The Pop Group formed in Bristol in 1977 out of a sense of disenchantment with the increasing conservatism of punk. Drawing on an eclectic range of influences from free jazz, conscious funk, heavyweight dub to avant-garde experimentalism, alongside contemporaries like Public Image Limited, This Heat and Throbbing Gristle, they were at the forefront of a musical period marked out by its ground-breaking innovation.Socially conscious, their politically-charged lyrics boasted intellectual influences including Wilhelm Reich, situationism, French romanticism and the beat poets. Early gigs supporting kindred spirits Pere Ubu and Patti Smith led very quickly to headlining events such as the 1978 Electric Ballroom line-up of Nico, Linton Kwesi Johnson and Cabaret Voltaire. By 1979, with the advent of Thatcher and the threat of nuclear world war, the band succumbed to the paranoia of the day and fought back with the classic single We Are All Prostitutes, followed by the LP For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder. After reissuing the miscellania collection We Are Time and dropping the new compilation Cabinet of Curiosities earlier this year, post-punk pioneers the Pop Group released Citizen Zombie in February 2015, their first new long-play in 35 years.
Father John Misty aka Josh Tillman, says of the album, “I Love You, Honeybear” was recorded all through 2013 to 2014 in Los Angeles with producer Jonathan Wilson, who I also recorded and produced 2012’s Fairly Fun with. There’s a case to be made that it sounds and acts a bit like solo-era John Lennon, Scott Walker, Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, and Dory Previn, while taking more than a few cues from Woody Allen, Kurt Vonnegut, Alejandro Jodorowsky and Muhammad Ali. Blammo. It has a decidedly more soulful presence than Fear Fun, due in no small part to the fact that I am truly singing my ass off all over this motherfucker. The album is really characterized by the scope and ambition of the arrangements. Nearly every tune is augmented by something special, be it orchestral strings, a mariachi band, questionable electronic drum solos, ragtime jazz combos, soul singers, or what have you. I’m pretty sure there’s a sitar in there somewhere. Blammo.
Following the release of their now-sold-out white label debut last Summer, South London duo Formation have taken 2015 and earned their place as one of the hottest emerging acts of the year. Their Young Ones EP, on new Warner Bros imprint Meno Records, consolidated the excitement surrounding the twin brothers with an astonishing 4 song set of vigorous, percussive, liquid funk, genuflecting towards greats like ESG, Dinosaur L and LCD Soundsystem while also carving out its very own path through the modern landscape. Formation are set to release a new EP later this year following their first Summer festival season and a string of European dates with Foals.
The band ‘Þrírþ plays in-your-face folk music that varies from sweet love songs and lullabies to ’30s swing and working-man’s blues from the fisheries of Iceland. Their live performances up to this point have mostly been in the west of Iceland ö covering the most of the Snæfellsness peninsula, with the occasional visit to the capital.
In the past Sveinn has been quite shy about his songwriting. Besides playing bass in various garage bands as a teenager and being a member in a very manly men’s choir for two years he has kept a low profile. That is until now with the release of his debut album “Fyrir herra Spock, MacGyver og mig”.
His music can be described as lo-fi, folkie and melodic sounds with self-reflective lyrics about stomachaches, nephews, vulcans, cats and survival experts among other things. The songs are based up with an acoustic guitar and a voice mixed with occasional trombone, melodica, upright and electric bass, electric guitar and typewriter.
Stafrænn Hákon has continued sliding a comic or surreal twist in his songwriting since 1999, challenging the epic and dreamy connotations his music has always been ascribed with. Humour in combination with sincerity haslong been some of Stafrænn Hákon´s driving forces, a twisted combination that reflects a personal nuance for those curious to dig deeper into the musical mindscape of the man behind the band. The band´s current lineup consists of guitarists Ólafur Josephsson and Lárus Siguðsson, bass guitarist Árni Þór Árnason, drummer Róbert Már Runólfsson and singer Magnús Freyr Gíslason.
dj. flugvél og geimskip (Airplane and Spaceship) is a one girl’s project that draws influences from a thousand worlds.Defined as electronic horror-music with a space twist, the music is a mix of playful beats, cool bass, catchy melodies and high pitched vocals. She sings about evil cats taking over the world, alien experiments, demons hiding in shadows and the weird world below the surface of the ocean. Her live performances are lively, colorful and poetic and her music deals with mysteries, dreams and dangers of the night. On stage, dj. flugvél og geimskip is alone in the midst of keyboards and drum machines. Her concerts are like a strange blend of music, horror stories, poetry and theater. The mood is set by storytelling between songs, the use of incense, smoke, lights and a backdrop video. The audience is left feeling like they are in a vivid dream or have travelled to outer space.
Antimony is a coldwave band from Reykjavík, Iceland made up of RX Beckett (vocals), Birgir Sigurjón Birgisson (bass) and Sigurður Angantýsson (electronics and production). Together they combine elements of early 80s synthpop, gloomy Lynchian sexuality and sci-fi horror with androgynous DIY aesthetics.
Skelkur í bringu play simple raw noise-rock/punk with catchy melodies and psychedelic freakouts. Rockabilly, punk and doom metal influences mixed with lively performance. The band uses custom stage decorations such as a homemade light show and trippy outfits. When the venue supports it they also use backdrop videos as a part of the act. The performances are dangerous but loose. The songs deal with dark fantasies, nonsense and altered states of consciousness.
Emilie & Ogden is not your typical duet but rather an encounter between a young singer and a harp. Her particular voice has often been described as pure and soft, resonating in perfect harmony with the instrument. On stage, her traditional folk sound is embellished by drums, bass and a soft electronic touch, drawing inspiration from other female artists such as Feist and St-Vincent.
Hailing from the harsh Icelandic western fjords, Icelandic Troubadour Svavar Knútur, summons his inner demons and outer storms to reflect upon the existential crises and frolicking joys of modern day rustic fjord dwelling men.
Brim was founded in 1995 by a group of childhood friends who shared a devotion to surf music and hamburgers. The result was some good, clean surf music. In 1996, the band released a record, ‘Hafmeyjur og hanastél’, through Bad Taste. They are known for their lively performances, as well as their bright blue band costumes. Though Brim was most active in 1995-1997, the band has made some reappearances since, and its members continue to play in various other bands in the Icelandic music scene.
Dream Wife started out as a fantasy… literally. Icelandic singer Rakel and British musicians Alice and Bella played their first show as part of a performance project at art school in Brighton. Stuck in dreams of 90’s club kid nostalgia they continue on making music, embracing their love for edgy pop. Dream Wife name David Lynch’s women as a big influence; “powerful and seriously fucked up”. They play with the aesthetics of the 1960’s ye-ye girls movement, along with current influences such as Sleigh Bells, Le Tigre and Grimes. Dream Wife ooze with girl power; infecting the crowd with their trademark “poolside pop with a bite.” The music juxtaposes simple pop hooks, beats, cutting riffs and dreamy vocals. As a collaboration with a gang of art school friends the world of Dream Wife is brought to life with vibrant live shows, pastel mania and flying pompoms. Join the gang, let’s dance till dawn.
