Morten Harket from a-ha: "Explanations are stupid"

The Norwegian pop band "a-ha" is back - and coming to Switzerland. In this interview, singer Morten Harket explains how and why the band got back together.

You disbanded "a-ha" in 2010. Why?
Morten Harket: All three of us wanted to open our horizons to new opportunities. A band is a big responsibility in many ways. A project like a-ha takes up all your time. That's why we stopped for a while. Not knowing whether it would only be for a limited time or forever.

What motivated you to make a comeback two years ago?

a-ha celebrated their comeback two years ago

It doesn't start at the surface, but deep down. But if a bubble makes it to the top, you say: Hey, there's something there. In our case, it wasn't just a bubble that was created, but several processes took place at the same time. Certain things come together that lead to a certain reaction.

For example?
The world is always looking for explanations, but that's actually stupid. Not everything can always be explained. It is what it is. Certain things just want to happen. That's what happened to the band in 2015.

Do you believe in fate?
I don't think so, no.

What would you do differently today if you could turn back time?
I don't even ask myself that. Because I don't think that way. Everything that happens can teach you things that you can use later. What counts is what you make of it. In the end, the interesting question is why it came out the way it did. Because there is no ultimate goal for anything, I don't believe in fate.

Your biggest hit "Take On Me" is now 32 years old. How does it feel to sing this song today?

Coming to the Hallenstadion in February: a-ha

This song has remained at the heart of our song catalog the whole time. I have no problem singing "Take On Me". Our history shows that we are much more than this hit. And that's what matters. The unplugged version is also a rediscovery for us. It shows other, original aspects of the song.

How did you come up with the idea of playing your songs unplugged?
It was an opportunity to rediscover the songs. They take on a form that is different from the way they were originally recorded. It's a process. You start all over again. Then you get a completely different perspective on the songs.

You are coming to the Hallenstadion Zurich in February. What can people expect?
We're playing a concert with 20 unplugged songs. That doesn't mean that there won't be something else. But if you're expecting something special, you'd better go to the supermarket.

A-HA
February 2, 18, Hallenstadion Zurich
TICKETS