Kate Havnevik - &i (2015)

We first took note of Kate Havnevik back in 2006 with the release of her debut, Melankton. A string of successful sync-licences saw the majority of the tracks on that album used on American TV and film and brought the half-Norwegian/half-English singer-songwriter sudden attention and success.

Having grown up in Oslo playing the piano, flute and guitar, she joined an all-female punk band at the age of 14, although her sound subsequently evolved towards poppier climes with her discovery of Kate Bush. Frequent collaboration with Guy Sigsworth has ensured that electro leanings and catchy choruses have permeated Havnevik's output, as latterly evidenced by her new long-player, &I.

The 405 met up with Havnevik last year during her visit to London to watch her idol, Kate Bush's Before The Dawn. She played us the tracks from &I and told us about how they came about, as well as the stories behind them. In this Listening Guide to the album we bring you some of her thoughts.

TRACKLIST
1. Emperor of Nowhere (3:29)
2. Rocks in the Ocean (3:49)
3. Falling (3:38)
4. Signals (3:42)
5. Emotional (3:15)
6. Micronation (2:38)
7. Mine (3:46)
8. Still We Shine (4:31)
9. A Better Way to Love (3:41)
10. At First Sight (3:20)
11. The River (feat. Sultan + Shepard) (6:48)