Bláskjár is the alter ego and solo project of Icelandic composer and musician, Dísa Hreiðarsdóttir. Bláskjár´s music is best described as lyrical folk music where storytelling plays a big role. The solo project was launched in May 2014 as a part of Dísa´s final project for her masters studies in the Iceland Academy of the Arts. Bláskjár is a singer/songwriter, and focuses on playing humble and lyrical music, straight from the heart. Bláskjár´s music has many elements, such as classical and theatrical influences, so the music is both theatrical and picturesque. Bláskjár loves the nature and uses soundscapes to enrich her songs. Bláskjár´s newest single, Silkirein, sets the tone for her upcoming EP, which will be released this fall, where she mixes together, natural soundscapes, electronica and acoustic tones bringing everything together in a magical mixture of acoustic/electronic folk music. Bláskjár recently joined forces with a group of talented musicians and together they form Bláskjár and band. Bláskjár released her first single in January 2015 and will release an EP this fall.
The Anatomy of Frank is a five-piece band from the mountains of Virginia. Their melodies and subject matter tend toward nostalgia, intricacy, and nuance, touching on every facet of the human heart. Focusing on fingerstyle guitar work, rich harmonies, and melodies that sound like they were forgotten from childhood, the mood journeys from quiet delicacy to roaring climaxes over the course of their songs.
Born in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, Sóley has been wowing audiences around the globe with her dark, fairytale song craft since 2010. After the “Theater Island” EP (2010) announced her as a solo musician, the fantastical, sepia-toned alt-pop tunes of debut full-length “We Sink” (2011) won her a massive, devoted fanbase: Often praised for her delicate take on composition, her songs’ “dream-like” qualities and “dark surrealism”, a track like “Pretty Face” has gained over 17 million YouTube views since its release. Having studied piano and later composition at the Icelandic Art Academy, Sóley Stefánsdóttir, who was formerly a member of the band Seabear, released a short EP entitled “Krómantík” in 2014, comprised of piano works originally composed for various theater/film productions, and is now about to return with her sophomore album Ask The Deep in early 2015. Still drawn to dark, nocturnal themes, Ask The Deep sees the bespectacled multi-instrumentalist branch out musically, both charting new sonic territory – and fighting the devil inside. Often inspired by poetry, Sóley’s tunes are the musical equivalent to dark fairytales, lucid dreams and childhood nightmares.
Bellstop!…alternative folk rock or not! it is most definitely something raw and something true? well at least from runar’s and elin’s point of view. those two have been playing 2gether for years and living 2gether as well. a life full of adventure and risk from traveling around china and asia for years with the mutual goal: living life and seeking freedom within. things haven’t always worked towards the direction of true artistry and have gotten pretty messy at times. playing a full show for an audience of 1 up to playing unexpectedly in front of thousands. not to mention all those “lost in translation” concerts like playing in a chinese shampoo commercial thinking it was just another gig. well, they do have good hair those two “shamans” from china to iceland airwaves in fall 2010 they began playing,loving&living in iceland’s sizzling capital, reykjavik where they started working on their album” Karma” which is out! Karma tells the story of runar and elin’s life for the past 3 years! nothing is held back, it’s all there…you just have to listen for it carefully….more than once some might hear it and others won’t, it’s all up2U. Bellstop is a band, it’s a couple of individuals, it’s a carnies experience from iceland that doesnt belong in a box…for now we call it Folk&Roll!
Andy Shauf is a storyteller, a singer of heartbreak and regrets, isolation and loneliness, reflecting his prairie surroundings in Regina, Canada. Meticulously written over four years, Shauf’s The Bearer of Bad News is a warm and welcoming album, bathed in weathered piano, dampened drums, softly-strummed guitars and clarinet, which lends its unique timbre to frequently brighten – or hauntingly underscore – the songs’ darker undercurrents.
Going all the way from folk-ish dreamy “feel good” music to big electronic sounds and larger than life post rock soundscapes, even throwing in a little funk and jazz elements when it is appropriate. Armed with tons of energy and a lively presence on stage, CeaseTone is a joyride from start to finish!
Trilogia is an indie electro pop band, formed in the fall of 2014. Members are Finnbjörn Benónýsson and Fríða Dís Guðmundsdóttir. Finnbjörn and Fríða have performed twice this month, at Paddy’s in Keflavík and at Dillon in Reykjavík. Trilogia’s live performance setup is minimal; vocals, keyboard, guitar and bass, loops and a playback – all played by the two members.
AmabAdama is an Icelandic reggae band that took its current form in the spring of 2013. The band consist of a singing trio, guitar, bass, drums, brass and keyboard. The band has been praised for it’s joyful stage presence. People who like dancing to the reggae heart beat and vibing to the bassline should enjoy AmabaDama´s debut album that came out in the fall of 2014. In the beginning of 2015 the band picked up 7 nominations for the Icelandic music awards, more then any other artist. Salka Sól won singer of the year both at the Icelandic Music Awards and the Icelandic Listeners awards where the band also won newcomer of the year.
Bárujárn was founded in 2008 after members met at a industrial showcase for corrugated iron and related suplies in Hafnir city on the wind barren south coast of Iceland. The music was to represent the black sands and waves that is the heart and life of the booming Icelandic surfer culture. Determined to succeed in a world full of tears the band went on to wither in the ashes of their poorly rolled cigarettes through relentless unprofessionalism, constant poverty and petty crime. They released an EP in 2010 commonly mistaken for the crushed remnants of a grilled sandwich due to its luxurious aluminum foil wrapping. This packaging failure resulted in the frequent discarding of the EP to the trash bin at local radio stations and hence no airplay. Theraminist Hekla Magnúsdóttir quit the band in 2011 partly because of an artistic misunderstanding but mostly due to frequent sexist remarks and the general decadence of the remaining members. As of this writing their main accomplishments subsists of a failed make it or break it tour through the neighboring Farao islands, supporting local child star turned hot-shot Brandur Enni and getting to the semi finals in the unofficial battle of the bands. After years of procrastination their debut album was released in 2013. They are currently working on their second and third efforts.
Fridfinnur “Oculus” Sigurdsson is definitely on the rise to conquer the world with his thrilling tracks and his tight live club performances. With over 13 EP releases and many remixes on labels such as: AFU Lab, Gem Records, Aux rec, Form Resonance and he’s gaining support from renown international Dj’s/Producers like DJ Hell, Stephan Bodzin, Tiga, Laurent Garnier, Samuel L Session, Oculus’s strength lies in his production and hard efforts for good live performances which has earned him a great reputation all over europe’s greatest clubs like Flex (Vienna) Salon Zur wilden Renate and Berghain (Berlin). His live sets can range from something deep and hypnotic which can build up to crazy sounds that are out of this world, driving you to loose control in the heat of the moment.
