Maridalen is back with a new project – this time in collaboration with songwriter and storyteller Lars Lillo-Stenberg, known for his characteristic folksong and ballad interpretations and for his ability to depict the mundane with warmth and distinctiveness. The result is the EP French Exit, recorded in March 2025 in a house in the small French village of Sanxay.
The songs were written and composed together during the stay and revolve around travels, reflections from the village, longing, wonder and the sense of returning home. The lyrics reflect on what it really means to go away – and what you discover along the way. Where Lillo-Stenberg’s distinctive expression meets Maridalen’s open and Nordic chamber jazz, a music emerges which is both melodious and narrative, open and intimate.
In recent years, Maridalen have made their mark both nationally and internationally, with three critically acclaimed albums and concerts at festivals throughout Europe. With French Exit, they open the door to a new musical landscape along with Lillo-Stenberg.
Photo: Jørgen Nordby