Björk has given fans an early look at a brand new song, "Nerve Bloom", pairing it with striking visuals at the launch of her new Echolalia exhibition.
The track made its debut as the acclaimed artist unveiled the extensive new exhibition at The National Gallery of Iceland in Reykjavík on Saturday, May 30.
The exhibition features three large scale audiovisual installations created by Björk, each deeply rooted in personal themes. Two of the pieces reimagine songs from her 2022 album "Fossora", while the third offers audiences an early introduction to music from an upcoming project.
The new album has not yet been formally announced, although it is currently expected to arrive sometime in 2027.
The previewed song featured in the exhibition is called "Nerve Bloom" and appears as a demo version of a track set to appear on the forthcoming album. Björk attended the opening over the weekend and later posted a clip of the song across her social media platforms.
Explaining the creative process behind combining the music with the visuals, Björk revealed that she spent seven months collaborating with painter Natalia Kleszczewska and graphic designer Natalie Liu to translate the song's energy into visual form.
"My role in it was a creative director, bringing in the singer-songwriter tradition, where emotionally precise things happen inside the structure of a song," she explained. "I guided colour palettes, textures and the environments the music happens in.
"To make this possible, during the process, Natalia often had to paint many shapes and sizes, different textures and layers of colours," she added. "Natalie then developed the visuals, designing and overseeing CGI elements, and finding ways for the digital to sit organically alongside Natalia’s world and include my dramaturgy and creative direction."
As heard in the preview clip, along with footage shared by visitors attending the exhibition, the song carries a similar sonic character to "Fossora", blending Björk's distinctive vocals with sweeping, atmospheric instrumentation.
Alongside the debut of the new material, the exhibition also reinterprets "Ancestress" and "Sorrowful Soil", both taken from her 2022 album, presenting them on a dramatic scale within a museum setting for the first time.
"Ancestress", which explores grief and healing, is accompanied by imagery of a secluded Icelandic valley, while "Sorrowful Soil" has been transformed into an immersive nine part installation featuring 30 separate speaker channels carrying voices from the Hamrahlíð Choir.
Bottega Veneta, Apple, AIAIAI and Genelec have all contributed to the exhibition. Visitors can also experience a companion installation titled "Metamorphlings", created by Björk's longtime visual collaborator and co creative director James Merry.
Tickets for the exhibition are currently on sale, and the showcase will remain open to visitors until September 20.
The exhibition officially welcomed guests over the weekend and follows the recent announcement of Björk's new solar eclipse rave, also called "Echolalia", which will be held in Iceland later this year.
The event will feature performances from Björk, Arca, Sideproject and Ronja Jóhannsdóttir. Attendees will also experience a two hour eclipse period, including just over a minute of totality when the moon completely covers the sun and plunges the area into darkness.
Björk first revealed details of the event in April, when she also confirmed plans for the exhibition and shared information about the upcoming album.
Speaking with NME in 2022, the singer reflected on her relationship with live music, nature and Iceland. She explained that although she enjoys travelling and exploring new places, she feels most at peace when returning home.
"I’m not really an urban person," she said, discussing the balance between city life and the natural world. "I love visiting cities and going clubbing or seeing a gallery or concert, but then I just want to go home. I’m more of a rural person by nature, so it was just a total blessing for me to be [in Iceland during the pandemic."
He'll be joined on the road by Samia and Keni Titus in 2026 and 2027, with a huge show lined up at London's O2
The Mancunian quintet's sixth studio album drops October 2nd via ODD SK / Distiller Records
The Boss was honored with the festival's Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award.
Two other opening ceremonies took place in Canada and Mexico, marking the first time the tournament has been co-hosted across multiple countries
The new record marks the DJ and producer's eighth full-length effort.
Kanye West is currently going on a World Tour, and with "Gemini Season" making the rounds, the artist has a new album dropping.
"My initial instinct was I didn't know where it was all going, but I just knew I needed to be in the studio"
Advertisement
Leave a comment