Writing lyrics is a lot like fishing. The tackle can vary, but the bait is always the same: patience and the right moment. I like reeling them in best, especially when they put up a little resistance. Once I’ve landed them, my job is done. The rest I leave to others. I send the lyrics straight on to Geir Holmsen, who can prepare them according to all the rules and exceptions of the craft, then pass them to Maj Britt Andersen, who, together with the musicians, can finally serve them to the audience as fresh songs. We’ve been at this for almost ten years, “November” is our fourth record together, and it’s a small miracle every single time.

So what species do these songs belong to? I have a soft spot for perch and rainbow trout, but I’m quietly rooting for the zander, which thrives best in slow rivers. That’s where our songs come from: the slow rivers. I think they’re about settling down, which isn’t the same as standing still. Perhaps it means coming to terms. Perhaps it even means the art of limitation, which opens the door to new possibilities.

What’s certain, at any rate, is that November is not only a month but also a state of mind, and it has been explored musically and poetically by countless artists and poets, from Tom Waits to Henrik Nordbrandt. We’re in good company. The difference is that we like November.

– Lars Saabye Christensen