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PREMIERE: Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter Jelena Ćirić Reveals Debut Single “Rome”
Reykjavík-based singer-songwriter Jelena Ćirić releases her single ‘Rome’ on August 26, 2022—that’s tomorrow for those of you who haven’t bought a calendar yet (really, still? It’s August, man). But we at Reykjavík Grapevine have been truly hashtag blessed with a sneak peak…
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Eruption Watch 2022: First Photos From New Volcano
The first visitors have returned from the new eruption site at Meradalir. The fissure opened earlier today [Wednesday 3rd of August], close to the site of last year’s volcano at Geldingadalur, on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland. The new eruption is…
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Words To Live By: “Dagatal”, By Karítas Hrundar Pálsdóttir
Learners of Icelandic have a notoriously rough time. Not only is Icelandic supposedly one of the hardest languages to master grammatically (although some language experts have tried to debunk this myth), but the ubiquity of English across the western world means that…
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Instagram vs Reality: How The Digital Age Of Tourism Changed Iceland Forever
Tourism was the unexpected saviour of the Icelandic economy after the financial crisis of 2008, and since then social media platforms like Instagram have facilitated a huge boom in visitors. Fourteen years later, with tourist numbers expected to return to pre-pandemic figures…
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The Kids Are Alright: Rapper Daniil talks TikTok, leaks and good vibes.
Culture is a strange and amorphous thing, hard to pin down, and driven, often, by the most disenfranchised in society. In particular, young people have always been the harbingers and custodians of popular music—and yes, even just writing the words, ‘popular music’…
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Get Your Summer Read On
The books to read while travelling around Iceland Moonstone: The Boy Who Never Was Author: SJÓN Sjón is hands down the king of Scandinavian magic realism. He has also written scripts for films like the Northman directed by Robert Eggers, and the…
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A Hub Of Activity: Reykjavík Arts Festival Hub Is Back With A Bold New Programme
“The most beautiful thing is when the events unfold. They’ve been in your phone and your excel sheet for so long, but so much of the worry goes away when people come together and meet each other,” Ása Dýradóttir says, her eyes…
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Witch Hunt: A Visit To The Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft
Witchcraft and wizardry haves been the subject of fascination for centuries—just look at the success of a certain magical franchise written by She Who Must Not Be Named. But in the past, the relationship between everyday folk and the dark arts was…
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You Should Be Dancing: Iceland Dance Company’s Latest Production Celebrates The Joy Of Dance—For All
On a stage in the centre of Reykjavík, 15 strangers are dancing. They move to the music in exaltation, arms outstretched, mouths wide in laughter. Hips are swaying, fists are pumping. They are people of many colours, races, backgrounds and ages, and…
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Treasure Ísland
Jón Ársæll’s latest work documents a 60-year search for gold “This is not the film I set out to make,” says Jón Ársæll Þórðarson in his distinct, gentle timbre, peering intently from behind round, thick-rimmed glasses. “I had some ideas at the…
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Horror-Scopes: Easter Edition
This month’s horoscope has an Easter theme. If you’re not familiar with this holiday, it’s when the Easter Bunny was crucified and sealed in a giant egg for three days before emerging again to ascend to the North Pole. It’s true. Look…
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Well, You Asked: Environmental Disaster Edition
Ask a stupid question and you’ll get a stupid answer. Ask an editor a stupid question, and they’ll publish in a magazine. Seriously though, you know you brought this on yourself, right? Why aren’t there more wind farms in Iceland? Wow, are…
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Strangers In The North: ‘Visitations’ Wins The Visual Arts Prize
Polar bear encounters in Iceland tend to take a predictable form: a bear, often weak and emaciated, is spotted by a local. Panic ensues; the police are called, the media incites a brief hysteria. The bear is shot. This chaotic cycle, doomed…
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Beginner’s Guide to Skiing In Iceland
Ever wanted to go very fast down a hill with two sticks attached to your feet? Here’s how! Say what you like about the Icelandic winter—and you can, because it won’t make the slightest bit of difference—it sure does have staying power.…
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New Frontiers of Technology: NFTs in Iceland
Artists in Iceland are using NFTs to change the landscape around them – forever. On March 11th, 2021, an artist, known to his online fans as ‘Beeple’, made history. His digital piece, entitled ‘Everydays – The First 5000 Days’ was listed by…
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In Hot Water: Switching Off From The World At Krauma Spa
It’s 2022. If you’re not waking up in a cold sweat shouting, “holy mother of (insert preferred deity here)” every morning, then frankly, where have you been for the last two years? Horrifying conflicts, a global pandemic, corruption, poverty, capitalistic greed –…
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Lost In Google Translation: Famous Swamp Dwellers
Iceland has had its fair share of celebrity visitors over the years; Justin Bieber got his kit off in a glacial lagoon, Kim K ate a hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu and Ed Sheeran played a concert that a staggering 14% of…
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Horror-Scopes: Valentine’s Day
Welcome, lovers! It’s February, aka lurrrrve month, and your favourite Grapevine mystics have dutifully donned our cupid costumes in order to romantically shoot you with arrows of adoration! Also, real arrows! Sorry, that probably hurt a lot! Anyway, while you wait for…
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Ask An Expert: How Are Ice Caves Formed?
Ice caves are a popular winter tourist attraction here in Iceland, with visitors travelling from far a wide to witness the other-worldy beauty of these incredible natural structures. Grapevine journalists even had a chance to visit one themselves for this issue. But…
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Traditional Values: Kvæðakórinn Are Reimagining Icelandic Folk Music
Linus Orri describes himself as a reluctant conductor. He had been singing with and teaching traditional songs to friends for a long time, but when it was suggested that they turn what they were doing into a formal group, he initially resisted…
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Lenya Rún Taha Karim’s Perfect Day: Politics And Chill
Lenya Rún is a Pirate Party politician. In September 2021 it was announced that she was to become the youngest ever member of Alþingi. However, due to the election miscount chaos, she lost her seat in the subsequent reshuffle. Lenya instead entered…
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Catch Of The Day: Icelanders Have Fallen For Verbúðin Hook, Line And Sinker.
In the post-terrestrial TV world, with myriad streaming options (does anyone else feel like they spend more time on the Netflix homepage with decision anxiety than actually watching shows?), it takes something special to cut through to viewers. And sometimes it’s the…
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Well, You Asked: Let There Be Enough Light To See By
Another year, another batch of terrible advice from your beloved friends at Reykjavík Grapevine! This time, Grapevine’s Youtube Coordinator and resident Scot, Josie Anne Gaitens, takes the wheel. What is your favourite Icelandic word? I did a quick poll of the office,…
