Set for release on October 3rd via Prophone Records, With Hope is a poignant and timely response to a world in turmoil — a record that acknowledges the sadness of war, polarization, and climate change, while seeking resilience, wonder, and connection in the spaces between.

“For me, this music is a response to the challenges we face,” Hagberg reflects. “It’s filled with sadness, but also hope. Hope that I find in listening and creating together, in children’s play, in small acts of resistance and resilience. Music allows us to see the beauty that still exists in these uncertain times.” 

Rooted in an improvisational flow across two recording sessions in 2023 and 2024, Hagberg’s writing blends original compositions with reimagined folk melodies. Three pieces – “Ruins,” “Evening Hymn,” and “With Hope” – are inspired by chorales from Gammelsvenskby in Ukraine, while “Arctic Call” draws on an Inuit drum song, and “Woods in Blue” reflects a traditional Swedish polska from Härjedalen. The final piece is a reworking of Francis Poulenc’s choral masterwork “O Magnum Mysterium,” gently reframed for the ensemble’s distinctive voice.

Rooted in buoyant melody and intuitive interplay, the record features Hagberg’s distinctive voice on alto, bass, and concert flutes alongside soprano saxophone. The quartet – featuring percussionist Helge Andreas Norbakken, pianist Joona Toivanen, and bassist Johannes Lundberg – brings a textured sonic palette to these soundscapes. Their interplay is enriched by Oberheim synths, prepared piano, singing bowls, and other subtle textures, creating a nuanced, cinematic backdrop that holds the balance between sorrow, joy, and hope.

With Hope is Hagberg’s second album with his Nordic ensemble, following the acclaimed North (2020), which garnered glowing reviews across Europe. With his new release, Anders Hagberg continues to shape a musical world all his own – one that invites listeners to acknowledge the present, honor the past, and look to the future with openness, creativity, and empathy.