Helene Rickhard returns to the Snick Snack label with her latest project, Everlasting High, released May 8. The record serves as a natural evolution of the sonic palette she established on her debut, pushing her vocal work to the forefront while maintaining her signature blend of ambient, techno, and synth-driven textures within experimental club structures.
Rickhard’s background in the Oslo underground is deeply embedded in the album’s DNA. Her approach to production—focused on pacing, tone, and contrast—mirrors her philosophy behind the decks. In her DJ sets, she seamlessly weaves together Italo, high-energy synth records, and unconventional club selections, creating a cohesive identity that bridges the gap between focused listening and functional dancefloor energy.
The Ephemeral Nature of Club Culture
The conversation surrounding Everlasting High inevitably turns to the culture of documentation. When asked about the value of recording sets versus the raw, live experience, Rickhard admits to a certain level of performance anxiety when she knows a set is being captured. While she appreciates the mixtape format, she notes that the digital preservation of a set rarely captures the true essence of a night out.
Reflecting on her own formative experiences, Rickhard recalls a pivotal night in 1995 at the Whirl-Y-Gig in Shoreditch. Surrounded by psychedelic decor and the sounds of Banco De Gaia and Transglobal Underground, she notes that the lack of ubiquitous smartphone technology allowed for a different kind of immersion. She views the club experience as inherently ephemeral—a space for the release of tension and the shaping of moods that cannot be fully replicated through a lens.
Preserving Mystery in a Digital Age
This perspective informs her stance on the modern club scene. Rickhard expresses a preference for venues where phone usage is discouraged or prohibited, valuing the sanctity of the moment over the need for social media documentation. She observes that the rise of digital permanence has shifted how audiences perceive DJs, sometimes placing an undue emphasis on technical showmanship rather than the atmospheric journey.
Despite these shifts, Rickhard remains optimistic about the role of mystery in music. She believes that as long as there are sounds and spaces left to explore, the sense of discovery remains intact. For Rickhard, the goal is to continue creating music that invites listeners into that space of mystery, ensuring that the connection between artist and audience remains as vital and unscripted as the best nights on the dancefloor.