Icelandic singer/songwriter Megas will perform for the first time @ Reykjavik Arts Festival this year. He will perform new material by his son, the composer Þórður Magnússon, which has been arranged for a string quintet led by Bryndís Halla Gylfadóttir. Benni Hemm Hemm performing a new, intimate work with a Scottish singer & Blásarasveit Reykjavíkur. Jónas Sen & Ásgerður Júníusdóttir perform music by Björk in new arrangements. Bedroom Community'sWhale Watching Tour, who will end their much-acclaimed European tour in the National Theatre. Daniel Bjarnason will also conduct a small orchestra there. The full program and further information on all the events can be found @ www.listahatid.is. Tickets to all the events at Reykjavík Art Festival are now on sale @ www.listahatid.is and www.midi.is
Seabear & Sóley on a European Tour Seabear toured a lot recently after the release of their 2nd album "We Made A Fire album". On tour their shows will be sometimes go along with solo shows from Seabear member Sóley Stefánsdóttir, who released her solo album "Theater Island". Tour Dates 30/04/10 : Posten - Odense (DK) w/Sóley 01/05/10 : Templet - Lyngby (DK) w/Sóley 03/05/10 : Mejeriet Cafe - Lund (SE) w/Sóley 04/05/10 : Pusterviksbaren - Gothenburg (SE) w/Sóley 05/05/10 : Debasser Slussen - Stockholm (SE) w/Sóley 06/05/10 : Voxhall - Aarhus (DK) w/Sóley 08/05/10 : Untergrund - Bochum (D) w/Sóley 09/05/10 : Gebäude 9 - Köln (D) w/Sóley 10/05/10 : Bitterzoet - Amsterdam (NL) w/ Scout Niblett 11/05/10 : Cafe Video - Gent (B) 12/05/10 : Le Nuits de Botanique/Botanique - Brussel (B) 13/05/10 : Roepaen - Ottersum (NL) 14/05/10 : Exit07 - Luxembourg (LUX) w/Sóley 15/05/10 : Great Escape Festival/Spiegel Parlour - Brighton (UK) 16/05/10 : Brudenell - Leeds (UK) w/Sóley 17/05/10 : Garage - London (UK) w/Sóley 18/05/10 : Start The Bus - Bristol (UK) w/Sóley 20/05/10 : Point Ephemere - Paris (F) w/ Dum Dum Girls 21/05/10 : Grand Mix - Tourcoing (F) w/ Lali Puna 22/05/10 : Ekko - Utrecht (NL) w/Sóley Seabear
Lára Rúnarsdóttir & band Arnar Þór Gíslason, Jakob Smári Magnússon & Birkir Rafn Gíslason This team made new Video: Photographed & Directed by Henry Bateman, Sweet Chilli Films Produced by Aðalbjörg Ósk Gunnarsdóttir Set Design: Aron Bergmann Magnússon Assistant Director: Hrefna Þórarinnsdóttir Camera assistant: Anna G. Guðmundsdóttir Camera assistant: Jón Gauti Jónssson Still photographer: Hörður Ellert Ólafsson Editor: Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir Colourist: Steinþor Hair : Margrét Silja Sigurðardóttir Make-up: Eva Hrönn Hlynsdóttir & Ingunn Valdís Baldursdóttir Catering: Ólína Ingibjörg Kristjánsdóttir Special thanks to our wonderful extras: Aðalheiður Sif Ágústdóttir, Andrea Linda Jóhannsdóttir, Berglind Mjöll, Brynjar Freyr Jónsson, Einar Einarsson, Fannar Óli Ólafsson, Gunnar Snorrason, Helga Margrét Marzellíusardóttir Ingunn Valdís Baldursdóttir, Lena Björk Pétursdóttir, Lilja Dröfn, Margrét Rúnarsdóttir, Margrét Silja Sigurðardóttir, Ólína Ingibjörg Kristjánsdóttir, Pætur Zachariasson, Sandra Jónsdóttir, Sandra Sigurgeirsdóttir, Sunna Mjöll Sigurðardóttir, Yngvi Freyr Einarsson "I wanna be", a song of her 3rd Album "Surprise" www.youtube.com/v/DUOszM6dL6A&hl&fmt=18
In a couple of weeks, I'm going to a concert of Óli Arnalds @ Arenbergschouwburg @ Antwerp, Belgium. This is a video I shot of the encore @ venue 't Smiske (Asse) more than 2 years ago during his first Belgian gig ever. A cover of Death Cab for Cutie's: "Marching Bands of Manhattan" www.youtube.com/v/H52qXHPBNf4&hl&fmt=18
IMX puts him in the spotlight:
Ólafur Arnalds - Light & Warmth
Born in 1986, Ólafur Arnalds hails from the suburban Icelandic town Mosfellsbær, just a few kilometres outside of Reykjavík. He has immersed himself in a world of delicate symphonic compositions generating near weightless orchestral pieces. Arnalds explores the crossover from classical to pop by mixing chamber strings and piano with discreet electronics. His motivations are clear: “The classical scene is kind of closed to people who haven't been studying music all their lives. I would like to bring my classical influence to the people who don't usually listen to this kind of music…open people's minds.” Through relentless touring and determination