Wardruna’s ‘Helvegen’ began with a question about singing for the dead. Einar Selvik has since heard from listeners who have used it at funerals, weddings and the births of their children.
Speaking with us about ‘Helvegen II’, out now via By Norse Music, Selvik explains that the original recording no longer reflected the song Wardruna perform today. He spent around four years working on the new version and planning its accompanying music film.
The new recording adds a verse, with Selvik drawing on the song’s orchestral arrangements and guest appearances, including Aurora’s.
“I take things from the acoustic version and implement it into this.”
The question behind ‘Helvegen’ is who will sing us across when we die, if the old songs and the practice of singing them have been lost. In the stories listeners share with him, Selvik hears people bringing those traditions into their own lives.
He believes music can give people access to the sense of solemnness and connection they might otherwise find in religious or ceremonial spaces.
“It doesn’t have to be a religious or a spiritual thing, you know? It can be anything and everything.”
For the film, directed by longtime collaborator Tuukka Koski, Selvik pictured a walk along a shoreline. The meeting of land and sea gave him a way to depict the passage between life and death. Finnish dancer Sofia Ruija portrays the deceased, accompanied by Krummi the raven.
Wardruna ‘Helvegen II’ video
Although Wardruna’s music draws on Nordic and Norse traditions, Selvik sees connections in its themes, instruments and techniques to cultures far beyond Scandinavia.
“Nature creates culture, but that’s the same thing wherever it happens. So it’s just different dialects of mother nature.”
For now, he is making room for family, nature and his Labrador, Lasse, after a long period of recording and touring. Other projects are in the works, but he isn’t heading straight into another Wardruna album. Less time on the road, he says, will allow him to explore different kinds of work.
‘Helvegen II’ is available digitally now. The limited 12-inch coloured vinyl edition is due in February 2027, with pre-orders open until November 30th, 2026.
‘Helvegen II’ Track List
- Helvegen II
- Helvegen (Skaldic Version) [vinyl only]
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