Sturle Dagsland consists of the norwegian brothers Sturle & Sjur Dagsland. They alternate at playing on an array of instruments and electronics, harmonically creating an expressive-progressive ever-changing soundscape dominated by Sturle’s unrestrained innovative vocals ranging from ravening ferocious screams to virtous angelic chanting. His distinctive voice, large vocal range, multilingual lyrics and unique approach to songwriting and composition won him the “Emerging Artist” award in Copenhagen in 2012, and they have toured all across the world ever since.
Dulvitund is a one man project of Þórir Óskar Björnsson. Starting in 2013, Dulvitund music consists of gloomy electronics and minimalistic percussion. The human condition and crippling depression is the main theme, along with the cold hard reality that we all face. Dulvitund focuses on song structure and executes songs in a raw manner.
Hailing from Iceland, Agent Fresco’s music is a reflection of this ever-changing landscape, with its overwhelming sense of freedom and vastness. This is a progressive art rock band that needs to be experienced from a few steps back to be grasped in its entirety, like a bold work of art. Even by the wide-open standards of Icelandic music Agent Fresco’s interpretation of the rock genre is unusually soulful and multi-layered, with a quicksilver rhythmic pulse and mother-of-pearl harmonies reflecting every mood colour imaginable. In the last couple of years, their iridescent, propulsive, arty and highly addictive music made the highly esteemed Reykjavik band become the favourite of a music-loving nation and an act sparking international interest.
dj. flugvél og geimskip (Airplane and Spaceship) is a one girl’s project that draws influences from a thousand worlds.Defined as electronic horror-music with a space twist, the music is a mix of playful beats, cool bass, catchy melodies and high pitched vocals. She sings about evil cats taking over the world, alien experiments, demons hiding in shadows and the weird world below the surface of the ocean. Her live performances are lively, colorful and poetic and her music deals with mysteries, dreams and dangers of the night. On stage, dj. flugvél og geimskip is alone in the midst of keyboards and drum machines. Her concerts are like a strange blend of music, horror stories, poetry and theater. The mood is set by storytelling between songs, the use of incense, smoke, lights and a backdrop video. The audience is left feeling like they are in a vivid dream or have travelled to outer space.
AVóKA is a dreamy doom pop band from Reykjavík. Their music is best described as melancholic yet hopeful with a thick-layered sound created with harmonium, trumpet and unique vocals. AVóKA appeared for the first time at “Músíktilraunir 2015” (Icelandic battle of the bands) winning the 3rd place and getting awarded with the best bass- and drum player of the year. Their debut EP album “kok” will be released on 12th of January 2016.
From 101 downtown Reykjavík, the heart throbbing Sturla Atlas shook the Icelandic hip-hop scene with the release of his debut mixtape, Love Hurts, in the summer of 2015. Alongside the 101 Boys, he has already put out three singles this fall, including a video off his forthcoming EP, These Days,which is out the 30th of October.
Accumulated experience can be a real forte when it comes to music making and nowhere is this truer than in the case of TRPTYCH, a Reykjavík techno duo that was formed by Daniel Þorsteinsson and Guðni Einarsson this spring. These wise veterans, in respect to the ever emergent Icelandic music scene, build beautifully on their long standing involvement with it and craft a sublime, dark electronica that simply glides within the listener; such is the effortlessness of the execution. TRPTYCH sprang fully formed out of the box, the city’s most prominent electro outfit today by far. Save up your energy, as the slow, pulsating, tightly woven and masterfully detailed soundscape will leave you utterly spellbound. You have been warned!
Flying Hórses is an instrumental journey through childhood memories of dusty dollhouses and wide eyed innocence. The duo are currently working towards their anticipated, debut record which was recorded/mastered, in part, at Sundlaugin Studio, in Iceland. It will be available in the spring/summer 2015.
EinarIndra started making and performing electronic music more than a decade ago. After crashing his hard drive he took a break from the digital, picking up the guitar and singing. Now he´s again embraced his electronic roots, love of synths and working on laptops mixing it with live instruments resulting in creating organic electronic soulful music.
Shimmering string synths and scintillating arpeggios, rumbling bass that resonates within your chest, more vocal power than any one person should have a right to possess. Sykur have come to represent the forefront of the Reykjavík Electro Pop scene, and Iceland Airwaves has long been their venue for unleashing fresh, new content.
DALÍ is the project of singer/bassist Erla Stefánsdóttir. Music and lyrics are by Erla and with her in the band are Helgi Reynir Jónsson guitarist, Fúsi Óttars on drums and Franz Gunnarsson guitarist. DALÍ is a mixture of many elements; you could say there is a hint of sweetness from Joni Mitchell, the surrealistic ruggedness of Primus and the full hearted swearing attitude of a sailor; it all comes together in DALÍ, a music style of many genres. Fronted by a singing female bassist who sings about love but also burying those lovers alive – it’s never a dull moment with DALÍ. The band has their new debut album out, selftitled “DALÍ” which is available in stores now!
Wesen (or ₩€$€₦) are duo Júlía Hermannsdóttir and Loji Höskuldsson. They started working together in 2004 under the name We Pained the Walls. After taking a few years off to work on other projects (Sudden Weather Change & Oyama to name just two) they’ve reunited in the last couple of years to once again step outside their comfort zone and make a new album under the new name Wesen. Wesen play catchy experimental electronic pop music and their live performance style is straightforward but striking, making use of both playback and live buildup.
Axel Flóvent is a musician hailing from the northern fishing village of Húsavík. At the age of 19 Axel has already spent a few years creating his own music and performing in Húsavík as well as all over Iceland by himself and as a part of his bands. His music can be described as modern folk music. At its core it´s acoustic and low key but bears obvious influences from other forms of music such as indie rock, pop and electronic music. Keeping in the vein of modern folk singers Axel has been active writing and recording his own songs and has a numerous online releases available.
Red-bearded pop auteur Berndsen mines the 1980s for inspiration, retro music. Synth bass, programmed drums, guitar solos, retro-futurist aesthetics and dramatic vocals make for an intoxicating, atmospheric, analogue-feeling sound, reminiscent of everything from Michael Jackson to Kraftwerk to The Eurythmics to fellow revivalists like Glass Candy, Dreamtrak and Chromeo. Infinite amounts of fun live. All produced by his twin brother Hermigervill.
