Free and Vibrant Music: Recommended Icelandic Artists — Popular Singers and Bands

GoodbyeDikta

Dikta – Goodbye (Official Music Video)

Dikta is a four-piece indie pop rock band from Reykjavik, Iceland, formed in 1999.

The members have been friends since childhood.

In 2002 they released their debut album Andartak on Mistak Records, with singles reaching the top of the Icelandic charts.

In 2005 they released their second album, Hunting for Happiness, on Smekkleysa SM (Bad Taste), the label owned by the Sugarcubes.

Their third album, Get It Together, was released in 2009 by the German indie label Smarten-Up! and distributed by Rough Trade in 2010; the album went platinum in Iceland.

After their 2010–2011 tour, their fourth album, Trust Me, was released in Iceland by Kerský.

Their fifth album, Easy Street, came out in 2015.

“Goodbye” is a track from the third album, and its music video features an animation-style narrative paired with an acoustic sound that creates a distinctive vibe.

KonamiApparat Organ Quartet

Apparat Organ Quartet – Konami (Live on KEXP)

Apparat Organ Quartet is a band formed in 1999 for a concert organized by the Kitchen Motors label, led by Jóhann Jóhannsson.

Consisting of four organists and one drummer, they play Icelandic electronica-pop-rock and operate under the concept of a mechanical organ quartet.

They released their debut album, Apparat Organ Quartet, in 2002, and their second album, Pólýfónía, in 2010.

“Konami” is a track from the second album.

BirthdayThe Sugarcubes

The Sugarcubes – Birthday (English)

The Sugarcubes are a guitar pop band formed in 1986 by members of Iceland’s indie scene, including Björk, and they debuted on the Bad Taste label.

They released Life’s Too Good in 1988, marking their debut in the UK and the US.

In 1989, they put out their second album, Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week!, on an indie label and embarked on a world tour.

In 1992, they released their third album, Stick Around for Joy, as well as the remix album It’s It, but they disbanded at the end of that year.

Birthday is a track from Life’s Too Good.

The music video features Björk’s vocals alongside glimpses of Iceland’s cityscapes, volcanoes, nature, and people, resulting in a strange and unique visual experience.