Memorial and Dustin O’Halloran have released “The Lightness,” a collaboration from Memorial’s new album Jera, out today, August 7, via OPIA Community. The song is the album’s final single and closing track, bringing together the Brighton duo and the pianist-composer on a piece about the space between betrayal, forgiveness and acceptance.
The song began years ago during a period of personal upheaval for Memorial, after what the duo describes as a foundational betrayal. Its arrangement starts with close vocals and understated acoustic textures before opening through O’Halloran’s piano and restrained strings. Memorial first played the song with O’Halloran at Sounds From a Safe Harbour, where his approach immediately stood out. “Working with Dustin on this song was an honour,” Memorial said. “He listened so intently, waiting for the moments that needed his emotional weight. Everything he played seemed to just breathe with the song.”
The album was tracked live at Ólafur Arnalds’ studio in Reykjavík while heavy snowfall kept the musicians inside, then completed at Clockwork Owl Studios in Brighton with longtime producer Tim Bidwell. OPIA Community was founded by Arnalds, and Jera is Memorial’s first album for the label. Its title comes from Jera, the 12th rune of the Elder Futhark, associated with the year, harvest and a fruitful season. Memorial says the record was built around sitting with difficulty rather than forcing resolution.
Memorial’s self-titled debut arrived in 2022, followed by second album Redsetter on May 10, 2024, through Real Kind Records. On May 13, 2026, Jack Watts and Oliver Spalding announced their move to OPIA Community with “Teeth,” their first release for the label. Memorial followed it up in June with “Rest (& be thankful),” a collaboration with Irish singer-songwriter Niamh Regan.
