Iris Silver Mist is the title of Jenny Hval’s new album. The title is taken from the perfume by Serge Lutens of the same name, and the songs carry traces of the scent’s powdery, shimmering character. They move from flowers to smoke, feeling ghostly yet alive.

The album didn’t begin with music, but with the absence of it. When live music disappeared during the pandemic, Jenny Hval was left with a musical void that was hard to define – until she became fascinated by perfume. She smelled things, read, collected, and wrote – while the music was set aside, she surrounded herself with the perfume’s notes and accords. It took her a year to understand what was really happening, but suddenly it became clear: she needed a way to sense physical presence. When she finally began making music again, her songs were infused with scent.