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Back to the Frou Frou-ture: Imogen Heap and Guy Sigsworth Reunite in Reykjavík
In early October, the stars aligned to grace Reykjavík with a performance by the elusive electropop band Frou Frou. Composed of musicians Imogen Heap and Guy Sigsworth, the band released only one album, ‘Details,’ in 2002. They had already disbanded by 2004,…
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Track by Track: Bistro Boy – Píanó í þokunni (‘Piano in the Fog’)
Bistro Boy – ‘Píanó í Þokunni’ ‘Píanó í þokunni’ (‘Piano in the Fog’) is Bistro Boy’s third LP. The album is a dreamy tribute to Bistro Boy’s long-lasting relationship with his piano; a musical journey from past to present. “On this album I…
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Music News: Airwaves Album Flood Begins, Icelander Wins Industry Award, Sónar First Lineup
A host of Icelandic bands have announced new releases around the Airwaves festival. The long-dormant Benny Crespo’s Gang have announced a new self-released album, “Minor Mistakes,” available to pre-order now on their website. Árstíðir, who released an album earlier this year, will…
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Grapevine Playlist: Berndsen, GYDA, Vök, aYia, AAIIEENN, Jón Jónsson, Sólveig Matthildur & More
As Airwaves approaches, more and more new music starts to appear. Here are the tracks we’ve been enjoying… or, in one case, not. GYDA – Moonchild Gyða Valtýsdóttir, who initially rose to prominence as a member of múm, reemerges from a long…
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Sónar Reykjavík 2019: Richie Hawtin, Jon Hopkins, Fatima Al Qadiri & More
The Sónar Reykjavík festival is an annual breath—nay, lungful—of fresh air for Icelandic music lovers. Joining the dots between the thriving local scene and an eclectic international royalty of electronic music stars, it’s something to look forward to in the long winter.…
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Electric Dreams: Artist & DJ Ása Kolla Starts The Dance
Ása Kolla is an up-and-coming DJ and student at The Reykjavík School of Visual Arts. “My studies there are very diverse, but I’ve focused on video making so far,” she says. “This spring l mixed sound and visuals for my final project,…
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All the Wild Feels: Skoffín Is A Musical Creature In 101’s Anarchic Scene
Skoffín, an exciting band active in the post-dreifing collective, is a solo project by Jóhannes Bjarkason. His first EP ‘Í Hallargarðinum’ was released two years ago and has recently been picking up traction. Skoffín is Jói’s brainchild, but some of Reykjavík’s favourites…
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Logi 2.0: Iceland’s Music Mogul, Born Again
Logi Pedro Stefánsson’s studio, 101derland, is under renovation. Furniture is piled up in the corners. Loose electrical cords snake across the floor. Echoing around the rooms, people discuss video shoots and meetings as they meander about, occasionally interrupted by a singer or…
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Music News: Airwaves Complete Lineup, Hugar Sign With SONY, RVKDTR Are Winning
Iceland Airwaves has announced twenty more bands to complete the 20th anniversary edition of the festival, which will happen in Reykjavík between November 7-11th. From the U.K., The Rhythm Method join the bill, and in a nod to the anniversary, three bands…
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This Year’s Must Hears: Our Tracks Of 2018, So Far, Part One
As we drift into autumn and both Airwaves and the end of the year get closer on the horizon, we thought it would be a good time to look back at the Icelandic music that most enthralled, inspired and surprised us over…
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The Devil and the Fiddle, or: Spoken Word Classical Rocks
It just might be that spoken word backed by classical music could be the new rock. And not a moment too soon, now that the tribute bands seem set to take over the old rock, as one legend after another announces their…
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Grapevine Playlist: ROKKY, RONNY, GusGus, Berndsen, Fufanu & More
Like thirty seven orcas breaching in unison under the swirling aurora at the exact moment that geysir goes off, here are the latest magical offerings from the Icelandic music scene. Berndsen – Alter Ego Iceland’s bushy-bearded hunk of synth-pop lovin’, Berndsen, has…
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Legendary Polish Punk-Rock Band Kult To Perform In Reykjavík
Poland’s number one rock band, Kult, will be performing at Harpa on September 30th. No members of the band have ever played in Iceland before, with one exception: Piotr Wasylik (seen above), the promoter and organiser behind the event, who is especially…
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Track By Track: ‘Influence Of Buildings On Musical Tone’ By Þráinn Hjálmarsson
Composer Þráinn Hjálmarsson’s debut effort, ‘Influence Of Buildings On Musical Tone’, is one of cultivated emotion. Containing five recent chamber works, it’s a thorough exploration of what Þráinn offers—beautiful music based in ruminative academia. We sat down with him to chat about the…
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Alien Communication: From Hafnarfjörður To Hollywood, Hildur Guðnadóttir Hits The Big Time
Hildur Guðnadóttir’s beaming face emerges from the digital blur. She leans into the camera, her features springing into sharp resolution. Her long hair is tied up into a loose bun with several pixelated spikes, and her bright eyes glitter above a broad…
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Artist Playlist: Spooky Vibes & Throwing Panties With MSEA
MSEA is Maria-Carmela Raso, a Reykjavík-based musician who picked up some positive attention this year with the ambitious release exhibition for her latest track ‘Sex Self,’ and her presence in the burgeoning Weird Kids scene. Here’s a playlist of some of her…
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Drawing In The Air: Hekla’s Theremin Produces Birdsong & Whale Sounds
Last week saw the release of ‘Á’—the new album by experimental theremin player Hekla. The album delivers haunting but sparse soundscapes, with Hekla’s voice accompanying the incredibly broad palette of this unusual instrument. We caught up with Hekla in Berlin, where she…
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Space Jam: Halldór Eldjárn Mixes Music & Technology
Halldór Eldjárn is a composer, drummer and computer programmer that has been active in Reykjavík’s music scene for the past decade. He is best known for his work with local electro pop mainstays Sykur and recently for building robotic instruments and taking…
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Ruled By Nature: Muted Carves Out His Kingdom Of Sounds
As far as artist names go, Muted is one of the most apt titles Bjarni Rafn Kjartansson could have chosen for himself. The very mellow and pleasant musician recently released his second full length album, ‘Empire,’ a dreamy collection of hushed, naturalistic,…
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Grapevine Playlist: aYia, SiGRÚN, GYDA, Emilíana Torrini, Júníus Meyvant, PORT & More
Like the beautiful geysir exploding hot, stinky earth water all over a group of damp, blissed-out lookers-on, here are the latest steaming exhalations from Iceland’s sulphurous music scene. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4TzcQusPSY&feature=youtu.be aYia – Sparkle A breakthrough project of recent years, the video for aYia’s…
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Music News: Power-Goth Trio Kælan Mikla, Disco Hunk Berndsen, Hvalur Festival
Two popular Icelandic bands of different stripes have announced notable album releases for late 2018. The first is Kælan Mikla, who have had a stellar year topped off by an invitation to open for The Cure in London’s Hyde Park. Their third…
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Gunned Down Horses On Their First Icelandic Show, Greenhouse Studios, And Israeli Musical Identity
Fresh off of opening for Deep Purple on their Russian tour, Israeli band Gunned Down Horses has arrived in Iceland. The group is here to record at Greenhouse Studios with Francesco Fabris as well as play their debut Icelandic show with DALÍ and VAR…
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Paradise Is Now: An Afternoon With Paradís Sessions On Viðey
Rain showers hit the car windows as James Cox, the head of Paradís Sessions, picks me up around noon. A conversation about Iceland’s unpredictable weather ensues as we drive towards the harbour, hoping for the sun to show its beautiful face. The…