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Sondre Lerche releases new EP Turning Up The Heat Again.
In the ever-churning world of music, where singles drop like rain and attention spans flicker, the steady, thoughtful output of an artist like Sondre Lerche feels like a warm, familiar chord progression in a sea of algorithmic noise. The Norwegian singer-songwriter, a fixture of sophisticated pop for over two decades, has just unveiled his new EP, *Turning Up The Heat Again*, a move that feels less like a sudden release and more like the next, perfectly timed note in a long, melodic conversation with his audience.For those who’ve followed Lerche’s journey—from the bossa-nova-inflected whimsy of his early work to the more textured, synth-kissed introspection of recent albums—this EP is another chapter in a career defined by melodic generosity and lyrical nuance. The timing is particularly resonant, arriving just a couple of weeks after his latest annual holiday offering to the music blog Stereogum, a cherished tradition where he selects a contemporary track and re-imagines it through his own distinct lens.This year’s choice, a cover of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’s soaring duet “Die With A Smile,” was a masterclass in interpretation, stripping the pop powerhouse ballad down to its aching, acoustic core and highlighting Lerche’s gift for finding the vulnerable heart in any song. That act of creative reinterpretation seems to be the thematic engine for *Turning Up The Heat Again*; while the EP features original material, it carries that same spirit of revisitation and renewal, a sense of an artist looking back at his own sonic palette and deciding to turn up a few dials that had been left at a simmer.The title itself winks at this idea of revisited energy, suggesting not a brand-new fire but the stoking of an existing, enduring flame. Lerche’s work has always existed in a delightful space between the earnest craft of classic singer-songwriters and the sleek production of modern indie pop, drawing comparisons to artists like Prefab Sprout or a less cryptic Steely Dan, yet always filtered through a distinctly Scandinavian sensibility that favors clarity and emotional precision over muddy angst.This new collection reportedly continues that evolution, with early snippets suggesting a blend of the jangling guitar work that first won him fans and the more atmospheric, rhythmically sophisticated arrangements he’s explored lately. It’s the sound of an artist who has earned the right to be both consistent and surprising, who understands his own voice so well that he can play with its edges without losing its core.In an industry obsessed with virality and disruptive debuts, Lerche’s model—one of consistent quality, direct fan engagement through traditions like his Stereogum covers, and a refusal to be rushed—feels almost radical. He builds discographies like a vinyl collector builds a shelf: with care, intention, and a deep love for the album as a complete statement, even in the abbreviated EP format. *Turning Up The Heat Again* isn’t just a handful of new songs; it’s a signal that a masterful pop craftsman is still deeply engaged in the process of refining his sound, still turning up the heat on his own creative process, and inviting us to lean in closer to hear what simmers next.
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