Music
Most read
Latest
-
Track By Track: QUACK By Gugusar
Electronica artist gugusar is a production powerhouse Five years since gugusar’s critically acclaimed debut album was released, the young artist has used this time well. Honing her craft, gugusar has turned herself into a one-woman production powerhouse, writing, producing, and mixing her…
-
Northern Rising: A New Episode Featuring Sunna Margrét
In this final episode of Northern Rising, we follow avant-electropop artist Sunna Margrét as she roams around Reykjavík — visiting the National Gallery of Iceland, the record stores 12 Tónar and Reykjavík Records, and stopping by for a soundcheck at Iðnó. The…
-
Grapevine New Music Picks: Ólafur Arnalds & Talos, Bríet, Moses Hightower & More
Even though it’s almost the middle of July, that doesn’t stop the Icelandic sniffles. Currently writing this with a sore throat (what is this, February?!), the summer has not delivered like May promised it would. Whatever, just dress for the wind, cold,…
-
Open The Doors For Birnir
Hip-hop artist Birnir lives for 2,000 years It’s been about a month since Birnir’s third LP Dyrnar came out. His first in four years, Dyrnar comes off the back of the acclaimed record Bushido, which swept music lovers — from die-hard rap fans…
-
More Music, Less Borders
No Borders Iceland organise the upcoming Festival Against Borders After hosting a series of concerts last spring, activist group No Borders prepares for their biggest show of the year. On July 11, pop stars, punks and party people are set to perform…
-
Put Down Your Phone And Take Off Your Pants
Acclaimed music maker Bjarki tells us about the BUXUR collective’s upcoming rave There’s nothing else like BUXUR. The mysterious Reykjavík rave series has transformed warehouses in Árbær and Gufunes since 2021; information is dispersed through a Telegram channel that’s invite-only; Reykvíkingar in…
-
Escapist Fantasies: Inside Avant-folk Band Emma’s Debut
Emma’s phantasmagoric debut Halidome embraces opposites Avant-folk collective Emma talks about their journey from Músíktilraunir to the sterling debut album Halidome. Paraphrasing Brian Eno’s philosophy, the best songs are made when the creator is short on money and time. In early 2023,…
-
Track By Track: Drop P By GRÓA
Faster than lightspeed There are fewer bands active in Iceland truer to their craft and ethos than GRÓA. Whether it’s dropping a huge SXSW showcase opportunity in support of Palestine, or letting all tethers loose during their live performances, GRÓA’s energy is…
-
Grapevine New Music Picks: Of Monsters And Men, Hoym, Benjamín Gísli & More
It’s print day here at Grapevine HQ, with our recent cover feature exploring the wonderful intricacies of the Icelandic Ring Road. If you’re on the road yourself, why not treat yourself to a hand-crafted curation of Icelandic summer tracks — a callback…
-
Grapevine New Music: Amor Vincit Omnia, Eydís Evensen, JóiPé & Króli, & More
In a world becoming increasingly unstable, there is but one, sturdy pillar lifting the spirits here at Grapevine HQ. That pillar is the prolificness and quality of new Iceland music coming out. When article deadlines burden us, and geopolitical tensions run high,…
-
Moshing In Stykkishólmur: Visiting Metal Festival Sátan’s Sophomore Iteration
Sátan’s second year brings more heavy metal to Snæfellsnes As the seventh issue of Grapevine goes to print, I hop in a car and head out to Snæfellsnes. I’ve missed the first four acts of the Sátan festival, and I’m determined to…
-
This Bus Is On A Diversion: BSÍ’s Defiant EP Progress
Disobedient duo BSÍ talk about their new EP triptych, DIY culture and living in the moment Because honestly by BSÍ The music of the Reykjavík-based duo BSÍ seems to draw from contrasting realms. In a yin-yang fashion, Sigurlaug ‘Silla’ Thorarensen and Julius…
-
Grapevine New Music Picks: múm, GRÓA, Elín Hall & More
Our latest issue is now out on the streets of Reykjavík. In a cover feature illustrated by visual artist Baldur Helgason, writer Alma Mjöll Ólafsdóttir covers the increasing importance of alternative media such as podcasts and the parallel rise of the Brosphere.…
-
Man-made Mechanical Wilderness: Supergroup Osmium Releases Eponymous Debut
OSMIUM by OSMIUM The latest project featuring Icelandic composer and Academy Award winner Hildur Guðnadóttir, experimental group Osmium self-titled debut is out June 20. Imagine entering the jungle. Dark, suffused with the heavy humidity of the passing monsoon. Outlines of palm…
-
A Case Of Serious Fever
Chronicling Gaukurinn’s convoluted 2025 It was the first week of 2025 when rumours began to rampage through town about Gaukurinn. The perennial bar and music venue on the corner of Tryggvagata and Naustin has been a cornerstone of the Reykjavík scene for…
-
Grapevine’s Summer Playlist 2025
To accompany our attempt to capture the sometimes harsh, sometimes magical vibes of Icelandic summer, we’ve compiled the following playlist in collaboration with Iceland Music. It combines classic summer songs and new potential summer hits. Teitur Magnússon — Bros Released in 2025 By…
-
Don’t Overthink It: Inside RAKEL And Kári The Attempt’s Laidback EP
Having just released four of the six songs on their recent EP canyouhelpmeimfeelingalone in the span of a month, Kári Hrafn Guðmundsson (AKA Kári the Attempt) and Rakel Sigurðardóttir seem to glow in the afternoon sun. Blasted by vitamin D at an…
-
Track By Track: The Water, The Lover By Néfur
Néfur collaborates with Icelandic glaciers on her latest release The Water, The Lover Have you ever wondered how co-writing an album with a glacier might be? Would they be more of a Lennon or McCartney type? Would they provide the music to…
-
Northern Rising: A New Episode Featuring Elín Hall
The second episode of the Northern Rising podcast is out! The series, recorded during Iceland Airwaves last year, follows artists through the festival and offers a unique glimpse into their colourful adventures. The show is hosted by Tim Pogo, an Airwaves regular…
-
Grapevine New Music Picks: Bríet, Virgin Orchestra, Creature Of Habit, & More
There’s a certain something to be said about summers in Iceland. You won’t hear me say it here — wait for our cover feature out June 6. The 24/7 sunlight, people manicly emptying the shelves of Ríkið… I’m getting ahead of myself here.…
-
Track By Track: Á Floti By Gosi
Gosi’s latest album Á floti puts the ‘sea’ in ‘catchy’ On his latest album Á floti, Ísafjörður-based musician Andri Pétur Þrastarson shares his musical odyssey. Zooming in on the adventures of a sailor, the album explores a whole host of adversaries —…
-
Improvising Around The Country
From May 24 to June 1, Danish guitarist Jakob Bro is joining Icelandic musicians Skúli Sverrisson and Óskar Guðjónsson for an ambitious project. They will travel to 5 locations for 5 concerts, in the span of 8 days. But there’s a catch:…
-
Blowin’ In The Icelandic Wind: The Third Annual Bob Dylan Festival Is Headed to Flúðir
“And we’re also using Dylan songs in the mass, and the songs will just sound like hymns,” Sr. Henning Emil explains, excited. An ordained Lutheran minister in his early 50s, Sr. Henning surpasses other Dylan fans in his devotion. Having managed to…