The music of Iceland
Known as the land of fire and ice because of its active volcanoes and glaciers, Iceland is a country with stunning lunar-like terrain and a jagged coastline of black volcanic rock. It is a land forged by the collision of tectonic plates, by flowing lava and glacial ice, a land of majestic fjords and ice sculptures floating in glacier lagoons, of cascading waterfalls and green fields of wild Artic flowers interrupted by the occasional house.
Iceland is a music destination boasting a lot of creativity and diversity. Despite its small population it has produced many internationally acclaimed musicians who draw inspiration from its isolation and dramatic landscapes. The music of Iceland is also influenced by medieval sagas, by folklore and by the fairy-like creatures that inhabit the imagination.
Half the population believe that elves exist. Elves look like humans but they are invisible. The elf-seers believe these beings are the guardian spirits of the natural world. Elven music is magical and consists of poetic lyrics and beautiful songs played on the harp, flute and lyre. Elves can be quite festive and have been known to take over farmhouses and throw wild parties during the Christmas season.
Visitors to Iceland can learn more about elves by taking a class at the Elf School in Reykjavik. The school’s headmaster Magnus has forty years of experience in the study of elves. At the school you will gain a better understanding of fairy folk and discover the benefits of magical thinking. After completing the class you will receive a diploma. You can also take excursions into their habitats, go on an elf walk and explore the spiritual landscape to see their homes, altar and pews in the rock formations.
During the long dark winter nights storytelling was a main form of entertainment in Iceland. The people were entertained by tales of the sea voyages of Vikings and the Icelandic Sagas told around the fires in the longhouses or in the feast halls with lots of ale and rowdy singing.
Contemporary Icelandic music has gained recognition for its innovation and distinct sound, its artists drawing inspiration from the country’s folk music and mythical heritage. Here are some of Iceland’s most acclaimed musicians who have made their mark in the world of music.
Björk is the country’s most famous musical export. Known for an eclectic and experimental sound and her ethereal voice, she crafts avant-garde compositions. Her concerts are immersive experiences and her costumes are wearable art. The designer Alexander McQueen was a close collaborator who designed her bell-shaped dress for the Who Is It music video. She has been influenced by everything from Icelandic folk music to the soundtrack of Bollywood films, and has influenced generations of filmmakers, musicians and designers.
Throughout her career, she has collaborated with innovative artists and directors to create some visually stunning music videos. The video for her song Utopia immerses the viewer in a fantastical world, a pink-hued landscape of impish flute players and mythical creatures. Bjork wears a kimono and a white dress with a large orchid and communes with ethereal beings inhabiting an island in the sky. On this floating oasis the flora is encrusted with pink pearls and the air is infused with birdsong and floating glitter.
In the video for Atopos she wears a floor-length moss dress and sings in a fungal forest. Wearing a mushroom mask of neon green she dances in a grove, surrounded by glowing plants, to a song she describes as ‘biological techno.’
Sigur Rós is a post-rock band whose ethereal sounds, ambient textures and haunting melodies evoke the stark beauty of Iceland. The lead vocalist, Jónsi, sings in Icelandic and a made-up language called Vonlenska, which sounds like the Elvish tongue spoken in Lord of the Rings. He is known for his falsetto vocals and playing the guitar using a cello bow. The band has played in abandoned bunkers and toured with a 41-piece orchestra to promote the album ÁTTA.
Of Monsters and Men is a folk-pop band known for anthemic songs. They play guitar, accordion and tambourines and perform folk songs infused with fairytales. As musical storytellers they play the role of modern skalds, the Norse poets who composed and recited the culture, history and mythology of the Vikings.
The folk group had a cameo role as a traveling band in Game of Thrones. Their songs are fantasy stories about wolves and kings, talking trees and elf magic. The elfish community in Iceland is largely peaceful unless you disrupt their homes. The band members know this first hand. When a road was built to their drummer’s house it had to be diverted because of an elf stone, a home to the whimsical creatures.
There are many places to experience live music in Iceland. The second-largest city, Akureyri, has a thriving music scene. Græni Hatturinn is a venue which hosts acoustic performances as well as energetic rock concerts. Akureyri Theater is a multipurpose venue which hosts theater and classical and contemporary music events.
Smaller towns across the country offer travelers quaint settings to listen to music. Local churches in small towns are known to host concerts. The church in Skálholt is a venue for choirs and instrumental bands. In the fishing town of Seyðisfjörður the blue church with a rainbow street has concerts on Wednesday nights in the summer.
