Morten Harket, lead singer of A-ha, has given an update on his battle with Parkinson's disease, revealing he has recorded a new album and released a new single, Hold Me, featuring his daughter Tomine. Despite the diagnosis, which was made public in June 2025, he has continued to work in the studio, though he reiterated he still cannot perform live on stage.
Diagnosis and public announcement
Harket revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in June 2025. The band confirmed the news in an emotional statement shared across social media and their official website, following years of managing the condition privately. At the time, it seemed the announcement might mark the end of the Take On Me singer's career.
Speaking about the new record on the band's website, Harket said: "It's been quite a journey, to be able to land this. For me, and certainly for everyone else working with me under such uncertainty, giving it all they had. I'm proud of them, all – grateful to them all!"
New music and studio work
According to available information, most of the vocals on the album were recorded before he became ill, with only some vocal overdubs added during the latest recording period between July 2025 and July 2026. Everything else in terms of instrumentation and arrangements is brand new.
While Harket revealed that his voice has recovered to a certain extent, he reiterated that he still won't be able to sing live on stage. However, he indicated he could return to the studio for further projects with the group, giving hope to fans that new music may still come.
"I'm constantly looking for a way back to using my voice for recording. I've done some new vocals on this record, but nowhere near enough to say I'm there. I'm hoping to get there, and that might even mean going back in the studio with the band, with a-ha," he said.
Acceptance and outlook
The original announcement stated: "This isn't the sort of news anyone wants to deliver to the world, but here it is: Morten has Parkinson's disease."
In a candid interview accompanying the reveal, he opened up about the diagnosis and his outlook on life going forward. "I've got no problem accepting the diagnosis. With time I've taken to heart my 94-year-old father's attitude to the way the organism gradually surrenders: 'I use whatever works,'" he said.
Harket admitted that the decision to go public was not taken lightly. "Part of me wanted to reveal it. Like I said, acknowledging the diagnosis wasn't a problem for me; it's my need for peace and quiet to work that has been stopping me," he explained.
