Einar Solberg, the frontman of the Norwegian rock band Leprous, made headlines earlier this year with the release of his debut solo album, 16. However, in a unique solo venture at the beginning of 2022, he presented a special live-streamed performance, reimagining the entire Leprous album The Congregation with just piano and vocals. Now, this captivating performance is set to receive an official audio release titled ‘The Congregation Acoustic’ on February 16th, 2024.
In anticipation of the release, Einar Solberg shares his thoughts, stating, “I’m both super excited but also kind of terrified for me to release this live version of “The Congregation”. It’s raw and unedited, and exactly how I did it on my livestream. Usually all musicians these days (myself included) are used to fixIng stuff in post-production, but on this one we’ve done nothing! I think it’s cool sometimes to dare to show a more fragile and less “perfect” side of yourself. “The Congregation” is probably the least suitable album we’ve ever done to make an acoustic version of, but I think it turned out surprisingly OK!”
Einar Solberg presents a different facet of his artistry in 16. Described by Einar as “the closest I’ve ever come to writing a concept album,” 16 delves into a specific and transformative period in the musician’s life. The album features collaborations with various talents, including Ben Levin of Bent Knee, Toti Gudnason of Agent Fresco, Raphael Weinroth-Browne, and Magnus Børmark of Gåte.
The forthcoming release will be available in various formats, including Ltd CD Digipak, Limited Gatefold 180g Black 2LP, and Digital Album. The cover artwork, is by Elena Sihida.
Pre-order at einarsolberg-artist.lnk.to/TheCongregationAcoustic-Live