this young artist has steadily gained recognition worldwide since his 2007 debut "Eulogy for Evolution". He has sold out some of the world’s most renowned music venues, including Barbican Hall in London, supporting fellow Icelanders Sigur Rós on their most recent European shows. Arnalds' BBC Radio 1 live session for Gilles Peterson was awarded the best live session of 2008 by Gilles himself. The 2008 follow-up EP "Variations of Static" earned Arnalds acclaim from both the contemporary and classical field – transcending a traditional divide. Since then Arnalds has written music for advertisements for Falck, Sony, Icelandair and others, as well as having his music featured in several films. One of the world's most successful fashion designers, Dries Van Noten, asked Arnalds to write and play live the music accompanying his Autumn/Winter 2008 fashion show at the Paris Fashion Week. Arnalds also conceived "Found Songs" as a way to collate several lost and found musical sketches and ideas in a 'very challenging, but fun' series. He created, recorded and released online for free, one song per day for a week. The experiment offers its listeners an intimate insight into Ólafur Arnalds’ creative world – so far more than 100.000 people downloaded the Found Song’ series via Erased Tapes. Arnalds' growing reputation has also won him the attention of the internationally renowned British dance choreographer Wayne McGregor who has invited him to score his brand new work. "Dyad 1909" was premiered in London at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre last October. In March 2010 he embarked on his first ever China Tour, which included sold-out shows in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing, and a live webcast watched by thousands of fans all round the world. On 1. July 2010 Ólafur Arnalds will be performing the premiere of his new album, '- "…and they have escaped the weight of darkness", with brand new arrangements for a symphony orchestra at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall. André de Ridder, who previously worked with Nico Muhly and Damon Albarn, will be conducting the show. Arnalds will continue touring the rest of the world throughout the year to promote the new album release. The album will be released via Erased Tapes Records on 7. May (Europe)/10. May (UK)/20. May (Japan)/8. June (North America), 2010.
Interview by Iceland Music Export We recently saw some photos of you dressed in exuberant Chinese costumes - what was all that about? Basically exactly what it looked like - incredibly lame tourist stuff that we just find very amusing! We were in China on tour and had a day off. We walked along West Lake and saw this tourist booth... How did you find China - what preconceptions about the country held true and which ones were shattered? I found it very very interesting. I didn't have many preconceptions at all to be honest, went there pretty open minded.. it's the only way to do it. It was definitely a strange place to tour, but not in a bad way. This is all very new to people, especially in the "small towns" (mind you, these "small towns" as they call them are still cities of 5 million people...). It felt good to be able to bring something new, a cultural clash. It's interesting. Of course in the bigger cities (over 16 million) people are more accustomed to this kind of music and there I had lots of fans, which was great to see. You've been working hard on a new album, what can you tell us about that? It's called "...and they have escaped the weight of darkness" and is out worldwide on 7. May. How did you approach this new project compared to previous albums? I wanted to let my music evolve a little bit in a more 'pop' direction, while still keeping the fundamentals... So while the songwriting itself maybe wasn't so different i approached the producing quite differently - bigger and fuller... lots of experiments. Why did you choose to work with Barði from Bang Gang and how did the two of you work together? When I heard his latest record "Ghosts From the Past" I just thought to myself, "wow, this sounds amazing, I want to work with that guy". His sound is so earthly and natural, but still so clean and 'pop'. So I just called him up and asked him if he was