With her ninth studio album, Lighthouse of Glass, on the horizon, Swedish genre-bender Sofia Härdig unveils one last preview with the new single ‘In Silence’, released via Bark At Your Owner (a branch of the Icons Creating Evil Art family).
The track begins with a soft acoustic guitar, gradually swelling in intensity as Härdig’s unmistakable voice takes centre stage. Her raw, unfiltered delivery—reminiscent of Patti Smith—cuts through with an arresting force. Originally buried in her archives, “In Silence” took on new life through layered instrumentation and a serendipitous collaboration with violinist Sara Edin. “Sara saw one of my gigs and told me, ‘If you ever need violin, just call me.’ I love her tone and playing—it’s as bold and beautiful as she is,” Härdig shares.
Reflecting on the piece, Härdig describes her fixation with silence as “the breaking point of reality where anything can happen.” For her, silence is not a void but an entity—one she wears “like a shroud.” She explores this paradox with evocative lyricism: “the silence I am breaking apart… where the words sleep. And in that silence, we rise…” Here, silence transforms into both sanctuary and ignition—a dark abyss where transformation begins before erupting into sound.
Channelling influences like Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, and Alan Vega, ‘In Silence’ serves as a final teaser for Lighthouse of Glass, which Härdig describes as “the tip of the iceberg of a long cycle of lyrics, often a novel or short story crafted in solitude.” Self-produced between her home studio and a residency at Visby Center for Composers, the album transcends genres, seamlessly weaving between alternative rock, gothic rock, and post-punk. The recording process blended both intimacy and collaboration, with Härdig’s kitchen and tin roof becoming unconventional creative hubs. The project also brought together Swedish musicians like Robert Johnsson (Robert Johnson and the Punchdrunks) and longtime collaborator John Essing (Bob Hund), with Grammy-winning mixer Nille Perned applying the finishing touches.
Härdig’s experimental approach to music took root in childhood, when she began composing songs using unconventional sounds—car engines, vacuum cleaners, and boat motors among them. She sang over the hum of household appliances and played an ancient, untuned piano, foreshadowing the avant-garde path her music would take. Over time, she has garnered critical acclaim, earning a Composer of the Year nomination in Sweden and recognition from artists such as Belle and Sebastian’s Stevie Jackson and members of Sonic Youth. Her music has resonated internationally, with BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq championing her work and German Radio Eins dedicating two hours to her releases.
Härdig’s impressive career includes collaborations with Grammy winners The Hellacopters and Bob Hund, as well as acclaimed producers Jari Haapalainen and Nille Perned. Swedish Hall of Fame artist Jenny Wilson has supported her work, even remixing her single ‘Collision’. She has also performed alongside Lydia Lunch and collaborated with Yoshimi from Boredoms. Known for her electrifying live performances, Härdig continually pushes sonic boundaries, turning everyday noises into immersive artistic experiences.
With ‘In Silence’, Härdig offers a striking final glimpse into Lighthouse of Glass, setting the stage for an album that refuses to be confined by convention.
Listen below:
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