Dikta play alternative rock. Their songs are epic in size and in heart. Melodic and dynamic while telling the tales of hearts broken and mended. Songs you sing along with, songs that will get stuck in your head, make you wonder, then make you want to sing them all over again. Their full-length album, ‘Get It Together’, reached Platinum in their home country, received four awards at the Listener’s Choice Awards, their song ‘Thank You’ became one of the most played songs in Icelandic radio. In the meantime Dikta played non-stop all across the country and have also been touring frequently all around Germany. Dikta are now independently recording their final songs for the new album, to be ready 2015.
Dreprún is made up of the duo Oddur S. Barúson and Solveig Pálsdóttir. They formed the band in 2013, and since then, have written nine songs and performed numerous times. Their songs contain dark lyrics in Icelandic, sung to a tropical guitar. Deprún is inspired by the seven deadly sins, sex, lovesickness, mental illnesses, witchcraft and Satan. They hope to release an album at the end of this year.
The Anatomy of Frank is a five-piece band from the mountains of Virginia. Their melodies and subject matter tend toward nostalgia, intricacy, and nuance, touching on every facet of the human heart. Focusing on fingerstyle guitar work, rich harmonies, and melodies that sound like they were forgotten from childhood, the mood journeys from quiet delicacy to roaring climaxes over the course of their songs.
Hailing from the harsh Icelandic western fjords, Icelandic Troubadour Svavar Knútur, summons his inner demons and outer storms to reflect upon the existential crises and frolicking joys of modern day rustic fjord dwelling men.
Dream Wife started out as a fantasy… literally. Icelandic singer Rakel and British musicians Alice and Bella played their first show as part of a performance project at art school in Brighton. Stuck in dreams of 90’s club kid nostalgia they continue on making music, embracing their love for edgy pop. Dream Wife name David Lynch’s women as a big influence; “powerful and seriously fucked up”. They play with the aesthetics of the 1960’s ye-ye girls movement, along with current influences such as Sleigh Bells, Le Tigre and Grimes. Dream Wife ooze with girl power; infecting the crowd with their trademark “poolside pop with a bite.” The music juxtaposes simple pop hooks, beats, cutting riffs and dreamy vocals. As a collaboration with a gang of art school friends the world of Dream Wife is brought to life with vibrant live shows, pastel mania and flying pompoms. Join the gang, let’s dance till dawn.
Stafrænn Hákon has continued sliding a comic or surreal twist in his songwriting since 1999, challenging the epic and dreamy connotations his music has always been ascribed with. Humour in combination with sincerity haslong been some of Stafrænn Hákon´s driving forces, a twisted combination that reflects a personal nuance for those curious to dig deeper into the musical mindscape of the man behind the band. The band´s current lineup consists of guitarists Ólafur Josephsson and Lárus Siguðsson, bass guitarist Árni Þór Árnason, drummer Róbert Már Runólfsson and singer Magnús Freyr Gíslason.
Antimony is a coldwave band from Reykjavík, Iceland made up of RX Beckett (vocals), Birgir Sigurjón Birgisson (bass) and Sigurður Angantýsson (electronics and production). Together they combine elements of early 80s synthpop, gloomy Lynchian sexuality and sci-fi horror with androgynous DIY aesthetics.
Imagine a plumber, a farmer, a buddhist, a programmer, a hermit and an apothecary and throw them onto a steam engine without brakes rolling frantically down a gravel covered mountain road heading straight into the discourse of Iceland with 500 kg’s of dynamite, spite, sarcasm, wit, fury and lunacy strapped to the front and you’ll get an idea of what an Elín Helena spectacle is all about.
From the ever-avant-garde city of Vienna emerges Chili and the Whalekillers, an Icelandic-Austrian five-piece Band, loaded with an array of artfully crafted pop-songs with considerable danceability. Their third album Turn (2013) was received with acclaim from critics and audiences alike, its eponymous single topping at third place in the Icelandic radio charts in early 2014. Musically Chili and the Whalekillers can only be described as diverse: Dreamy-Pop coloured by 60’s psychadelia, Indie, Folk and even Surf Rock. Their genre crossing is as effortless as their changing up of the instruments on stage yet there is a constant feeling of coherence, a shared spirit and substance. Initially drawn in by the captivating melodies of the band, the listener soon finds himself repeatedly discovering new depths in the rich retro-inspired sound and the continental aesthetic of their lyrics. Images of beauty, lemon gardens, French girls and train rides are evoked, but the bands strong political consciousness is never far off. In May 2015 the band released the mini album “a dot in the sky” and went on their first UK -tour. Chili and the Whalekillers played 11 shows in 10 days, including concerts at The Great Escape Festival and Liverpool Sound City. Also BBC radio stations – among others – invited them to live sessions and interviews. Returning home, Chili and the Whalekillers finished the production of their 4th LP which is due to be released in November 2015 – followed by an extensive tour through Germany, Austria and the United Kingdom.
Hailing from Iceland, Agent Fresco’s music is a reflection of this ever-changing landscape, with its overwhelming sense of freedom and vastness. This is a progressive art rock band that needs to be experienced from a few steps back to be grasped in its entirety, like a bold work of art. Even by the wide-open standards of Icelandic music Agent Fresco’s interpretation of the rock genre is unusually soulful and multi-layered, with a quicksilver rhythmic pulse and mother-of-pearl harmonies reflecting every mood colour imaginable. In the last couple of years, their iridescent, propulsive, arty and highly addictive music made the highly esteemed Reykjavik band become the favourite of a music-loving nation and an act sparking international interest.
East of My Youth is an Icelandic electro-band formed in 2014. Last summer the band released its first single “Lemonstars”. The band played two successful concerts at Iceland Airwaves last year and have since then been working on their first album. The band is touring in Berlin and Amsterdam this summer. East Of My Youth plays melodic, electronic pop and draws its influences from artists like Austra, FKA Twigs, Florence & The Machine etc.
DALÍ is the project of singer/bassist Erla Stefánsdóttir. Music and lyrics are by Erla and with her in the band are Helgi Reynir Jónsson guitarist, Fúsi Óttars on drums and Franz Gunnarsson guitarist. DALÍ is a mixture of many elements; you could say there is a hint of sweetness from Joni Mitchell, the surrealistic ruggedness of Primus and the full hearted swearing attitude of a sailor; it all comes together in DALÍ, a music style of many genres. Fronted by a singing female bassist who sings about love but also burying those lovers alive – it’s never a dull moment with DALÍ. The band has their new debut album out, selftitled “DALÍ” which is available in stores now!
Ragna Kjartansdottir, also known as CELL7, is a Filipino-Icelandic rapper, songwriter and sound engineer. In 2013 she returned to the music scene, after a long hiatus, and released her first solo album, CELLF. The album received outstanding reviews and was mentioned on several national lists for the best Icelandic albums of the year 2013. Moreover, the album received the Kraumur Music Award, chosen by a diverse panel of experienced Icelandic music and radio journalists. Cell7’s stage performance has been descriped as dynamic and energetic. Her live set is always evolving. In early 2014 she begun the transition from performing with a DJ to performing with a live band. While working on her album she was joined by two of Iceland’s best producers, Earmax and Introbeats. CELLF is diverse rap album as the album’s compositions combine elements of electronic, dance, R&B and dancehall music. Early 2015 Cell7 teamed up with Nolem and released the song “Got this”. She’s is currently working on her new album.