interested in co-producing the record with me. I had lots of ideas down, but he helped me refine them and make them more solid. We worked really well together. Did he contribute mainly to songwriting or to playing too? He didn't really contribute to the songwriting itself, more just the way the songwriting is presented (ie. producing). I think he played a couple of guitar or keyboard lines, but nothing major. He was mostly just behind the mixer desk. You wrote some of the pieces while touring, right? Is that normal for you? Yeah, I actually wrote most of the original song ideas on tour. That's pretty normal for me. Each day on tour I get these couple of hours where there is a grand piano on stage and the sound man wants me to play something. I would get bored of just playing my own songs, so I improvise. A lot of ideas come through that and I get really inspired just from having an instrument in front of me that I haven't played before. Isn't it difficult to write while on tour? And did you play some of the songs live while touring? I usually just sketch the ideas and then I finish them when I get home. I find it hard to really sit down and arrange strings and everything else while on tour. I've done it a few times though, but I usually don't feel happy with them until I get home and get to really sink myself into it. It feels very optimistic and warm - judging by the title this was intentional, yes? Yes. It was. I wouldn't say it's happy, but yes, I wanted to leave the album with some feeling of hope...some warmth. What were the most difficult aspects of making this album? Probably the mix, I'm a perfectionist to a silly level when it comes to mixing... And what were the most enjoyable? I actually thoroughly enjoyed every single bit of the process, it was a very educational experience. I've never spent so much time and energy on any other project before. Every little detail was thought-out and I learned a lot from that. You have a load more gigs coming up, including a special premiere of the new album with the RNCM Symphony Orchestra, alongside work by Johnny Greenwood - how did that come about? I recently met conductor André de Ridder who is really into my stuff. We decided to do a few of these kinds of gigs together. This is just the first one... And you'll be part of the next Norðrið show, is that right? What are you expecting from Germany, as you've played quite a lot there... Yup. I have high expectations for this. We decided to go for pretty small venues and just try to have every show packed and intimate. So it should be very interesting! Your 2010 has been a roaring success already, but is there anything else you want to achieve this year? I'm hoping my first big movie score commission will come through this year. There are some talks afoot...fingers crossed. Song "Ljósið" (The Light) @ The Wall (March 2010) www.youtube.com/v/jCeiOXBfYNg&hl&fmt=18 Ólafur Arnalds @ MySpace Source: IMX
Review of this blog @ Reykjavik Sex Farm Contains this: The person who runs this blog is a total Icelandic music obsessive, and the best thing is…. He isn´t even Icelandic! His name is Wim Van Hooste and he´s from Belgium.
Trúbatrixur are playing @ "The Great Escape" Festival @ Brighton 13-15. May. Trúbatrix Showcase on the 14. May with Halla Norðfjörð, Elín Ey, Nanna of the band "Of monsters and men"(Músíktilraunir Winner) & Myrra Rós.
Rósenberg Program (4 songs each except Helgi Valur): Myrra Rós Halla Norðfjörð Elín Ey Sigga Eyþórs úr dúettinum Pikknikk Johnny Stronghands Toggi Helgi Valur & Black man & the White panthers will play songs of their album "Black man is God, the white man is devil"
Lay Low wrote the soundtrack of the Movie Kóngavegur ("King's Road") by Director Valdís Óskarsdóttir "Bye Bye Troubles" www.youtube.com/v/XKGN-MMjfY4&hl&fmt=18
Friday 7. May & Saturday 8. May @ Sódóma Reykjavík
Bang Gang, Dikta, Hjaltalín, Jeff Who?, Dr. Spock, Bloodgroup, Ultra Mega Technobandið Stefán, Mammút, Sometime, Sprengjuhöllin, Króna, Sudden Weather Change, Cosmic Call, Bárujárn & many more "Follow" by Bang Gang www.youtube.com/v/Dw8wJpH2x40&hl&fmt=18
161. Song of the Week is Hank and Tank's "Precious one". A Song of their debut album "Song for the birds" (Released by Hank & Tank/Distributed by 12Tónar).
