If you think modern music has already said all it can, allow us to introduce Orbits—a Norwegian jazz/alternative pop supergroup that’s redefining genre boundaries. They’re like a comet passing through our universe, leaving behind a trail of deep lyrical reflections. With frontman Lars Horntveth from the legendary Jaga Jazzist, producer Erlend Mokkelbost known for his work with Honningbarna and Sandra Kolstad, and vocalist Natalie Sandtorv, whose solo projects Neon Ion have already won listeners’ hearts, Orbits is undoubtedly a constellation of talents united by a shared passion for experimentation. Their new single, Falling Apart, is an emotional journey over six minutes long, where pulsating beats meet rich bass lines to create an inspiring atmosphere. After a resounding success at the Oslo Jazz Festival and the release of their debut single “Synthetic Sweetness,” Orbits is gearing up to release the vinyl EP Bad Mantras in November and a full album in February 2025. Today, we’ve invited Orbits to talk about their creative journey, inspirations, and how they manage to create such intimate music.

photo by Anne Valeur

Hello guys, thanks for taking the time to chat with us. You know, I’ve always had this feeling that the best songs come into our lives like emotional markers of sorts. They stick with us, make us reflect on something bigger, and sometimes it turns into an almost therapeutic process — for both the writer and the listener.“Falling Apart” is a song about letting go of love as it slips away, but how hard was it to let go of the song itself? I mean, when you were working on it, were there moments when you felt like it was going beyond just a regular track and becoming something more, something personal that moved you more deeply than you expected?

Natalie: For me, it’s a perfect example of how our collaboration blended our distinct sonic palettes, instincts and creative influences, creating a fusion that feels fresh and perhaps even unexpected. The verse has this laid-back, almost denial-like state of mind, but the chorus really opens up and hits with a deeper intensity. It was a transformation that made the song feel more powerful than I originally imagined.

Erlend: As long as you’re playful, things can go from pretty mundane and basic to something rich and emotional pretty fast. It’s just up to what you infuse it with, be it the lyrical content, the way it’s performed or something else that gives it that extra quality. With this song we felt it grew and grew, especially with how it was recorded live in the studio with an amazing group of musicians, which is what you hear on the record.

It seems like your collaboration in Orbits is a bit of an experiment. What was it like coming together as a group for the first time and starting to work together?

Natalie: I have to admit, I was a little nervous when we first started working together. It takes time for me to feel comfortable when composing with new people. But gradually, small ideas began to surface, and once we all added our unique touches, the music really started to take shape. It felt natural, like our styles just clicked, and that’s when it got exciting.

Erlend: Natalie and I have collaborated for years, and Lars and I had been friends for almost 20 years before Orbits. But Lars and I had never made music together, so that was a bit daunting in the beginning. But we got into it, made a whole lot of music and are still all closer friends than ever hehe.

There’s something especially exciting about the way “Falling Apart” sounds — it feels like it’s balancing on the edge between jazz and alternative pop. How important is it for you to maintain that balance between being experimental and accessible?

Lars: If there’s one thing that we all have in common, it’s that we love all kinds of music, from the most accessible to very experimental. So when we get together and make music it’s just about getting to that place where it feels great for all of us. Being three people creating is really a good way of balancing things out. That said, I don’t think we’re scared of being neither too experimental nor too poppy. The most important thing is to find something new and exciting for ourselves. 

Natalie, the lyrics of “Falling Apart” are quite raw, and it feels like you’re going through that emotional maze each time you sing it. Is it difficult for you to perform this song, given how multilayered it is?

Natalie: You know, I think when we wrote ‘Falling Apart,’ I managed to capture this really specific kind of hopelessness, and strangely enough, I enjoy going into that emotional space when we perform it live. It feels like revisiting that intensity, but in a way that’s almost freeing, you know? There’s actually a funny story—Erlend and I both got a little teary when we recorded the final choruses in the studio, right after Lars’ solo. It was such an emotional moment, and the lyrics definitely strike a deep chord with me. But, performing it live, especially shouting that chorus, is surprisingly liberating. It’s almost like therapy on stage!

photo by @amongsavages

Lars, you’re well-known for your work with Jaga Jazzist. How has your perspective shifted in Orbits compared to your previous experiences?

Lars: It’s very different writing instrumental music like I do with Jaga for sure. But I’ve written a bunch of pop songs both for my band The National Bank as well as with numerous people I’ve worked with as a producer. I love it. The way we did this was really exciting. We started with absolutely nothing and just forced out so much music the three of us. I think none of these songs would have been the same at all if we weren’t in the same room creating together. I found it really liberating creating this together compared to sitting by myself like I usually do. And faster! One thing leads to another and we didn’t spend any time second guessing. We found a common gut feeling really quickly I think.

Erlend, working with Orbits seems like it’s brought its own unique challenges. What’s been the most interesting part of the process for you? Was there anything that really caught your attention or surprised you?

Erlend: The most rewarding part of this band is that I feel we are all equal parts of the whole sound. Like Lars said, we’re all into tons of music – experimental, poppy, funky, angular, organic, electronic – just about anything is in the mix, as long as it’s good. But that can also be challenging with too many ways it could go, plus you throw in three people with their own creative egos in the mix, and it could all go to hell. But it did the opposite, it became a very fruitful and joyous collaboration I hope we keep doing forever.

You recently performed at the Oslo Jazz Festival, and by all accounts, it was an incredible show. How did it feel to see your music come to life on stage in front of a packed house?

Erlend: Becco, where we played, feels very home to us. I’m part owner of the place, we all hang out there and have played there a bunch, so it was a very nice place to do our first proper show in Oslo. Lots of friendly faces, totally packed and a beautiful late summer night in our hometown with incredible musicians. That’s when you feel the music can really flourish and come to life, so we loved it.

Oh, and where are you guys playing next? Any upcoming shows you can tell us about so people know when and where to come see you live?

Erlend: We’re planning to do as much as possible when the record comes out, and we’re hoping to go to Europe and possibly the States in not too long. We’re talking to some festivals etc, but you’ll just have to check out our website or Instagram for the latest updates. Plenty to come.

You’ve got your EP Bad Mantras coming out on vinyl in November. What does this format mean to you personally, and why did it feel so important for this release?

Lars: We were really lucky to have way more material than needed for the album. And we liked all the songs. So I feel like the Bad Mantras EP is gonna be an amazing addition to the album. It’s got some stuff that are even more experimental and got this crazy energy. I mean, Ola Øverby is just an insane drummer and he really shines here. The EP consists of two main songs and their intros. Long intros. Like they were intended. I’m really happy about it, the EP has its own vibe. Also, I love B-sides and extra stuff. Looking forward to releasing it! 

And of course, I can’t help but ask about the full-length album coming out in February 2025. You’ve already got a few strong releases, including Falling Apart and the upcoming Bad Mantras EP. What are you hoping for with this album, and are there any surprises in store?

Erlend: We’re looking forward to showing people all this music that we’ve been making, kind of secretly just the three of us. It’s a super varied, rich, hooky, experimental slab of music, and I think Orbits is a great musical world for people to delve into.

*This article was made possible by BTD Sounds PR