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Grapevine Playlist: Of Monsters And Men, Hildur, Karítas & More
The hills are alive with the sound of momcore pop, emotional ballads, trashy retro rock and trap. Praise be! It’s the new Grapevine playlist! Of Monsters & Men – Alligator The first Icelandic act to reach a billion plays on Spotify are…
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Making Of An Artist: The Diverse Artistic World Of Seint
Joseph Cosmo is Seint, a musician who creates expansive, atmospheric electronic soundscapes with contemporary pop flourishes. More recently, he has dipped his toe into the Icelandic rap scene with the textured, collaborative new album ‘IV.’ Here are some of the influences that…
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Stereo Hypnosis On Improvisation And Genre-Free Living
Stereo Hypnosis shows are a journey. A band that intentionally try to shake off categorisation, their work contains elements of many genres, from post-rock guitars to ambient washes of sound, to heady electronica mixed with motorik flashes. Live, they segue effortlessly from…
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Sincerely Arrogant: Newcomer Skoffín Brings On The Boldness
A resurgence of young indie rock is gradually sweeping through the underground of the Reykjavík music scene. Among these emerging bands is Skoffín, the project of 23-year old Jóhannes Bjarki Bjarkason, who recently released his first album, ‘Bjargar Heiminum,’ through the up…
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Neon Lights & Future Sights: Unconventional Icelandic Duo Geigen
The distinction between techno and classical music has in recent years started to blur. Aphex Twin’s 2003 remix of Philip Glass’ orchestral version of David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ distills the emotional intensity of Bowie’s vocals even further than the 1977 original. Local experimental…
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Artist Playlist: Classics, Insects & Moves To Kill For With Sillus
If you missed the debut EP by sillus last Christmas, you fucked up. A master collaborator who pops up regularly, with everything from her DIY punk band BSÍ to the Kórus choir or as a vocalist on Örvar Smárson’s debut solo record.…
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The Second Coming: Joey Christ Rises Again With ‘Joey 2’
Joey Christ is almost inhumanly relaxed. Sitting in the 101wonderland studio, right in front of Útvarp 101, the radio station he works every day from 07:00 until 14:00, he leans back into the cushions. It’s T-minus three days until the drop of…
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Grapevine Playlist: Comfort Creature, TSS, Hildur, Máni Orrason, Matthildur & More
Like eight simultaneous lightning bolts striking your laptop out of thin air, there are the latest offerings to flash out of the smoky fumarole of the Icelandic music scene. Comfort Creature – Pyramid Room Exit Iceland-born, Australia-based Auður Zoëga—who lists her hometown…
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Track By Track: Kristín Anna – ‘I Must Be The Devil’
Kristín Anna—also known from múm and Kría Brekkan—recently released her long-awaited solo album. “I Must Be The Devil” is an enchanting collection of piano-based tracks sung in Kristín Anna’s distinctive whispery voice. We asked her to talk us through it. The Ocean…
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Icelandic Music News: Múm Twins In Ragnar Piece, HÁTIÐNI Returns, Daníel Conducts
Twin sisters, múm members, and thriving solo artists Gyða and Kristin Anna Valtýsdóttir have been announced as participants in a new Ragnar Kjartansson piece entitled “Death Is Elsewhere.” They star alongside another set of musical twins—Bryce and Aaron Dessner of sadcore alt-country-indie-rock…
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Event Horizon: The Brothers of Andy Svarthol Complete Their Musical Education
Take the legendary artist Andy Warhol, change three letters in the last name so it becomes a play on the Icelandic word for black hole, and you have the unconventional duo Andy Svarthol. Comprising brothers Egill and Bjarki Hreinn Viðarsson, the band…
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Odes To Escapism: The Sound Universe Of MSEA
Maria-Carmela Raso, better known as MSEA, is a soft-spoken, self-deprecating musician originally from Canada. But her EP, ‘Hiding Under Things,’ belies a whole other side to the artist. Her lush, atmospheric compositions are deceptive. Just as the wash of keyboards and her…
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Time To Emerge: Janus Rasmussen Opens Up About Going It Alone
It can take time to step out on one’s own. For Janus Rasmussen, it took years as a member of Kiasmos and Bloodgroup before finding his legs to go solo. The Faroese-born musician and producer recently found the footing to emerge with…
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The Party Goes On: Three Alternative Nights For Sónar Reykjavík Fans
Given the massive line-up, Sónar Reykjavík 2019 would have been just as great a treat as it has for the past six years. My condolences to all party people, dancers, musicians and, not least, the Sónar production crew—who I bet are just-about…
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Grapevine Playlist: New Music From Kristín Anna, Högni, MIMRA & More
Like a sudden flurry of shooting stars entering your house through an open window, here are the latest cosmic emissions from the scene—it’s your weekly new music update. Kristín Anna – I Must Be The Devil Kristín Anna Valtysdóttir, the artist formerly…
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Listen Carefully: Bára Gísladóttir & Skúli Sverrisson’s Collaborative Bass Odyssey
Amidst the noise and heat of KEX Hostel in the middle of a bustling Airwaves afternoon, Bára Gísaladóttir and Skúli Sverrisson and took their seats for their first ever concert together. After a brief introduction from KEXPs’ Kevin Cole, they started to…
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Iceland Airwaves Is Turning 21: More Bands Added; Seabear Return
It’s official, Iceland Airwaves can now buy beers in America! Iceland Airwaves is gearing up for another fantastic year of music as the 21st edition of this annual event rapidly approaches. For those who are not in the loop, Iceland Airwaves is…
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Celebrate The Filth: Örmagna Paves A New Path In Icelandic Black Metal
Throughout its lifetime, Icelandic black metal has never been linked to good vibes, smiles and rainbows. Nor has black metal in general. After hearing Örmagna‘s self-titled debut album, which came out in early February, this becomes abundantly apparent. One could argue that…
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Artist Playlist: Bagdad Brother Inspo With Sigurpáll Viggó Snorrason
Sigurpáll Viggó Snorrason is the guitarist in fast-rising New Icelandic Indie band bagdad brothers. Winners of the Grapevine’s Best Live Act award for 2018, they’re an effervescent spectacle full of good vibes, jangly tunes and fresh energy. Here are a few of…
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Grapevine Playlist: Good Moon Deer, Seint, Andy Svarthol, LDN Ting & More
Like eighty-five ravenous polar bears simultaneously disembarking from icebergs and charging towards Akureyri, here are the latest fearsome barrages from the Icelandic music scene. Good Moon Deer – Aloner The choppy, glitching, tumbling electronica of Good Moon Deer jumps into warp speed…
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Dancing In The Dark: Vök Turn To Pop
In a small pink, neon-lit basement studio in a remote part of Reykjavík, the members of the band Vök are coiling cords and packing up their gear after shooting a press video. Having just returned from touring in Eastern Europe, multi-instrumentalists Margrét…
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The Immeasurable And The Unsaid: Tumi & Maggi’s ‘Allt Er Ómælið’
“Everything is immeasurable,” said the pre-Socratic Greek philosopher Anaximander. Did he actually predict that sometime in the future, there would be a music genre called jazz? We might never know. But drum and saxophone duo Tumi Arnason and Magnús Trygvason Eliassen decided…
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Eurovision Bondage Demons Hatari Now Have A Stitching Pattern
Brainwashed Chomsky-chomping vampiric Eurovision leather-daddy trolls Hatari now have their own stitching pattern. It was made by Sigríður Jóhannsdóttir, a self professed fan of “music and yarn,” who posted the pattern publicly to Facebook, and offered to send a PDF to interested…