Norwegian artist Jouska is preparing to release her new album, How Did I End Up Here?, next month. Written between New York, Los Angeles, and Oslo, the record dives deep into cycles of anxiety, self-doubt, and the feeling of being caught between past and present. It’s a raw and vulnerable project that trades polished electronics for softer, more fragile textures. The dreamlike soundscapes are shaped by themes of grief, guilt, and quiet acceptance, as heard on previously released singles “Flower Moon,” “Pierced,” and “Season of Dread.” For Jouska, the solo project of Marit Othilie Thorvik, this new chapter marks a turning point, one that leans into honesty and fragility while still finding glimmers of release.
Her new single, “California,” is the latest taster of this new era. Written during her first trip to Los Angeles, the track channels alienation, exhaustion, and the strange calm that can arrive in the middle of chaos. “Everything was unraveling. I was completely worn out, physically, emotionally, mentally,” Jouska recalls. Landing in LA brought her unexpected clarity: “The noise in my head quieted, and I met people who made me feel welcome without needing to perform. Some of them became close friends. It felt like I could start over, or at least exhale.” That fleeting relief cuts through the haze of the song, turning heavy emotions into something weightless, almost luminous. The proof that even in disconnection, moments of peace can be found.
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