Electric Elephant is an Icelandic band formed in 2011. Although the band´s initial genre was a sort of poprock/alternative one, it slowly grew towards more funk oriented music, blending with diso beats and a very groovy vibe.
Despite his young age, Emmsjé Gauti is a veteran when it comes to the rap game. After honing his talent for the last 13 years in Reykjavik’s small but vibrant and competitive rap scene, he released his debut solo album in 2010 which proved a big hit among fans and critics alike. Catapulting into the spotlight with his feature on the Blazroca’s hit “Elskum Þessar Mellur”, the aptly titled “Bara Ég” (“Only Me”) solidifies his status as one of Iceland’s most prominent young artists, striking an eclectic balance between flamboyant pop, humor and unadulterated rhyming skills. Say what you want about young Emmsjé Gauti, he gets the party started! Go check out his videos on Youtube (he’s put out more of them this year alone than most artists do in their entire careers). Gauti released his second solo album in 2013 called “ÞEYR”. “ÞEYR” is a darker, heavier release than his first outing and showcases the growth of the artist. If you are into punk-like shows, stagediving and random bullshit, Gauti is your go to guy.
Vára is a rock band from Kópavogur that was born when Indigo decided to change their name. They describe their sound as the bastard child of Radiohead and Sigur Rós, brought up by Empire! Empire! and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Today Vára plays many different types of music, from easy listening to rock, and they bring a powerful performance while preserving a “floating” atmosphere.
The band Valdimar was founded in 2009 when Valdimar Guðmundsson and Ásgeir Aðalsteinsson started writing songs together in Ásgeir’s apartment. Others gradually joined in to render it a 6-member band. When performing live, the band is most often supported by a small brass section. Their music builds up from being soft and intimate to an exciting hair-raising, heart-stirring energy, often with all members on stage playing full blast, making their live performances an unforgettable experience. The sound of their music can be described as an electro indie mix. The band released their debut album Undraland (Wonderland) in 2010 with critical acclaim and commercial success. Four singles that were released from the album reached the Top 10, including their biggest hit “Yfirgefinn”, one of the most played songs of 2011 in Iceland. They followed Undraland by the album Um stund (For a While) released in October 2012, and it acclaimed big success as well, and was nominated as the album of the year at the Icelandic Music Awards. The album contained three big radio hits; “Beðið Eftir Skömminni”, “Sýn” and “Yfir Borgina”. Valdimar released their latest album late October 2014, Batnar útsýnið (The Scenery Gets Better).
Alexander Jarl AKA Yung Jafar AKA Ali-Luyah AKA Young Arafat. The Icelandic/Palestinian mudblood rapping grappling one two combo. Hailing from the streets of VE$TURBÆR, this rapper can be described as poetic yet stupid, smooth yet knocking, sane yet psychotic.
The Anatomy of Frank is a five-piece band from the mountains of Virginia. Their melodies and subject matter tend toward nostalgia, intricacy, and nuance, touching on every facet of the human heart. Focusing on fingerstyle guitar work, rich harmonies, and melodies that sound like they were forgotten from childhood, the mood journeys from quiet delicacy to roaring climaxes over the course of their songs.
We are a lively bunch that play rock. Modnine rock which is influenced by the loud/quiet/loud groups of the nineties such as The Pixies and Smashing Pumpkins. We are a guitar driven rock group with emotional lyrics thrown in for good measure.
Norwegian band Østfrost has a sound that’s difficult to describe, sitting somewhere between jazz, pop, indie and folk. Thankfully they’ll be playing five off-venue shows during Airwaves, allowing you the opportunity to find out for yourself just how good their music is.
Kælan Mikla is a three-piece poetry-punk band from Reykjavík that is becoming darker and more refined, delving into the no-wave genre and adding more instruments to their sound. The band consists of three close friends that perform original poetry any way they please, breathing a fresh breeze of avant-garde into the Icelandic music scene. The band was formed after winning first place in a poetry slam competition held by the Reykjavík City Library in January 2013. They have since made the local festival circuit, as well as gone on European tours of their own. Kælan Mikla’s style is best characterised by a dark melancholic sound, filled with heavy thumping bass, loud drums, melodic synth segments, and mercurial vocals that go from spoken poetry to full-on screams. Their lyrics focus on topics such as inner turmoil, and their stage presence is at times intimidating to newcomers, but brings regulars into an introspective and melancholic trance.
Hailing from the harsh Icelandic western fjords, Icelandic Troubadour Svavar Knútur, summons his inner demons and outer storms to reflect upon the existential crises and frolicking joys of modern day rustic fjord dwelling men.
kimono formed in 2001 as a minimalist instrumental post-rock band in Reykjavík, Iceland, and have gone on to develop their sound into diverse styles such as textured bummer rock, disjointed electronic mix-up, droning improvisation and atmospheric soundscapes.
Dreprún is made up of the duo Oddur S. Barúson and Solveig Pálsdóttir. They formed the band in 2013, and since then, have written nine songs and performed numerous times. Their songs contain dark lyrics in Icelandic, sung to a tropical guitar. Deprún is inspired by the seven deadly sins, sex, lovesickness, mental illnesses, witchcraft and Satan. They hope to release an album at the end of this year.
Skurken is the artist name of Jóhann Ómarsson, an electronic musician based in Reykjavík. Someone compared Skurken’s music to “trippin’ in the Moomin valley” – whatever that means. He could be right, although Skurken tries not to analyze his creations too much. Skurken‘s influences include everything from corny ’80s ballads to late ’90s drill&bass and old computer game themes. And probably elves and nature too. Skurken has been active for several years, has released 4 solo albums, had appearances on several compilations, made sound tracks to short films and more.
The Anatomy of Frank is a five-piece band from the mountains of Virginia. Their melodies and subject matter tend toward nostalgia, intricacy, and nuance, touching on every facet of the human heart. Focusing on fingerstyle guitar work, rich harmonies, and melodies that sound like they were forgotten from childhood, the mood journeys from quiet delicacy to roaring climaxes over the course of their songs.
Though he’s produced for some of the biggest names in Icelandic hip hop, Audunn Luthersson’s own music eschews hip hop tropes like ego and posturing in favor of a lovelorn style of pop, electronica and R&B. Auðunn was recently accepted into the prestigious Red Bull Music Academy joining the alumni of Hudson Mohawke, Flying Lotus and Evian Christ.
