Susanne Sundfør strips back to organ and voice for Julian of Norwich album Revelations Of Divine Love

Since releasing 2023’s blómi, Sundfør has become a mother of two, left city life for the Norwegian countryside and entered what she describes as the most transformative period of her life. That period of stillness and reflection led her to medieval anchoress Julian’s writings – which she first encountered while reading about medieval women whose voices had been erased from history. “We live in a world of horror, full of unhappy, unsatisfied people doing terrible things to each other,” Sundfør says. “You don't have to be religious to believe that love is the answer. Swap the word God for love and you have a higher power that is universal.” The album was recorded with Mercury Prize-nominated pianist and organist Kit Downes, who co-composed the score with Sundfør and selected the church whose organ became the record’s second voice with the pair embracing a philosophy of immediacy, with close-miked vocals, mostly single takes and performances that prioritised presence over perfection. “Traditionally, vocals accompanied by an organ are powerful and loud,” says Sundfør. “I wanted the opposite—soft, whispered, as understated as possible. It’s about authenticity, not perfection. It had to ...