The guitarist drew inspiration from Irish-Norwegian folk, the typical rhythms of South America, and the colors of North Africa.

There's a myth about second albums--that they're difficult, even 'cursed.' But for me, Stella felt like a walk in the park compared to my debut. Nova, released in 2024, was my first solo album. The process was intense and overwhelming, but I'm deeply proud of the result.

Interestingly, the seeds for Stella were planted while I was still working on Nova. After composing a debut that leaned heavily on minor keys and melancholic moods, I began writing songs that felt brighter and more uplifting. The new album has more major sounds, Irish/Norwegian folk-like melodies, and a touch of flavor from both North and South America. Still, I remain rooted in jazz, with musical nods to Django Reinhardt, African music, and influences from the Middle East.

I was thrilled to reunite with the musicians from Nova, and honored to welcome multi-instrumentalist Knut Hem as a guest on slide guitar for two tracks. During the writing process, I felt that some compositions needed vocals--without lyrics--to fully come alive. I sang a few myself, and my band joined in to form a small choir on several songs.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to and supported Stella. My second album, and a truly joyful one. Here it is!

Johan Tobias Bergstrøm, October 2025

Track Listing

• Snowdrop
• Inirida
• Azalea
• Campunala
• Zinnia
• Cosmos
• Rubus
• Santini
• Aster
• Poppy

Additional Details

Label: Losen Records

Genre: Jazz

Language: English

Run Time: 34:02 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 03/06/26

UPC: 7090025833236