A new reimagined track from Anja Huwe and Xmal Deutschland precedes live shows across Europe

“PolarForest” is the latest chapter in the collaboration between Anja Huwe and Xmal Deutschland, fusing elements from the band’s 1987 track “Polarlicht” with Anja Huwe’s 2024 solo composition “Living In The Forest.” The single connects past and present, repurposing material across decades to construct a darker sonic hybrid anchored in the aesthetics of post-punk. The release anticipates Huwe’s upcoming European live performances, scheduled for summer 2025. Full tour dates here.

Following the completion of her most recent solo album CODES—out now via Sacred Bones—Huwe spent time in New York City, where an encounter on 1st Avenue sparked the conceptual origin of PolarForest. Hearing a street mixtape that paired seemingly unrelated songs triggered a synesthetic recall of “Polarlicht” and “Living In The Forest” as interconnected works. Read our full interview with Anja Huwe.

While “Polarlicht” was originally centered on the ethereal imagery of the northern lights, with a mantra-like repetition of “scheine, scheine”, the new version introduces the harsher tonalities and themes of Huwe’s solo material. Her vocal performance from CODES overlays the original track with a sense of emotional unrest and latent hostility, shifting its narrative contours.

The hybrid track was completed in Berlin, with recording and production at Studio Katana, operated by Mona Mur. Manuela Rickers contributed the defining guitar elements from the original Xmal arrangement, while Jon Caffery was responsible for final mixing and mastering.

The music video for PolarForest includes visual contributions from Huwe’s own artwork as well as footage from COAX, ARCHETYPE, an interdisciplinary project by Rica Blunck and Nicolas Anatol Baginsky.

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