Classical Composer CAROLINE LEISEGANG Unveils Her Fifth Studio Album // COMES THE NIGHT
Acclaimed classical composer CAROLINE LEISEGANG is proud to announce the release of her fifth studio album, COMES THE NIGHT. With over 2.2 million streams on Apple Music, CAROLINE has redefined the boundaries of her own abilities ever since the release of her debut album, Øyeblikk in 2015. With four full-length albums to her name, she has consistently pushed the envelope, crafting works that resonate with both contemporary and traditional audiences. COMES THE NIGHT was released exclusively on Apple Music on 18 October 2024, and reached #1 on Apple Music’s Classical Music Chart – her 5th album to achieve this accomplishment. COMES THE NIGHT is now available on all streaming platforms.
Now, as she navigates the evolving landscape of her own artistry, CAROLINE is finding new depths in her sound – a reflection of her journey through the nuances of time and experience. Her music, marked by a profound maturity and emotional richness, continues to elevate the art form, inspiring a new generation of listeners and composers alike.
COMES THE NIGHT was recorded in July 2024 at Highseas Studios in Johannesburg, and marks a significant evolution in CAROLINE‘s artistic journey, blending deeply personal themes with innovative compositions that challenge the boundaries of classical music. The title was inspired by a book CAROLINE bought at the iconic Shakespeare & Co. bookstore in Paris, embodying a sense of personal connection and the impact of fleeting moments. As she describes it, “It’s about the moment of impact. Nothing specific, more personal than anything else. I wanted to create something that plays like a story – from Beginning to End.”
The album’s overall theme is a reflection of CAROLINE‘s recent life experiences, particularly the transformation of becoming a mother during a time of global upheaval. “In 2020, I turned 30, I became a mother, and the world changed in the blink of an eye,” she shares. “Motherhood has been beautiful and tense, the world has been beautiful and tense. This duality is what I wanted to capture.”
Featuring eight brand new compositions, CAROLINE describes the piece ‘Victorine’ as one of her personal highlights. She notes, “I tried something very different and out of my comfort zone with this body of work.” The composition mirrors the delicate balance of beauty and tension that she’s experienced in both her personal life and the world at large. “It’s a very personal album, maybe even a bit self-involved,” she admits, emphasising the introspective nature of the work.
CAROLINE’s approach to COMES THE NIGHT was distinct from her previous albums. She has transitioned from her signature solo piano compositions to incorporating strings, and for this album, focusing solely on solo strings, particularly cellos. The album was recorded over ten days, with a creative process that CAROLINE describes as ‘very stuttered’. She explains, “I would write, leave it alone for a while, pick it up again and think I was finished, but then keep writing. I feel the compositions were only really complete once we had finished recording.”
Though CAROLINE did not collaborate with other composers, she did have the honour of working with her dear friend Clare Vandeleur, who played cello alongside herself. The production, co-produced with engineer Jacques Du Plessis, was both inspiring and enjoyable. “Jacques has a way of making you feel so comfortable in the studio; he takes the pressure off,” CAROLINE says.
COMES THE NIGHT was mastered in Dolby ATMOS by Rici Martins to create a full listening experience. Meticulously mastered with Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio, this immersive sound design will allow listeners to feel every note of CAROLINE’s new compositions, while taking them on a journey through her music.
As with all her work, CAROLINE hopes that listeners will find a personal connection with COMES THE NIGHT. “It’s always the same hope – that they manage to make the music their own,” she expresses. The album’s duality, which she sees as “quite dark, but there’s also a lot of light,” invites listeners to interpret the music in their own way, making it a deeply immersive and individual experience.
COMES THE NIGHT Play Listing:
1. Beginning
2. enter caroline
3. comes the night
4. blackbirds at dawn
5. when the world won’t keep still
6. Victorine
7. i was once a prelude
8. End
COMES THE NIGHT is now available on all streaming platforms:
CAROLINE LEISEGANG CONTACT
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*Photo Credit: Chloe O’Doherty.
