In 2017 they followed their own advice from their song “Grab the Moment”, winning Norway’s very competitive Melodi Grand Prix before placing in the Top 10 at Eurovision.
And now JOWST and Aleksander Walmann have joined forces once more on the bouncy dance track “Into the Wild” — a song about chasing your dreams and passions.
Showcasing his global outlook, JOWST collaborated with the Argentine dance-electronic DJs W1NK0 on the production.
“Into the Wild” — JOWST & Aleksander Walmann
Fans of dance-electronic will vibe with this. There’s a lot going on — from an electronic voice to finger snaps to crescendos to swirls to percussion. Yet Aleksander’s voice maintains its soothing quality, helping give the bouncy track a laidback feel.
The message is open to interpretation, but it seems to centre on the idea of living life on your own terms and pursuing what you love rather than what’s expected.
Aleksander goes “into the wild” because he wants to dream like a child — so big and without the expectations and pressure that can dull so many adults. He flees the “city lights,” perhaps a symbol of the establishment and all the rules that come with it, for the wild, where people live by their own rules.
About JOWST and Aleksander
JOWST is the stage name of Norwegian songwriter and music producer Joakim With Steen, who is frequently seen on stage and in artwork wearing his signature mask. For Eurovision 2017 he teamed up with singer Aleksander Walmann, the runner-up on The Voice of Norway in 2012. Walmann later competed on the popular series Stjernekamp, where he wowed while performing across multiple genres, including rock and opera. The pair collaborated again at Melodi Grand Prix 2018 on the song “Talk to the Hand”, which made it to the Silver Final.
In February 2017 JOWST told wiwibloggs that the mask he wears is a way to let viewers imprint their own image onto him — making him a symbol of their own aspirations. “When I’m on stage I don’t want to be an idol, but someone people can look up to….other people are seeing this and I want them to think they can also do this. That’s what [our Eurovision 2017 song] is about — grabbing the moment and doing stuff.”
“Into the Wild” lyrics — JOWST & Aleksander Wallmann
We were young on the run
searching for a paradise.
Then we wrote different storylines
We’re still having fun, right?
And I’ve been wandering far into the wild.
I wanna feel alive and dream like I’m a child.
Run into the wild.
Run into the wild.
I thought I could do anything
careless chasing fairytales
Still don’t know how the story goes
Guess no one really knows
And I’ve been wandering far into the wild.
I wanna feel alive and dream like I’m a child.
Run into the wild.
I’ve been chasing all the city lights
and no matter day or night
they’re just not shining bright.
I’m never turning back again
never losing track again
Run into the wild.
I’ve been wandering far into the wild.
I wanna feel alive and dream like I’m a child.
Run into the wild.
Photo / art by: Joshua Cadogan
