GISKE Capture the Bittersweet Glow of Summer on “August Came”

The days are still bright, the air remains warm, but something has shifted. The season is beginning to slip away, and with it comes a quiet awareness that moments never last forever. That feeling sits at the heart of “August Came,” the new single from Norwegian guitar-pop outfit GISKE.

Built around shimmering Rickenbacker 12-string guitars, close vocal harmonies, and melodies that feel both uplifting and wistful, the song draws inspiration from classic guitar-pop pioneers such as The Byrds, The Smiths, and Teenage Fanclub. The result is a track that radiates warmth while carrying a subtle undercurrent of melancholy, perfectly capturing the emotional contradictions of late summer.

“August Came” is the third single from the band’s forthcoming album, Ten Visits, Ten Songs, scheduled for release in October 2026.

What makes GISKE particularly compelling is the history behind the music.

The project is rooted in a songwriting partnership that stretches back more than three decades. In the summer of 1991, cousins Rune Berg and Alex Rinde were cycling around the small Norwegian island of Giske when they decided to start a band. Later that same day, they wrote their first songs together, unknowingly beginning a creative relationship that would continue for the next thirty-five years.

Since then, the pair have played in numerous musical projects, most notably The Margarets, one of Norway’s most beloved guitar-pop bands. Between 2002 and 2008, The Margarets achieved significant success, earning a gold record and four Top 10 singles in Norway. Longtime friend and neighbour Ronnie MAG Larsen, who joined them as a percussionist in the early 1990s, would later become an essential part of GISKE as well.

Despite decades of collaboration, the passion for songwriting has never faded.

In fact, Ten Visits, Ten Songs emerged from a remarkably simple idea.

With extensive touring no longer practical due to Alex’s health, Berg began travelling from Oslo to Giske with an acoustic guitar in hand. Each visit to Rinde’s Yellow House resulted in a new song. After ten visits, they had written ten tracks, enough to form a complete album.

The process gave the record its title and infused the songs with a sense of intimacy and authenticity that can only come from lifelong friendship and shared history.

“August Came” beautifully reflects that spirit.

The song feels timeless, drawing on the rich traditions of melodic guitar pop while remaining fresh and personal. Its chiming guitars and layered harmonies evoke memories of classic jangle-pop records, but beneath the bright surface lies a deeper emotional resonance. The track understands that beauty often comes hand in hand with transience, and that some of life’s most meaningful moments are the ones we know cannot last.

That balance between light and shadow has become one of GISKE’s defining qualities.

Their music embraces melody without sacrificing depth, creating songs that invite repeated listening and reveal new emotional details over time.

For listeners who appreciate thoughtful songwriting, rich harmonies, and the enduring appeal of guitar-driven pop music, “August Came” serves as a perfect introduction to what promises to be one of the most heartfelt releases of 2026.

More than thirty years after two cousins decided to start a band while cycling around a tiny Norwegian island, the songs continue to arrive.

And they still have something worth saying.

GISKE is a Norwegian guitar-pop band formed by longtime collaborators Rune Berg, Alex Rinde, and Ronnie MAG Larsen. Drawing on decades of friendship, songwriting, and musical experience, the group creates melodic, emotionally resonant songs inspired by classic guitar-pop traditions while remaining firmly rooted in their own unique story. Their upcoming album, Ten Visits, Ten Songs, will be released in October 2026.

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