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True North

by A-ha

Released: October 21, 2022

Synth-pop, new wave, pop rock, alternative rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Chart Success.

The Album

The band's story was explored in a documentary titled "a-ha: The Movie," released in 2021, which covers their success and personal conflicts. "True North" is the eleventh studio album by the Norwegian band A-ha, released on October 21, 2022, by RCA and Sony Music. Paul Waaktaar-Savoy noted that the project started as an idea to record a studio session live, which evolved into a larger production involving the Arctic Philharmonic, with whom they collaborated.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

The album's opening track, "I'm In," was released…

The album's opening track, "I'm In," was released as the first single on July 8, 2022.

Accompanying the album is a film of the…

Accompanying the album is a film of the same name that features a-ha recording the album in November 2021 in Bodø, Norway.

In January 2022, it was announced that a-ha…

In January 2022, it was announced that a-ha signed with RCA Records in Germany to release "True North." The idea for the album and film was inspired by Bruce Springsteen's "Western Stars" (2019), with Morten Harket describing it as a "musical letter from our home country," focusing on themes of nature and the environment.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

A-ha - True North

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Then

Reception

Commercially, the album debuted at number 12 on the UK Albums Chart, selling 5,109 copies in its first week, marking a-ha's 17th entry in the top 75 on the chart.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"True North" is the eleventh studio album by the Norwegian band A-ha, released on October 21, 2022, by RCA and Sony Music. The album's opening track, "I'm In," was released as the first single on July 8, 2022.

Accompanying the album is a film of the same name that features a-ha recording the album in November 2021 in Bodø, Norway. Paul Waaktaar-Savoy noted that the project started as an idea to record a studio session live, which evolved into a larger production involving the Arctic Philharmonic, with whom they collaborated.

The band's story was explored in a documentary titled "a-ha: The Movie," released in 2021, which covers their success and personal conflicts. In January 2022, it was announced that a-ha signed with RCA Records in Germany to release "True North." The idea for the album and film was inspired by Bruce Springsteen's "Western Stars" (2019), with Morten Harket describing it as a "musical letter from our home country," focusing on themes of nature and the environment.

Commercially, the album debuted at number 12 on the UK Albums Chart, selling 5,109 copies in its first week, marking a-ha's 17th entry in the top 75 on the chart.