Single cover

Elvira Nikolaisen’s duet with Morten Harket, “I Look to You This Time of Year”, finally got a proper release back in August, as part of Nikolaisen’s latest album (Every day I’m) Born Again.

After getting some airplay on Norwegian radio over the last few weeks, the song has now also been released as a single on digital platforms (December 1st) in time for Christmas, including on Spotify, Tidal and Apple Music.

In a recent interview on the NRK P1 radio show Kveldsåpent, Elvira called it an “existential Christmas song” and that it represented a new beginning for her when she wrote it in 2017. The song was recorded in 2018, and briefly available for listening on her website during Christmas 2019.

“Elvira: I wanted that song to be a duet. Then I happened to talk to a friend who is a journalist, who had done an interview with Morten, and he mentioned that name, Morten Harket. Suddenly it seemed clear to me that it had to be him. Eventually I got hold of Morten on the phone, and it all worked out.

Elvira: Yes, it does. And that may have been part of the reason why I felt Morten was the right duet partner in a song like this, as I think he understands my reference of singing to something or someone that you may not have a name for. Hitting rock bottom and singing out to something or someone, hoping for an answer, in a way that’s what the song is about. But it’s also two people singing to each other, standing shoulder to shoulder.”