Hanne Jøstensen Releases Intricately Crafted Sophomore EP ‘The Lighthouse’
Patiently crafted over a five year period, Wellington/Norwegian songwriter and singer, Hanne Jøstensen, presents an intimate, enchanting & wonderfully moody body of work. Hanne’s sophomore EP, The Lighthouse, sees her collaborating with some of Wellington & Norway’s finest, creating authentic connections between the musicians and the listener. Her EP The Lighthouse draws beautifully on her Nordic heritage and New Zealand home and is due for release on April 17th 2026.
Allowing space for both the music & the listener throughout, Hanne blends thoughtful lyricism, catchy melodies and evocative arrangements, taking the listener on an otherworldly journey. Linking people, moments and landscapes from Norway to New Zealand, from the remote Norwegian lighthouse, of the EP’s first single and title track, to moments connected via the auroras of the polar night skies.
In 2004 Hanne moved to Aotearoa for what was supposed to be three years.
I met my partner here, and Wellington became my new home. I love the creative vibe and community feel, the roughness of the south coast. A capital city and yet so wild.
So it came to be that the EP took its final shape in Wellington, being recorded & mixed throughout 2025 under the masterful gaze of the multi-award winning Lee Prebble at The Surgery. After honing her songwriting skills for over a decade, self-producing the EP and crafting the many arrangements, Hanne presents an emotive, genre defying, body of work. The Lighthouse encourages us to sit back and take the time to be transported.
Not one to rest on her laurels, Hanne has drawn on the expert skills of longtime collaborators, Jim Walmsley on guitar, Martyn Galea on synth and Steph Casey on backing vocals, all of whom played on her debut EP. Also joining is Andreas Lepper on percussion, alongside two incredibly talented string players from Orchestra Wellington, Jane Dalley on cello and Susan Fullerton-Smith on viola. Paul Mouncey (OdESSA) adds his own unique touch, working closely with Hanne and playing bass on both Two Gold Rings and Wildflower.
As the many stories on this EP intertwine, weaving a cross-country journey, the track Wildflower takes a slightly different path. Alongside being a stunning composition, its lyrics were derived from a chance meeting on a flight to New Zealand, telling a moving story from four points of view.
As the many parts of the EP came together, Hanne had a wonderful full circle moment, being able to pull off including a very special Norwegian choir, the acapella group Apes & Babes on the track Trapped, many of whom are friends from Hanne’s university days.
Hanne’s degree in languages and organisation studies has led to a career of leading people through change. That strong people focus is now informing her storytelling through music.
The songs are personal but not necessarily all autobiographical. I love the artistic decision making process as a songwriter and producer, gradually navigating the endless choices.
Photo Credit: Ricky Situ
