Hidden Light David Åhlén

• 1 Morning Prayer 04:16
• 2 Hidden Light 03:18
• 3 Heal me my Love (feat. Nicolai Dunger) 03:17
• 4 Forever 04:15
• 5 Morning Without Clouds 02:16
• 6 Majesty (feat. Sofia Jernberg) 03:36
• 7 In Peace 02:38
• 8 Recapulatio 01:55
• Total Runtime 25:31

Info for Hidden Light

It’s 2016 and the world is (still) in darkness. Big or small, the hurt is hurting everyone and this does not simply pass by David Ahlen just because he lives on a remote island in the Baltic sea. Together with his wife and five children, David is part of ‘Stenkumla parsonage’, a Monastic community and shelter to anyone in need. Far from the blur of the big city, David lives in a barn sheltered by nature. Though living in a remote area, David is very eager to share with us his beautiful music. By sharing his music, the listener catches a glimpse of the light David sings about.

Being a folk singer from Sweden, David knows how to get a story across. The stories for his album came to heart after reading a book called ‘The Concealed Light’ by Tsvi Sadan. After a period of improvising together with his good friend Andreaz Hedén, David recorded Hidden Light in just two days! Even though we had to wait for years for this new album, his music speaks like never before. David’s stories and the way he performs them tends to bring rest to the ears, peace to hearts, as if talking about pure inspiration. David’s unique voice is sheer yet intense as the thinnest light itself, and it really has been touching listeners all over the world for many years now.

David recorded many tracks on the island of Gotland itself, just like for the former album, and this time he worked with many different artists and like-minded friends in both Stockholm and Oslo. Complementing David’s unique voice are Svante Henrysson (known for his work with Ryan Adams and Elvis Costello), Sofia Jernberg (from Fire! Orchestra who sings a duet on the track ‘Majesty’), Jonas Nyström (flugelhorn on the track ‘Hidden Light)’ and Nicolai Dunger (known for his work with Will Oldham and Emiliana Torrini and he sings duet on the track ‘Heal me’). Andreaz Hedén and Manne von Ahn Öberg (known for his his label Atrium and producing Stina Nordenstam and Under Byen) offered to mix the album after hearing such beauty.

The songs of David are not your average gospel-tunes but have their own meaning and tone of voice. These short stories about faith, longing, death and life uncover a Hidden Light, a light seen by David Ahlen shared with the listener.

When taking time to really listen to Hidden Light one might find it hard to switch back to reality...

David Åhlén, vocals
Nicolai Dunger, vocals, harmonica
Andreaz Hedén, grand piano, prepared piano, organ, harmonium
Svante Henryson, cello
Sofia Jernberg, vocals
Jonas Nilsson, double bass
Jonas Nyström, french horn, trumpet, vocals

Produced by David Åhlén

David Åhlén
The Swedish artist David Åhlén is the son of a Baptist pastor and was literally raised in the church. The simple songs and hymns made an impression on him at an early age. At age six, David started to study classical violin, which he continued through high school. However, when it came down to a choice between playing in an orchestra or writing songs for a pop band, he chose the later. Since the mid-90’s, David has been involved with a variety of indie bands. He spent several years as the songwriter and lead singer for the band Namur, where you could hear his voice among monotonous guitars, danceable drums, and roaring electronics.

Over the last ten years, David’s musical language has developed toward a simpler expression. With producer Andreas Runeson’s involvement, the arrangements have been peeled back to the core with David’s voice and more intimate, and complete, music remaining. This process of undressing to expose only voice, acoustic guitar and subtle arrangements has allowed his musical journey to reach the surface. The spirit which penetrated his live performances when he played in bands is still the same, but echoes from the years of violin lessons and the tone of the simple songs of faith he never stopped singing now emerge loud and clear.

David creates a peculiar hybrid of indie and hymn, sung with an inimitable voice. Kulturnyheterna SVT (Swedish Public Television) called him “indie pop music’s answer to Arvo Pärt.” David’s critically acclaimed debut album We Sprout in Thy Soil (Compunctio) features Uppsala Cathedral Boys’ Choir, Stefan Östersjö, Johan Berthling, Mariam Wallentin (Wildbirds and Peacedrums) and Emil Svanängen (Loney, Dear). David self-released his second album Selah in 2013 (and 2015 via the dutch label Volkoren). The album Selah was recorded in David’s home, the parsonage of Stenkumla on the island of Gotland.

In September 23, 2016, David released a third solo album - Hidden Light (Volkoren) in collaboration with Nicolai Dunger, Andreaz Hedén, Svante Henryson, Sofia Jernberg (Fire! Orchestra), Jonas Nilsson, Jonas Nyström and Manne von Ahn Öberg.

This album contains no booklet.