Árni Grétar (born 6 December 1983), best known under the pseudonym Futuregrapher, is an electronic musician described by Grapevine magazine in 2009 as “fucking brilliant.” He runs the record label Möller Records with fellow musicians Bistro Boy and Steve Sampling.
Dikta play alternative rock. Their songs are epic in size and in heart. Melodic and dynamic while telling the tales of hearts broken and mended. Songs you sing along with, songs that will get stuck in your head, make you wonder, then make you want to sing them all over again. Their full-length album, ‘Get It Together’, reached Platinum in their home country, received four awards at the Listener’s Choice Awards, their song ‘Thank You’ became one of the most played songs in Icelandic radio. In the meantime Dikta played non-stop all across the country and have also been touring frequently all around Germany. Dikta are now independently recording their final songs for the new album, to be ready 2015.
Vök’s sound mixes wistful electronics and melodic vocals, distant saxophones and reverberating guitars. Think The xx’s hypnotism, The Knife’s sexual tension and Poliça’s playful overdubbing. VÖK kicked off the new year by playing Eurosonic and achieved several major festival bookings and great reviews.
Vára is a rock band from Kópavogur that was born when Indigo decided to change their name. They describe their sound as the bastard child of Radiohead and Sigur Rós, brought up by Empire! Empire! and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Today Vára plays many different types of music, from easy listening to rock, and they bring a powerful performance while preserving a “floating” atmosphere.
Energetic, melodious rock band, For a Minor Reflection comprises of four 23-year-olds from Reykjavík, Iceland. Kjartan Holm (guitar), Guðfinnur Sveinsson (guitar & piano), Elvar Jón Guðmundsson (bass) and Andri Freyr Þorgeirsson (drums). Far from simple to define, their music expands and subverts itself with every song.
Waage is an extremely talented artist from the new era of Thule Musik who has confirmed a new ep for the label later this winter. Waage will be performing live with his forthcoming music in a performance that will be very interesting and fun to watch.
Vio are the winners of the 2014 Icelandic Music Experiments (Músíktilraunir), with their singer also receiving the award for best singer. Formed only three weeks before the contest, they started out as a semi-acoustic trio but soon evolved into a four piece alternative band with a broader soundscape.
The first Icelandic band to ever win the Eiserner Eversteiner European Folk Music Award, Árstíðir became a YouTube phenomenon after a friend recorded an impromptu performance of “Heyr himna smiður” in the Bürger Bahnhof train station in Wuppertal. After a successful Kickstarter campaign to fund their new album, the band took up residence and composed the album’s songs in Toppstödin, an abandoned coal-fired power plant repurposed as a creative space. They then recorded Hvel at the studio Orgelsmiðjan, home to many of Iceland’s renowned recording artists. The result is a collection of songs which weave both traditional and electronically-inspired instrumental threads together with soaring vocal harmonies, and that critics have described as “beautiful and atmospheric” and “utterly mesmerizing.”
Ylja, originally formed as a duet in 2008, is a 5 piece band from Reykjavík, Iceland. After releasing their self titled debut album in 2012 and receiving a ‘best newcomer’ nomination at The Icelandic Music Awards, Ylja took Iceland by storm playing dreamy indie/folk music fronted by strong harmonising vocals. New material showcased on their sophomore album, titled Commotion, is bigger, more electric and alternative in genre although loyal to a background of powerful harmonies and emotional live-shows.
It was just spring that Vaginaboys burst onto the scene from out of nowhere. All of the sudden, their breakout hit “Elskan af því bara” (“Baby Just Because”) started spreading across Icelandic social media circles at an alarming rate. No one had a clue who they were, but everyone fell in love all the same, their unique brand of ice-cold, sexy 808 auto-tuned R’n’B resonating in hip-hop and indie circles alike. The ‘boys made their stage show opening up for Sin Fang in May, and they’ve barely let up since, releasing a steady trickle of new material through their Soundcloud, performing shows all over town, all the while successfully managing to keep their true identities under wraps.
Earthquakes, waterfalls, volcanoes – the music of Toneron is undeniably THE sound reflection of these Icelandic nature phenomena. Their songs are boiling up and explode to an emotional beauty – the soul of Iceland is within your grasp. Super tight drums like a rolling thunder combined with frenetic saxophone mix up with an inexhaustible source of melodies. Pushed forward by the insistent and clear voice of the singer and creative mind Gísli Brynjarsson they form a wide soundscape – and that one needs width and space, just like at their home – just like in Iceland. Far from any musical conventions, this band presents themselves so taking and confident just one year after their start – you can not help to be fascinated get by them and their Toneron world. On stage they are full of enthusiasm and get the most out of their instruments and present their songs with big passion for details – they know how to get the audience from the very first second and thrill them. That talent brought Toneron the attention of Músíktilraunir, a competition where previously bands like Of Monsters and Men, Agent Fresco, Samaris and VÖK came from. Because of that they got their first gigs in Germany as part of Stage Europe Network. And these performances led to more, led to enthusiasm and now into their first EP – ready to infect the world with the exceptional Toneron sound.
Father and son – Óskar Thorarensen one of the founders of the collective Brut art group Inferno 5 (1984), Pan Thorarensen and Thorkell Atlasson form the electronic trio Stereo Hypnosis. The trio was stabilized, between field recording and photo sessions in the remote island Flatey (2006). They have an organic sound, serene and down tempo – electronic climbing the Icelandic unforgiving highlands. Stereo Hypnosis has constructed five albums: Parallel Island, Hypnogogia, Synopsis (in collaboration with the Italian sound artist Pulse) Glossolalia & Morphic Ritual. Pan and Oskar, have combined over forty years of musical carer in Iceland, and are well know and respected for their works. For the past five years Stereo Hypnosis have been touring various countries around the Globe. They are also leading promoters in the Icelandic Electronic scene and founders of the Extreme Chill Festival. Þorkell has been involved in classical contemporary music and pop music from his young age. He has worked as a composer and electronic musician in Rotterdam Holland and also he studied classical guitar. His works have been performed all around Europe and America.
From 101 downtown Reykjavík, the heart throbbing Sturla Atlas shook the Icelandic hip-hop scene with the release of his debut mixtape, Love Hurts, in the summer of 2015. Alongside the 101 Boys, he has already put out three singles this fall, including a video off his forthcoming EP, These Days,which is out the 30th of October.
Art is Dead is an alternative/electronic quintet from Reykjavik, Iceland. The band struck a nerve with many Icelanders with their debut single “Bad Politics” in which they describe the corrupt political and financial landscape that devastated Iceland in September 2008. “Bad Politics” climbed to the peak of the Icelandic alternative hit list after braving the chart for seventeen weeks. Art is Dead are currently working on their debut album that is set to be released early 2016.