161. Week: Hank & Tank "Precious one"
Duo worked 6 years on this Album with friend/producer Barði Jóhannsson. Material is inspired by Lee Hazlewood. Henrik Björnsson, singer/guitarist of Singapore Sling is very busy these days. He forms the duo Hank and Tank with Tank (aka Þorgeir Guðmundsson, thebass player of Rass & The Funerals) & another duo The Go-Go Darkness with Elsa María Blöndal. Elsa is the little sister of Reptile singer Magga Stína (Blöndal).
Hank and Tank performed only once @ Iceland, @ Sirkus (R.I.P.). Duo went on tour with Keren Ann & performed @ Olympia, Paris.
Hank & Tank Songs for the birds Release Concert/útgáfutónleika 28. April 2010 @ Sódóma Reykjavík @ 21:00
FM Belfast on Tour with a lot of Festivals in Canada & Europe April 30. Apr. 2010 @ 20:00 Nuna Festival Winnipeg (CA) May 1. May 2010 @ 20:00 Nuna Festival Gimli (CA) 4. May 2010 @20:00 Magnet Club Berlin (DE) 5. May 2010 @ 20:00 Roxy Prague (CZ) 7. May 2010 @ 20:00 B72 Vienna (AT) 8. May 2010 @ 20:00 Yeah! Club@Rockhouse Salzburg (AT) 9. May 2010 @ 20:00 Crux Munich (DE) 10. May 2010 @ 20:00 Heimat Regensburg (DE) 12. May 2010 @ 20:00 La Lune Des Pirates Amiens (FR) 13. May 2010 @ 20:00 Rock & Solex Festival Rennes (FR) 14. May 2010 @ 20:00 Walk the Line Festival Den Haag (NL) 16. May 2010 @ 20:00 Les Nuits Botanique Festival Brussels (BE) 18. May 2010 @ 20:00 White Heat@Madame Jojo’s London (UK) 21. May 2010 @ 20:00 Stag and Dagger Festival London (UK) 22. May 2010 @ 20:00 SPOT Festival Aarhus (DK) 23. May 2010 @ 20:00 Haus 73 Hamburg (DE) 25. May 2010 @ 20:00 Das Bett Frankfurt (DE) 26. May 2010 @ 20:00 Case á Chocs Neuchatel (DE) 27. May 2010 @ 20:00 Hive Zurich (CH) 28. May 2010 @ 20:00 Cupola Festival Burgdorf (CH) 29. May 2010 @ 20:00 Immergut Festival Neustrelitz (DE)
There's a new political party/movement in Iceland: Besti flokkurinn (“The Best Party”). A lot of Icelandic musicians are taking part in/supporting the mocking party of comedian, actor & chairman Jón Gnarr (Kristinsson). Einar Örn Benediktsson of Ghostigial, Grindverk, The Sugarcubes, KUKL, Purrkur Pillnikk & Gramm/Smekkleysa Label fame is candidate on place # 2 (Reykjavik) for the elections of the Reykjavík City Council. Also ÓttarrProppé of HAM, Rass & Dr. Spock fame: he's on place # 3. Another singer of HAM, also of Olympia fame, now comedian Sigurjón Kjartansson is candidate in the town Kópavogur. Singer Magga Stína (Margrét Kristín Blöndal)(ofReptile) supports the Party too.Just like Dr. Gunni (S.H. Draumur, Bless, Unun), Barði Jóhannsson(Bang Gang). Besti flokkurinn Source: DV
Whenever I'm in Iceland, I go to the flea market near the old harbour to search for some old magazines featuring Icelandic musicians. During my last visit, I found a lot of issues of the Youth MagazineÆskan feat. Emiliana Torrini. Issue # 1(1994) Issue # 1(1996) Interview by Jens Kr. Guðmundsson Talking about singing with Tjalz Gissur, followed by Spoon in 1994. Singing on the first GusGus Album. Differences with Björk. She listens to punk rock bands like Sex Pistols & Purrkur Pillnikk, but also Tricky. Issue # 3 (1997)after being 3 times in a row Icelandic Popstar of the Year Interview by Jens Kr. Guðmundsson.
