Sonic Iceland is the brainchild of two bloggers, Kai and Marcel from Germany and Ireland, who – being fascinated with Icelandic music ever since – decided to spend the whole month of June this year in Iceland. We conducted loads of interviews with many Icelandic artists, drank beer with even more, and also managed to shoot some pictures and write a couple of blog posts about our stay. Right now we are finalising a website that will document our journey, and we will also publish a book next year. Some of our pictures were exhibited at the world’s biggest photography fair, Photokina in Cologne.
As most bands we met are playing the Iceland Airwaves festival, we are very sad that we cannot partake in the festival this year. To make up for this, here’s a personal list of some of the bands we met, bands that we recommend everyone to look out for- either playing Airwaves or anywhere else you can find them. We do however like to point out that it is almost impossible to pick just a few out of the over 250 performing bands. They are all that good.
However, here are some of the interesting and very friendly humans we met in Iceland:
Sudden Weather Change
Noisy, with three guitars, and with recorded sound on vinyl and online only. Which is the way to go. Catch Sudden Weather Change live at Faktorý on Friday, 15.10.
Sólstafir
If there’s something like the Icelandic version on Black Sabbath, it must be these guys. Going strong for 10+ years now, Solstafir are flying the flag of Icelandic metal wherever they can. They will shred the Metal Hammer showcase at Sodoma on Friday, 15.10.
Svavar Knútur
One of the nicest humans we ever met, Svavar is – in our opinion – Iceland’s best singer/songwriter, and a funny one on top.
Myrra
Myrra also does the one-girl-with-guitar-troubadour thingy, but with a mellower twist. She also makes great coffee. Myrra will play the Airwaves-off venues Thursday and Friday at Hemmi & Valdi and Smekkleysa.
kimono
One of the few Icelandic outfits with an expat frontman. Canadian Alex, Icelander Gylfi and Icelander Kjartan play a sound somewhere between Can and Queens of the Stone Age, and must have performed in every shitty little club in Europe by now.
Sykur
Sykur don’t like to be called youngsters. Compared to us, they are quite young, though. And the play brilliant electro pop.
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