Started in 2010 in Vevey, Verveine is a solo electronic project, built on pop and techno influences. Bred in the lively scene built around the local venues and collectives, Verveine cut her teeth collecting concerts, deepening and intensifying her universe: synthetic melodies, superposed voices, angular structures reminiscent of The Knife, Angelo Badalamenti or Broadcast, among the most obvious influences. Her budding traits transformed into a different type of live experience, tinged by techno hues, which enabled her to take her live sets to a new level; between traditional performance and radical clubbing experimentation. Always radiating a mysterious aura, Verveine’s music takes her audience for a unsettling stroll through refined atmospheres, using her hypnotic voice to see it through her technoid maze.
Despite his young age, Emmsjé Gauti is a veteran when it comes to the rap game. After honing his talent for the last 13 years in Reykjavik’s small but vibrant and competitive rap scene, he released his debut solo album in 2010 which proved a big hit among fans and critics alike. Catapulting into the spotlight with his feature on the Blazroca’s hit “Elskum Þessar Mellur”, the aptly titled “Bara Ég” (“Only Me”) solidifies his status as one of Iceland’s most prominent young artists, striking an eclectic balance between flamboyant pop, humor and unadulterated rhyming skills. Say what you want about young Emmsjé Gauti, he gets the party started! Go check out his videos on Youtube (he’s put out more of them this year alone than most artists do in their entire careers). Gauti released his second solo album in 2013 called “ÞEYR”. “ÞEYR” is a darker, heavier release than his first outing and showcases the growth of the artist. If you are into punk-like shows, stagediving and random bullshit, Gauti is your go to guy.
Going all the way from folk-ish dreamy “feel good” music to big electronic sounds and larger than life post rock soundscapes, even throwing in a little funk and jazz elements when it is appropriate. Armed with tons of energy and a lively presence on stage, CeaseTone is a joyride from start to finish!
“Haling from a small fishing village on the east coast of Iceland, FURA is the offspring of vocalist Björt Sigfinnsdóttir. In 2013 FURA started working on her debut album and collaborated with the production duo Hallur Jónsson and Janus Rasmussen (Bloodgroup). The nucleus of the work explores the contrast between dark beats and the heightened, sensual, female voice of Sigfinnsdóttir, while exuding the mystical nature of their ravishing environment and the sense of isolation and emotion produced by its landscapes. In 2013 the group released their first single “Demons” and in 2014 the second single “Poems of the past”. September 2nd is the release of the third single “ Moments”. The self titled debut album will be out on November 2nd 2015. FURA has now teamed up with Danish drummer Emil Vissing and guitarist Thomas Volmer, to form the live sound. “
Dad Rocks! is a band from Denmark, fronted by Icelandic-born songwriter Snævar Njáll Albertsson. Albertsson writes songs that are always sincere, often related to aspects of modernity but seldom without an element of humour and tongue-in-cheek lyrics. The music is inspired by a diversity of artists such as Bill Callahan, Why?, Sigur Rós, Sparklehorse and Do Make Say Think. The unique mix of folk and pop combines complex guitar work with piano, trumpets, violin and sometimes even an entire brass band or a girls choir. The band uses acoustic instruments to create a beautifully orchestrated sound but also tend to deconstruct such organic landscapes with the use of noise rock and electronics. The name itself, Dad Rocks!, is more than just a pun on the ‘dad rock’ genre: it’s a tribute to his kids, acknowledging that they are his primary source of inspiration. When describing the world around him, he is essentially reflecting on the world that his son and daughter will grow up in.
William Tyler’s first recording band was the Paper Hats, who cut two albums: 2004’s Come and See and 2008’s Desert Canyon. In 2010, his first track as a solo artist, “Between Radnor and Sunrise,” appeared on Tompkins Square’s Imaginational Anthems, Vol. 4 compilation, followed almost immediately by his universally acclaimed album Behold the Spirit. Tyler continued touring as a solo artist and working as a session musician. His widely acclaimed sophomore effort, Impossible Truth, was released by Merge in early 2013.
Kælan Mikla is a three-piece poetry-punk band from Reykjavík that is becoming darker and more refined, delving into the no-wave genre and adding more instruments to their sound. The band consists of three close friends that perform original poetry any way they please, breathing a fresh breeze of avant-garde into the Icelandic music scene. The band was formed after winning first place in a poetry slam competition held by the Reykjavík City Library in January 2013. They have since made the local festival circuit, as well as gone on European tours of their own. Kælan Mikla’s style is best characterised by a dark melancholic sound, filled with heavy thumping bass, loud drums, melodic synth segments, and mercurial vocals that go from spoken poetry to full-on screams. Their lyrics focus on topics such as inner turmoil, and their stage presence is at times intimidating to newcomers, but brings regulars into an introspective and melancholic trance.
Manchester based electronic-pop duo BERNARD + EDITH is already firmly established within the city’s underground music scene, Greta ‘Edith’ Carroll and Nick ‘Bernard’ Delap draw on influences ranging from Fever Ray and Portishead via Cocteau Twins, David Lynch and Kate Bush to create the most deliciously dark art-pop/soul. With their much-anticipated debut album Jem out on 11/05/2015, BERNARD + EDITH have just unveiled a visually sumptuous video to new single “Heartache”. Directed by Iris Debaveye with costume design and styling by Myfanwy Holland, the Heartache video was a vision by BERNARD + EDITH. Set in a bubble Fantasy World, Heartache is a fluffy cushion for you to rest your head on and reflect on life after things go wrong.
Ljóta Hálfvitarnir (the ugly idiots) are going to be playing during Airwaves, but not as part of Airwaves! They’ll be hitting Café Rosenberg and will play your heart out.
Fearsome, strident and elemental, Tanya Tagaq’s music is a genre unto itself. Tagaq’s unique vocal style may be rooted in traditional cultural form, but her expression also aligns with avant-garde improvisation, classical Expressionism and electronica influences, which inform her startling and powerful creative vision. This Inuk punk is known for delivering performances that are visceral and physical, heaving and breathing
and alive. Her shows draw incredulous response from worldwide audiences, and Tagaq’s tours tend to jump back and forth over the map of the world. From a Mexican EDM festival to the Carnegie Hall, her music and performances transcend language. Tagaq’s 2014 Polaris Prize winning album Animism has rocketed her to the forefront of the international music scene, and is making waves for its originality, artistic importance and stunning uniqueness.
CocoRosie’s Bianca Casady presents her new musical-performance project. ‘Bianca has been working on a kind of theatrical piece that we don’t know that much about, but we know that CocoRosie has a tendency to go fairly theatrical anyway. It should be very interesting, both musically and visually.’ (David Byrne) Working with longtime friends and collaborators (The C.i.A.), Bianca performs new music from her upcoming solo record. Dancer Biño Sauitzvy, with whom she has collaborated on several theatre pieces and many exhibitions, joins her in a series of performances which mark her debut as a solo artist in her own right. Bianca has been writing and recording songs on her own for many years. Her new record began with a hundred-year-old untunable piano and a collection of dusty typewriters, as piles of poems filtered into songs. She followed these dusty songs to Argentina where she finished the recordings and mixing of the album.
