Words by

The Reykjavík Grapevine

@rvkgrapevine

Photo by

Myrkvi

When The Dust Settles

Starting his music career with the indie-pop band Vio, Magnús Thorlacius’ solo project debuted with the 2020 album Reflections. In late February, Myrkvi’s release Rykfall came out, reflecting the artist’s personal journey of self-realisation. Rooted in Vio’s songwriting excellence, Myrkvi explores a variety of different styles to build an album on solid foundation.  

Desert Road

This song is about taking chances, following your dreams and seizing opportunities before they vanish. I put on many different hats in this one: conjuring up a six-string ukulele, a charango that I bought in Peru, violins, and numerous guitar sounds. The tension that builds up in the verses simply evaporates in the choruses.

Svartfugl

A personal favourite and, in my opinion, the most beautiful song I’ve written. I was staying at my parents’ house, while they still lived in my hometown, and I picked up my old man’s guitar. I wasn’t aiming for something specific, just enjoying the moment, and the song just emerged effortlessly. Even the lyrics. It captures a feeling that I wouldn’t know how to describe otherwise.

Completely Empty

Youthful love and the yearnings of the heart. I wrote it on a toy keyboard and we ended up recording it like that because it captured the mood perfectly. There is a hollowness to the song and it revolves around grooving through the loneliness.

Dream Routine

Reflections on the numbness that comes with everyday routine and the struggle for material wealth. In this song, I’ve left that race behind, wondering why I hadn’t done so sooner and feeling like I’ve just started to live life to the fullest.

Sunstruck

This song is constantly on the move. Which is quite appropriate for the chaotic but exceptionally exciting period it describes: when you’re at the peak of your physique but lack the wisdom that comes with time, experience and most importantly, mistakes. Looking back on it evokes mixed emotions. A lot of fun but a lot of complications too.

Glerbrot

Here starts the B-side of the album and my pursuit of a dream is starting to take on a new direction. Glerbrot means “broken glass”. Something has broken which will not be put back together. In it, I mention my own awkwardness, which I particularly enjoyed because I don’t recall hearing it often in music. If such moments were gold, I would be rich.

Second Thoughts

This one is about doubts. Am I heading the right way? Do I need to make some difficult decisions? The choruses strike a different tone, urging us to stay put. The last part has a nice guitar groove, in which two guitar melodies intertwine. Only one of them remains in the end.

Sjálfsmynd

The verses spiral around a shattered self-image but the choruses pull us up from the depths, reminding us that when all is said and done, life ain’t bad, even though it may be unfair. The song’s hook translates to, “I’m trying my best”.

Some Kind of Pain

This track has a twofold meaning. It could be interpreted as a rejection in the love life, or describing my struggles as a musician. A project such as this has endless passion and dedication behind it, and it can be difficult to cope with the numerous rejections one will inevitably encounter.

Slow Start

I’ll let the last one speak for itself. How did this journey of mine end?