Laura Studarus

It only takes a glance at the song titles of Ólafur Arnalds’ new album to understand where the Icelandic pianist is coming from. (Read More)

A few years ago, when an injury sidelined his blossoming career as a javelin thrower, Ásgeir Trausti found himself rekindling an interest in music. (via Take a (Melodious) Hike With Iceland’s Ásgeir Trausti | MTV IGGY)

Ólöf Arnalds peppers her statements with the word “beautiful.” It’s more than verbal filler, the optimist’s equivalent of “like” or “dude.” As the conversation unfolds, it becomes clear that the articulate singer/songwriter’s natural curiosity and relentless pursuit of her craft really does manifest itself in joyous worldview. We should all probably take note. The Icelandic musician’s third full-length Sudden Elevation is a direct reflection of her slyly upbeat outlook. Layers of guitar slowly unfurl, as though coaxed into bloom by Arnalds’ bucolic, often layered, songbird voice. Heartbreak, fear and melancholy are all interwoven into the fabric of her work, but the bigger picture is one of peace, possibility and light. It is—to borrow a favorite word from the creator herself—beautiful. (via Sing Along with Ólöf Arnalds | MTV IGGY)

When they were 14, Jófríður and Ásthildur started a band for no other reason than it seemed like fun. However, the twin sisters never anticipated Pascal Pinon would be anything more than an enjoyable after-school activity. (via Who Are…Pascal Pinon | eMusic News & Features)

Ethereal. The word haunts nearly every description of Sindri Már Sigfússon’s work as Sing Fang. And with good reason. Over his previous two albums (the first released when he was still sporting the jumbled name Sin Fang Bous), the Icelandic musician has explored music at its most delicate, piecing together lush layers of folk, pop and orchestral instrumentation. Recording every part in his Reykjavik studio, Sigfússon created an air of otherworldly intimacy—and certainly did his part to contribute to the idealized vision of Iceland that so many music fans carry with them.

No less beautiful than its predecessors, there’s a notable shift in tone to the newest Sin Fang offering, Flowers. Alongside producer Alex Somers (Sigur Rós, Jónsi, Pascal Pinon), Sigfússon has created an album that splits the difference between forest and the city; its airy orchestration rounded out with chants, shiny pop choruses and a touch of down and dirty garage rock. The result is a mature, polished homage to teenage confusion that never looses its sense of fun.

We chatted with Sigfússon about the process of getting in touch with his inner teen, the crooked path he took to becoming a musician, and why he’ll always see the glass as half full. Sin Fang’s new album Flowers is out February 19 via Morr Music. (via Sin Fang is All Grown Up | MTV IGGY)

The good news is, with a Sigur Rós album, you know what you’re getting into. The bad news is…oh, come on, you thought there was truly any bad news associated with a new Sigur Rós album? The blessing and the curse of Valtari is that the band neither runs their ethereal formula off the rails nor aspires to be anything greater than the sum of their previous albums. As a result, the band’s first studio release in four years glides along with the grace we’ve come to associate from the Scandinavian quartet—without ever plunging to new and exciting depths. (via Sigur Rós: Valtari (XL) | Under The Radar)