Úlfur Eldjárn is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and electronic musician from Reykjavík, best known for his soundtrack work and as a member of the legendary Apparat Organ Quartet. Úlfur will perform music from his upcoming solo album – The Aristókrasía Project – a collection of musical poems touching upon the topics of space travel, the history of science, technological progress and the love between humans and machines. The music combines epic analog synthesizer melodies with bold romantic string arrangements, organic beats and emotionally charged vocoded singing.
Úlfur will be performing on live electronics with a string quartet and percussion ensemble – a rare performance that is not to be missed!
When ‘Airy Met Fairy is more of a project than a band. Many different musicians and video makers help create the minimalist but melancholic world of When ‘Airy Met Fairy. At the core, there is the fixed trio which consists of Thorunn Egilsdottir, Mike Koster, and Thomas Copier. WAMF sound engineer, Tom Gatti creates the airy fairy sound of the live shows.
French for Rabbits hail from the remote natural setting of Waikuku Beach, in New Zealand’s South Island. Vocalist Brooke Singer expresses intimate narratives against the cast of the damp colonial cold; her voice delicately steeled against winsome guitar lines, and the eerie instrumentation. It’s a weather-beaten dreamscape, nostalgic for warmth and hopefully lilting towards sunnier climes. While the warm instrumentation lends itself to pleasant comparisons with the Paisley West Coast pop-rock styling’s of bands like Mazzy Star, French for Rabbits are infused with a cold, brooding gaze evident through carefully decaying beats and glacial guitars akin to Laura Marling or Daughter on opiates. In 2014, they released their debut album ‘Spirits’ on Portland label Lefse Records (home to A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Sea Oleena) and toured with Danish songwriter Agnes Obel.
Fufanu had their early roots in techno, but an untimely theft of their master computer with their unreleased techno album pushed Fufanu into a new realm of soundscape. Their approach delivers a unique modern rock’n’roll sound rooted in new wave, post punk and indeed future rock. Releasing their debut album later in 2015 via One Little Indian Records, being one of 10 New Artist You Need to know by Rolling Stone Magazine and winning The Band To Watch in 2015 by Reykjavík Grapevine after gaining the trust of the audience.
Having only released one EP and playing live as a band for little over a year, Weaves has quickly become an internationally buzzed about band. They were recently chosen as Rolling Stone’s “Band To Watch”, and have shared the stage with Constantines, Tune-Yards and Austra, playing such venues as Massey Hall and The Phoenix. Having been tagged as pop eclectics, seductive art-rockers and musicians with a delirious swirl, Weaves make bent-out-of-shape pop music that’s catchy and unpredictable. Formed by lead singer Jasmyn Burke and guitarist Morgan Waters, Weaves is a violent collision of soul, punk and pop. The tension between Burke’s affinity for topsy-turvy tunes and Waters’ ear for buoyant pop hooks makes for music that revels in fun, arty, noisy weirdness yet still maintain a level of accessibility. With the addition of a virtuosic rhythm section made up of Spencer Cole and Zach Bines, and you’ve got a band that’s slick yet slimy, backwards yet forward thinking, perhaps on the tip of collapsing.
New York singer-songwriter Vérité grew up in a musical household where she was endlessly encouraged by her Latin-rock musician father and addicted to alternative radio. She now makes spatially-aware indie-pop that has, quite rightly, drawn huge praise from bloggers, writers and even actual real people on Twitter. Last October’s Echo EP – recorded with producer Elliot Jacobson – was a captivating collection of tracks that were raw and emotional while remaining graceful and confident. Her live shows are energtic and immersive, vulnerable and honest – but always full of big pop hooks. Miss this and you’ve missed out.
East of My Youth is an Icelandic electro-band formed in 2014. Last summer the band released its first single “Lemonstars”. The band played two successful concerts at Iceland Airwaves last year and have since then been working on their first album. The band is touring in Berlin and Amsterdam this summer. East Of My Youth plays melodic, electronic pop and draws its influences from artists like Austra, FKA Twigs, Florence & The Machine etc.
The President of Iceland, Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, often speaks of the special nature of the Icelandic people. In his mind, the most treasured commodity among Icelanders is their “Viking” spirit—their passion and enthusiasm for conquering new ground and reaping the benefits of their adventurous and courageous natures. This is obviously a load of nonsense and has absolutely nothing to do with FM Belfast. FM Belfast just want to be your friend. Because FM Belfast are not Vikings. They do not pillage and plunder. Instead, they give, and they care. With simple, delicately crafted melodies, unpredictable beats and humorous lyrics, FM Belfast bring smiles to their audience’s faces, and life to their every extremity—whether it be in the car, in the kitchen or on the dancefloor. But there’s more. In their live performances, FM Belfast somehow manage to elevate their music to new heights. They manage to mediate a certain weltanschauung; manage to share their joie de vivre. Seeing an FM Belfast concert is almost a religous experience, save for the religion. Unlike organized religion, though, their music isn’t conditional—it is simply inviting. It offers a genuine sense of belonging. Everyone feels it, as they dance and chant and release more sweat than Jane Fonda’s disciples ever could. FM Belfast was originally formed by couple Lóa Hjálmtýsdóttir and Árni Hlöðversson in late 2005. They wanted to record a song, one which they could give to their friends as a Christmas present. Says a lot, doesn’t it? Not surprisingly, the Iceland Airwaves music festival proved to be a catalyst in the band’s story—as Lóa and Árni needed extra people for their live act in 2006. These extra people have been numerous, although the core members have included Árni Vilhjálmsson (Motherfuckers in the House), Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason (Múm). Andri Snær Magnason, three-time recipient of the Icelandic Literary Prize, says he has to attend a FM Belfast concert at least once every six months, according to doctor’s orders. It is worth mentioning that Andri Snær is not a doctor, but his father is a doctor; his grandfather is a doctor; his sister is no less than a neurosurgeon! Should we, the common, soot-stained masses, doubt the professional medical advice of an entire family? Thankfully we don’t have to. Because FM Belfast takes its role in the public’s health very seriously. Because the members of the band are just like you and me—they are a part of us. They pay off their mortgages, take their kids to day care and in the evening boil potatoes. They don’t always have enough to fill the gas tank or perhaps don’t even have a car to begin with. They’ve even been known to play basketball in tattered sneakers. The band’s struggle for survival, and that of the Icelandic nation as a whole, is wearisome and tedious. But in the end, there is good news, because FM Belfast knows the antidote—the recipe for making the struggle a happy one and for patching the holes in tattered sneakers. Because as the poet said: “Smile and the world smiles back.”