Talking about collaborations with the bands Lhooq, GusGus, Spoon, Slowbow. Playing in the movie Nautn. Her Albums "Croucin d'ou là" &"Merman". Thinking to become a catholic nun @ the age of 8-12 years.Emiliana Torrini
Mugison Live @Aldrei fór ég suður (AFES) (aka Never Went South Festival) @ Ísafjörður, West Fjords of Iceland, Easter Weekend 2010. A 100% free music festival organised by Mugison, his dad & friends. www.youtube.com/v/eBd_wjQDM6Q&hl&fmt=18
Aldrei Festival Off-Venue Every Saturday @ 12:00 sharp ThePink Ladies take a swim in the fjord @ Ísafjörður beach. Women only. The temperature of the water was around 0°C. This is something else than the Blue LagoonHangover Party of the Iceland Airwaves festival! www.youtube.com/v/Fj09nQg8hAU&hl&fmt=18
Released in April 2010 Benni Hemm Hemm's 3rd EP "Retaliate"was released in April on Kimi. BHH @ MySpace Stafrænn Hákon's "Sanitas" (12 songs) was released yesterday on Kimi Records Label. Stafrænn Hákon Icelandic Albums to be released: New Album of Rökkurró, on ? label. Rökkurró @ MySpace 2nd Album/EP of Retro Stefson: First Single "Mama Angola" is out now. Listen here. Retro Stefson @ MySpace Sudden Weather Change will release a lot: a 7" Single, a Sudden Weather Change/Reykjavík!Split EP(2 songs/band - cover of each other) & they will be going into the studio in June with producer Aussie Ben Frost to record a long EP (or short Album?). Sudden Weather Change @ MySpace Ensimi was recording 8 songs @ Sundlaugin Studio this month. 4th Album 2B released this year? Ensimi @ MySpace Ólafur Arnalds' Album "... and they have escaped the weight of darkness" is available on 7. May 2010. Ólafur Arnalds @ MySpace
Kakali released their Debut Album "The Cave" this month. In 2003 a few friends got together to play music, including three members of Kakali - Árni, Daði and Káki. One legendary night that year in a garage in Reykjavik a little bird whispered a melody into their ears. They instantly started playing and their first song was created: "Little Bird". There was no turning back. After years of developing their sound from "Little Bird" to something completely different to something pretty similar to Little Bird again, they decided it was finally time to let this bird spread its wings and fly. The outcome is "The Cave". "Astronaut"
Another edition of the Pop Quiz Popppunktur is coming up: 1. HLH flokkurinn - KK band 2. Hjaltalín - Feldberg 3. Fjallabræður - Bjartmar og Bergrisarnir 4. Logar - Grjóthrun 5. Mammút - Agent Fresco 6. Hellvar - Breiðbandið 7. Benny Crespo's Gang - Lights on the Highway 8. Skriðjöklar - Gildran
Icelandic acid techno band Korter í þrjú @ Aldrei fór ég suður (AFES) Festival @ Ísafjörður, West Fjords Easter 2010. www.youtube.com/v/MjY9CFQg6GE&hl&fmt=18
Made in Iceland III is a collection of twenty songs from as many bands and artists currently operating out of tiny Iceland, on the outskirts of the North Atlantic. At first listen, they might not seem to have a lot in common, save for the fact that every single one brings something unique and honest to the table. A further look into the tracks on offer, and indeed the artists’ entire oeuvre, will reveal that they are unified by an independent streak and a desire to push envelopes, surpass limits and do what they please, as they please. As every serious music lover will attest, these are good and lofty goals. From the punishing soundscapes of Ben Frost to the heartfelt musings of Emiliana Torrini (and everything in between), these songs serve to underline and emphasize Icelandic music’s uncompromising, honest and inspired nature. Made in Iceland III is the third in this ongoing series of compilations by the Iceland Music Export, mean to profile and promote the latest exciting sounds to emerge from the kaleidoscopic and ever-evolving Icelandic music scene. Every act on the disc has released a new album recently and is touring locally as well as internationally to seek ears for their output. It is our hope that you will lend them yours for the duration of the compilation, and it is our sincere belief that you will be greatly rewarded for your efforts. And thank you for listening. Click the individual tracks on the tracklist below to listen, and for more information on the participating artists. IMX Made in Iceland @ IMX
Jónas Sen & Ásgerður Júníusdóttir perform music by Björk in new arrangements.
Bedroom Community's Whale Watching Tour, who will end their much-acclaimed European tour in the National Theatre. Daniel Bjarnason will also conduct a small orchestra there.
