James Yorkston & Friends Announces New Album 'Songs For Nina & Johanna' - To Be Released on 22 August
Acclaimed Scottish singer-songwriter James Yorkston has announced his brand new album Songs for Nina and Johanna to be released via Domino on August 22. The album is his sixteenth on Domino and his third to be recorded in Stockholm in conjunction with members of The Second Hand Orchestra. Nina Persson (The Cardigans), who teamed up with James on his previous critically-acclaimed album The Great White Sea Eagle, this time shares singing duties with Johanna Söderberg (First Aid Kit), the two of them singing separately with James on five and four tracks respectively. A Moment Longer and Love / Luck, the first two tracks to be taken from the forthcoming album, have been released today and you can listen to them here.
Songs for Nina and Johanna is a meditation on family, love, and parenthood, filled with gentle melodies and poignant lyricism. Recorded live at Studio Rymden in Stockholm with co-producer Daniel Bengtson, the album features two of Sweden’s most recognisable female vocalists: “Who wouldn’t embrace the chance to sing with two great Swedish voices?”, says Yorkston. “When the idea for Johanna to join the fold was suggested, I leapt at the chance. Nina and Johanna, they complement, yet never compete. And me? I tried not to get in their way, tried to give them space to interpret the songs as they felt.”
Söderberg was heavily pregnant with her second child during the recording sessions, something which may have ignited a certain emotion seeping into her performances. And despite the more limited appearance of Second Hand Orchestra leader Karl Jonas Winqvist—due to illness—members of the collective still feature prominently on the album. Contributions include Peter Morén (Peter Bjorn and John) on guitar, Ullis Gyllenberg on violin, Lina Langendorf on saxophone, and Lars Skoglund on drums.
The album will be released on CD, digital, and vinyl formats, with a limited-edition Dinked LP that includes a bonus CD of four reimagined tracks by members of The Second Hand Orchestra. Heartfelt, soul-stirring, and full of human warmth, Songs for Nina and Johanna stands as one of Yorkston’s most vital and life-affirming works to date. Pre-order the album HERE.
Live
Duo shows with James & Nina:
- Tues 16th Sept - Queen’s Hall - Edinburgh
- Weds 17th Sept - The Common Room - Newcastle
- Thu 18th Sept - The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
- Fri 19th Sept - Halle St Peter, Manchester
- Sat 20th Sept - St Martin in the Field, London
- Tues 23rd Sept - Södra Teatern, Stockholm
James Yorkston solo shows:
- Fri 5th Dec - CCA, Glasgow
- Sat 6th Dec - Tolbooth, Stirling
- Mon 8th Dec - Future Yard, Birkenhead
- Tue 9th Dec - Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds
- Wed 10th Dec - Durham
- Thu 11th Dec - Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham
- Sat 13th Dec - Alphabet, Brighton
- Sun 14th Dec - Bodega, Nottingham
- Mon 15th Dec - Strange Brew, Bristol
- Wed 17th Dec - South Street Arts Centre, Reading
- Tue 20th Jan 2026 – Quasimodo, Berlin
- Weds 21st Jan 2026 – UT Connewitz, Leipzig
- Thurs 22nd Jan 2026 – Brotfabrik, Frankfurt
