Grapevine New Music Picks: Gyða Valtýsdóttir, Ólöf Arnalds, Woolly Kind & More

If you didn’t know, the age of digital streaming is soon to be over. Before you know it, the coolest people you can think of will all be collecting physical copies of cultural media. Even CDs are making a comeback. Evidently, time does not move in a linear fashion. On that note, today is the next-to-last Bandcamp Friday this year, where the music platform waives its revenue share to pass the buck straight to artists. Treat this post as a  a unique opportunity for you to get ahead of the curve and start building a library of cool Icelandic music.

Gyða Valtýsdóttir — White Noise
Released September 16

Acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, composer and superstar cellist Gyða Valtýsdóttir has always had multiple irons in her sonic fire. Represented by the creative nucleus Marvaða, Gyða released her latest single “White Noise” which continues her exploration of sound as an emotional and physical force. Mixing vocals, cello, and electronic textures, “White Noise” is a singular, intimate experience, and proof that music transcends its sonic form. JB
White Noise by Gyda Valtysdottir

Felix Leifur & Daichi Saito — Federation JI / フェデレーションジェーアイ
Released September 19

Promoted by the ambitious electronic-focused label Lagaffe Tales, Federation JI is a collaboration project by the Icelandic Felix Leifur and Japanese experimental artist Daichi Saito. Having worked on the bones of the album, Felix crossed path with Daichi in Copenhagen, which led to a fruitful collaboration between the two and a radical change in the final outcome. Working within a wide array of distinct genres, Federation JI is a wholly unique take on contemporary electronic music. JB

フェデレーションジェーアイ by Federation JI

Ólöf Arnalds — Tár í morgunsárið
Released September 23

The incredible and versatile artist Ólöf Arnalds has an emotionally-wrought new single out to announce her forthcoming album Spíra, out December 5. “Tár í morgunsárið” showcases the brilliancy and poignancy of Ólöf’s vocal talent, layered over a supple acoustic guitar arrangement. If the song’s opening seconds don’t send chills down your spine, I’m afraid you might be a robot. Go join your AI brethren in hating puppies or whatever you clanker people do. JB

Spíra by Ólöf Arnalds
Birta Dís — Fljúgðu Burt
Released September 26

Fans of Icelandic artists Una Torfa and Elín Hall might want to pay attention to the 18 year old Birta Dís, debuting with her single “Fljúgðu Burt”. Despite her age, Birta has several accolades to her name, including performing at the 2025 Hátíðni festival and securing third place at the Secondary School Music Contest. Low-key and pensive, “Fljúgðu Burt” is written at a pivotal moment in the artist’s life, embracing organic guitar with synthetic arrangements. JB

Woolly Kind — Í hringi
Released September 26

Self-proclaimed fuzz folk group Woolly Kind put out their first — and maybe final — album. Spearheaded by musician Einar Karl Pétursson, the performing band has now disintegrated, adding intrigue to the abstract project. Spanning 80-second tracks to 15-minute opuses, Woolly Kind draws influences 90s acts such as The Magnetic Fields and Neutral Milk Hotel. Whether the band will continue in an alternative form remains to be seen. JB

í hringi by Woolly Kind