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To Marry or Not To Marry? Consensual Union Is Popular In Iceland
As the wedding season approaches, brides and grooms around the world are getting ready to share their vows in front of families and friends. However, you won’t see a lot of wedding dresses in Iceland, because Icelanders are just not that crazy…
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Enter The Underworld: Lava Tubes And Ghosts In South Iceland
It was just another day in Iceland in February. Heavy rain was pouring down, with howling winds reaching an impressive 40 km/h. We had scheduled a tour with our guide Erla from Fjallahalla Adventures, and I was worried that the inclement weather…
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Dream Wife 4 Lyf: The Feminist Rock ‘n’ Roll Group Taking Over The World
When you listen to Dream Wife’s debut album, you are immediately grabbed by their rowdy and energetic punk sound. The coarse, groovy guitar riffs and the steady rock drum beats are accompanied by some powerful and elastic vocals. With punk, rock, and…
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Iceland’s Equal Pay Law Sets New World Standard
Iceland has always been praised as a country with great equality between men and women. It also recently became the world’s first nation to make it mandatory for companies and institutions with more than 25 employees to prove that they pay men…
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Town Guide: Whales And Wonders In Grundarfjörður
Although you may not have heard of the town of Grundarfjörður, you’ve more than likely seen the nearby mountain of Kirkjufell on postcards, photographs, and even in movies. This distinctively steeple-shaped mountain is an iconic landmark, attracting many people to visit the…
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Sibling Vinylry: Bara Heiða And Danimal Release Charity 12”
“Other boys are bigger than you, and they think you’re a fool. But I know better. Don’t sweat it, I got your back baby,” sings singer-songwriter Bara Heiða, whose full name is Heiða Dóra Jónsdóttir, on her song “I Got Your Back.”…
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Strange As Folklore: Snorri Helgason Brings Icelandic Myths To Life
His fingers gently pluck on an acoustic guitar, while his warm and magnetic voice plucks on your heartstrings. Reykjavík-based singer-songwriter Snorri Helgason released his new album ‘Margt býr í þokunni’ in December of last year, and it’s the perfect music for a…
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Ask A Scientist: What Are Iceland’s Top Sources Of Air Pollution?
When you step out of Keflavik Airport, one of the first things you notice is the fresh air. With a small population and lots of renewable energy sources, Iceland has been able to protect its air quality. However, are there any air…
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Where Was It Shot? Black Mirror – “Crocodile”
By now, you have probably already binge-watched the entire fourth season of the Netflix original series “Black Mirror.” If you haven’t yet, have you been living under a rock on Mars? The episode “Crocodile” has some jaw-dropping snowy landscapes as the backdrop.…
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Women In Hip-Hop Unite: Puzzy Patrol Show At Gamla Bíó
Strong punchy beats resonate through the air, with the bass down low. In case you don’t know yet, Icelandic female rappers can rap faster than Eminem or Jay-Z. These women are confident, fierce and empowered, and now you have a chance to…
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In The Black Midwinter: Auðn Album Release Show On Saturday
Feeling down in the perpetual Icelandic darkness? It’s time to get your black metal fix. To celebrate the release of their second album, Icelandic black metal band Auðn have a release show this Saturday at Iðnó, one of the oldest theatres in Reykjavík. Auðn…
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Chinese Post-Rock Band Wang Wen To Perform in Reykjavík Tonight
Hailing from Dalian, a city in Northern China, instrumental rock band Wang Wen has been around since 1999. They have released nine studio albums over the years, as well as split EP with Swedish band pg.lost. Wang Wen released their latest effort…
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Beauty Business: The Art Of Eyebrow Shaping
Welcome to Iceland. Here we have stunning landscapes and beautiful people—especially the ladies. As you walk around town in Reykjavík, you may notice how perfectly presented Icelandic women are. You will probably think: they must be born like this. And while that’s…
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French Dairy Giant To Purchase Skyr Company Siggi’s
If you have lived in the United States in recent years, you might have come across Siggi’s, a dairy brand that specializes in Icelandic style yogurt skyr. It’s popular among U.S. consumers because of its low sugar content as more people are…
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Faces of Reykjavík: Elsa
Who are the faces of Reykjavík? This month we met Elsa, who works at the downtown design store, Akkúrat. Name: Elsa Vestmann Kjartansdóttir Age: 26 From: Reykjavik If I had a boat I would name it: Elsa. Last thing I purchased: A…
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The Voices Unheard: Locals Living In Vans at Reykjavík Campsite Speak Up
It was a normal Friday night in Reykjavík in December. The temperature had dropped to -8°C. While most people slept through the night in their rooms, warmed up by heaters, others woke up shivering. Due to difficulties with finding housing, some locals…
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Dark Music Days 2018: A Glimmer In The Darkness
In the dark Icelandic winter, music is a beacon of light and hope. Every January since 1980, the Dark Music Days festival has taken place in Harpa concert hall on the Reykjavík harbour. “Myrkir Músíkdagar” in Icelandic, the festival is a great…
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Where Was It Shot: Westlife – “What About Now”
Alright, does anyone remember Westlife? Yes, the Irish boy band that released dozens of cheesy love songs you grew up with. Aww or eww? Either way, here’s a fix for your millennial nostalgia: Westlife released a song called “What About Now” in…
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Grapevine Music Awards: You Should Have Heard This – Sólveig Matthildur
Once a year, we at Grapevine honour the best and brightest of the Icelandic music scene by giving out awards to some of the artists who light up our lives on the little subarctic island. The You Should Have Heard This award…
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Live Painting, Sound Bathing, Dance, Gramophones: The Art Of Norður Og Niður
As we approach the final day of Norður og Niður music festival, you probably have noticed that a lot of acts aren’t just traditional popular music. Rather, they are music infused with an art perspective. To go along with the unique curation…
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More Details Of Tour Bus Accident Revealed: Road Safety Questions Arise
On Wednesday this week, a tour bus carrying 46 people collided with a passenger vehicle in South Iceland, resulting in one dead and nine seriously injured. The accident happened on the ring road near Kirkjubæjarklaustur, when the bus slid off the icy…
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A New Year Begins: Celebrate The Unknown with aYia Tomorrow
2017 is coming to an end, and you may start to wonder: what does 2018 have in store for you? The truth is that no one really knows. A slice of excitement with a dash of anxiety, that’s the beauty of the…
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Darkness Overload: The Shortest Day Of The Year Today
Finally, the day we have been looking forward to the most has arrived. Today is the Winter Solstice, which is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The sun rises at 11:22 AM in Reykjavík, and it sets at…
