At first glance, Sunwards is a handful of charming and catchy pop-songs, but upon a closer listen a more complex emotional landscape emerges. With elaborate arrangements and detailed production, Lasse Passage narrates with dark humor and self-irony, making the somewhat universal topics personal yet relatable. On the opening track "Miles Away," Passage's musical harmonies, soothing arrangements, and delicate voice contrast with sharp, unapologetic observations that hook the listener, setting the distinct tone for the rest of the album.
On his journey in Mexico, Passage reflects on leaving certain things behind in order to initiate new beginnings, in love as in life. “Traveling for me has always been an inspirational activity tied to my songwriting. Usually, when I set out I have no other fixed points than bringing my guitar and maybe a return date," says Passage.
Sunwards is perhaps Passage's most accessible and ambitious production to this date. It features a band from the top shelf of the Scandinavian jazz scene (Andreas Werliin, Jo Berger Myhre, Andreas Stensland Løwe, Kim Myhr, Anders Hostad Sørås, Espen Reinertsen and Eivind Lønning), and is mixed by Noah Georgeson, a Grammy winning producer, recording, and mixing engineer, known for his work with Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart, The Strokes and Norah Jones.
Sunwards is due out August 28th 2020 via the Norwegian experimental label Sofa Music.
Lasse Passage is a free-spirited singer, songwriter and producer from Norway, who dwells between folk, lo-fi and pop. With a background in contemporary composition, he has an interdisciplinary approach to songwriting that breathes playfulness and simplicity, often wrapped in delicate arrangements and detailed production.
After dropping out of conservatory in 2007, Lasse Passage embarked on a two year journey across five continents, writing simple songs as a way of reinventing his love and joy for music. These songs became his catchy 2009 debut album If You Don’t Have Time To Cook, You Don’t Have Time To Live that expresses a gentle melancholy seen through the lightness of an adventurous traveler.
The double album follow up entitled Stop Making Sense and Start Making Success was released in 2015, and emphasizes Passage's distinct sonic environments and quirky sides of production alongside with his natural gift for writing pop. The music video for his 2010 single “Say Say Say” earned him a nomination for Best Indie/Rock Video at the UK Music Video Awards (2011) and was featured in the renowned Cannes Film Festival. It depicts the beautiful unpredictability of music, and its success signaled his arrival as an international artist.
Ever-inspired by his travels, Passage's upcoming album Sunwards reflects the introspection brought on by a solo journey through Mexico. “Traveling for me has always been an inspirational activity tied to my songwriting. Usually, when I set out I have no other fixed points than bringing my guitar and maybe a return date. So in a sense I set myself up for having to live in the ‘now’, because traveling alone with no plan - you have to be humble and tuned in to your surroundings in order for positive experiences to come your way,” says Passage
A departure from his previous sound, Sunwards was written with just a guitar, Passage focusing on the more traditional songwriting crafted on the road. Recorded back in Norway at Athletic Sound with a the help of stellar musicians from the Scandinavian jazz scene (and mixed by Noah Georgeson (Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart, Andy Shauf, Norah Jones, the Strokes) in Los Angeles, Sunwards is perhaps his most accessible album to this date -- direct and unveiled lyrics flirting with universal themes, wrapped in soothing arrangements and Georgeson’s warm sound.
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