True North traverses a continental divide to make good folk.

Not too many groups can claim two Swedes and a Californian. But Eva Hillered and Patrick Rydman have teamed with Pacific Grove’s Janni Littlepage, classically-trained musician and dulcimer player, to produce music many wish they could claim as their own.

True North recorded its self-titled debut EP last May after touring in Sweden, Denmark and Germany.

“We squeezed in two days together in a studio when Janni was in Sweden,” says Rydman, a jazz singer from Gothenburg. “We did guitar and vocal tracks, added some stuff and produced it. We worked quickly but it turned out really nice.”

Album highlights include an acoustic rhythmic trip to funky town, “New Way Round” (written in a Big Sur cabin), and an Americana vibe that runs freely throughout the title track; expect an inviting abundance of harmonies, in the vein of Crosby, Stills and Nash and Nickel Creek, on everything True North does.

About a year ago the trio convened for the first time on the Peninsula as part of its first tour, doing nine shows. With the distance involved, such feats are all about careful planning and accepting a patient schedule.

Now the trio is together again on the Central Coast, celebrating its record release through February. On Saturday afternoon True North appears at Jan de Luz in Carmel Valley.

After Rydman and Hillered, a Stockholm Grammy nominee, head back to Europe Feb. 27, it won’t be until May that True North does another tour.

True North finds steady direction nonetheless. Littlepage’s explanation for the geography-defying success is simple: “Just dream it into making it happen.”

TRUE NORTH RECORD RELEASE happens 2-4pm Saturday, Feb. 22, at Jan de Luz, 1 E. Carmel Valley Road (next to Cima Collina Tasting Room), Carmel Valley. $10; $10 CDs. 235-7662.

HEAR MORE HERE >> www.reverbnation.com/truenorthtrio