Last Words: What Does Björk Mean To Icelandic Music?

This issue, we reached out to some friends of the Grapevine to ask one question: what does Björk mean to Icelandic music? Here are some of the responses.

“At 60 years of age, Björk is the embodiment of the restless soul of Icelandic music.

She broke down the isolation of a small island and expanded Iceland’s borders, turning it into an international symbol of creativity and originality. Her works — ranging from punk, electronic music, and symphonic experiments to digital art — have literally expanded the meaning of the term Icelandic music. She has shown, and continues to show, that nature, technology, and emotion can unite in a single voice that is at once raw, contemplative, and spiritual. All younger Icelandic artists who create fearlessly — from avant-garde composers to pop musicians — are in her debt.” — Jónas Sen, musician

“Just like there are 60 seconds in one minute, there are 60 years in Björk… Once she played us a song, it was Prodigy’s “Smack My Bitch Up” mashed up with Enya singing “Sail Away” from “Orinoco Flow”. We can still appreciate it.

Volta, Vespertine, Homogenic. Masterpieces. She musics like no other. The industry kind of made her into the stereotype of the Icelandic musician, and all Icelandic artists will probably forever be compared to her. But it’s fine, it’s a cool stereotype. She lives her truth everyday, dressed like a mushroom in Kaffi Vest on a Tuesday. A living proof of creativity in every 60 seconds of every 60 minutes in every hour of every day of every year of her 60 years.” — Amor Vincit Omnia, band

“Björk is the past, the current and the future. She is the moment.” — Bríet, musician

“She put Iceland on the map long before Eyjafjallajökull.

I listened to Debut on my discman which was hidden in my school blazer in a Sydney school ground in 1994. I don’t know anybody on my side of the world who knew where or what Iceland was until then.

Because she made such a huge impression in the music industry, Iceland has now become synonymous with great and original music. Personally I think she opened the door to the international scene for many popular music artists who have emerged since.”  — Christine Wehrmeier, reader