Jouska makes a stirring return with “Flower Moon,” the first glimpse of new material since her acclaimed sophomore album Suddenly My Mind Is Blank. Released via Oslo’s indie gem Koke Plate, the single is a haunting, slow-burning piece of dream pop that sways like a memory you can’t quite place.
Norwegian producer and artist Marit Othilie Thorvik taps into a deeply personal space here, written during a period of emotional turbulence while in New York. “I felt suspended—physically in one place, emotionally in another,” she recalls. That ache of disconnection permeates every layer of “Flower Moon,” but it’s never heavy-handed—it floats, it glimmers, it aches gently.
Channeling the sonic spirits of The Radio Dept., Slowdive, and Beach House, Jouska crafts a soundscape that’s lush but weightless, soft yet emotionally sharp. The track’s warmth comes in part from her longtime collaborator and partner Hans Olav Settem, who adds backing vocals, guitar, bass, and synth—blending seamlessly with contributions from Elias Tafjord (Sassy 009) on drums, Bård Kristian Kylland (GiddyGang) on Rhodes, and Fredrik Svabø (Aurora) on pedal steel. It’s a small ensemble, but one that breathes life into every detail.
“Flower Moon” is more than just a return—it’s a quiet evolution. Thorvik continues to hone her signature blend of intimate lyricism and shimmering production, capturing the emotional weight of disconnection without ever losing the beauty in the haze. This is dream pop with a pulse, a fragile glow that lingers long after the final note fades.
If Suddenly My Mind Is Blank introduced the world to Jouska’s emotional range, “Flower Moon” reaffirms it—and signals that something even more powerful may be just beyond the horizon.
