’s joyful creativity.
Thus “Scared of Heights” is both a sample of, and a look at, the upcoming “Out of My Hands” album. After creating the framework in his studio at home in Oslo fjord, Harket put together a multi-talented team. His very old friend and lyricist Ole Sverre Olsen joined him, as did Swedish producer Peter Kvint, British studio crack Steve Osborne and keyboarder Erik Ljunggren. The intensive work surrounding “Out of My Hands” was “a game of mutual, inspirational ping-pong”, recalls Harket.