The fishing towns along the coastline have colorful houses and small harbors with fishing boats that trawl for cod, haddock, and halibut. The island nation has a maritime heritage that began with the Viking settlers who were skilled at farming, seafaring and fishing.
Most of the country is a barren terrain of geothermal baths, glacial rivers and icy peaks. The scenery is spectacular with black beaches, volcanic craters and ice caves. The waters around Iceland abound with orcas, whales and seals and the rock-strewn shore is known for its puffin colonies and bird cliffs. Wild reindeer roam the forested trails. The country has diverse fauna including the elusive Artic fox and the hardy Icelandic horse.
Iceland, known for its natural beauty and artistic creativity, hosts several music festivals throughout the year. Here are some of them:
Held annually in early November Iceland Airwaves is a music festival that takes place in venues around Reykjavik and showcases emerging acts from Iceland and abroad. The diverse lineup includes Icelandic rappers and Irish garage punks, art-rock groups and folk-pop bands. Electronic music bands like GusGus and múm have performed at the festival. You can walk to all the venues which are located in record stores, art museums, nightclubs and candle-lit churches.
Secret Solstice is a music festival that takes place during the summer solstice. Held in Reykjavik, close to the Artic circle, festival-goers can attend rock, electronic, and hip-hop concerts. At this festival of the midnight sun people can enjoy the music in daylight that lasts for 72 hours. The main stage is located inside a glacier and side events include lava tunnel parties and geothermal pool parties. One of the stand-out events is the midnight sun boat party where attendees dance and listen to music against the backdrop of fjords illuminated by the glow of the midnight sun.
In the depths of winter, Dark Music Days is a festival that showcases contemporary music. Iceland is known for its polar nights in winter when the sun remains below the horizon during the day and there is only a surreal twilight glow for a few hours. Dark Music Days is a midwinter festival that takes place on the last weekend of January to add some more light to these dark days. The Harpa Concert Hall and other venues in Reykjavik host operas and string quartets as well as the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra. Digital and experimental sounds are mixed with classical ones and these pieces are performed by artists and composers from Iceland and abroad.
Located on the shores of the North Atlantic Reykjavik is a compact city of cafes and boutiques, galleries and museums. This northern capital is known for its vibrant culture and artistic energy. Cobbled paths wind through the Old Town where travelers can browse bookstores and drink at pubs. They can visit the seafood markets at the Old Harbour and the fisherman’s cottages that have been converted into restaurants and shops.
Reykjavik has a vibrant music scene. It’s a place where bands form and musicians collaborate all the time, a singer from one group will have a side project doing back-up vocals for another group or a classical musician will join up with a heavy metal band. In the city there is a sense of community around music. Young people often go out together to browse vinyl stores and talk about the music there.
Whether you’re into folk music or electronic sounds, the live music scene caters to diverse musical tastes. Here are some notable venues:
Harpa Concert Hall. Located on the waterfront, this iconic concert venue with a glass facade has great acoustics and hosts classical music concerts as well as rock and pop shows.
Gaukurinn. Located in the city center this venue is known for its energetic atmosphere and features rock, punk, and metal music.
Prikið. One of the oldest cafes in the city, this lively venue attracts a late-night crowd and showcases hip-hop and electronic music acts.
Íslenski Barinn. This traditional bar features Icelandic décor. It’s a great place to see folk, acoustic, and traditional Icelandic music performed by local artists.
Kex Hostel. Located in a former biscuit factory this hostel offers live music and DJ sets at its stylish bar and restaurant.
Dillon Whiskey Bar. A good place to check out live rock and blues music, this warm and rustic pub has a wooden bar and a beer garden in the back that is open during the summer months. Choose from over 180 whiskeys and unwind here while listening to classic rock and blues.
A good blues rock band from Iceland is KALEO. They won aclaim at the Iceland Airwaves festival and are known for their intense live performances and for the powerful vocals of Jökull Júlíusson They were influenced by the music of the American South, primarily the Delta Blues of Son House and Robert Johnson.
KALEO’s music videos often reflect the stunning landscape of Iceland. An acoustic performance was filmed against the backdrop of an erupting volcano in southwest Iceland and a rock song they played was filmed in the magma chamber of another volcano. The performed Break My Baby at a remote lighthouse perched on a rock pillar in the North Atlantic Ocean. In the video for Way Down We Go they performed in an abandoned factory tinged with amber light.
