Free and Vibrant Music: Recommended Icelandic Artists — Popular Singers and Bands
Iceland, an island nation of magnificent, unspoiled nature.
Here, we’ll introduce some wonderful artists that Iceland has produced!
Though the population is only around 300,000, the overall music scene has been rising year by year, led by artists like Björk and Sigur Rós.
Iceland also feels familiar to Japan in certain ways—from being an island nation, to the interesting contrasts between what’s popular domestically and internationally, and the deep connections among artists.
Above all, the free and unique styles born from generous, rich music education are a must-hear!
Enjoy discovering their distinctive charm!
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[Free and Rich Music] Recommended Icelandic Artists: Popular Singers and Bands (21–30)
PatienceOlöf Amalds
Olöf Amalds (Ólöf Arnalds) is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist born in 1980, from Mosfellsbær, Iceland.
An indie musician active in the Icelandic music scene since the early 2000s, she began her solo career around 2003 while spending about five years as a touring member of múm, releasing three albums.
Her cousin is Ólafur Arnalds.
She released her debut album Við og Við in 2007 on 12 Tónar; her second album, Innundir skinni, in 2010; and her third album, Sudden Elevation, in 2013—both on One Little Indian Records.
Patience is a single released in 2014 on One Little Indian, a track that crosses over ambient and electronic sounds and is marked by her distinctive voice and unique sonic world.
GrowSólely
Sóley is the solo project of Sóley, who plays piano in Seabear.
She joined Seabear in 2006, released her debut mini-album Theater Island on morr music in 2010, and followed with her first full-length album We Sink in 2011.
A track from her 2013 album Fight Them Softly was used in an episode of a comedy drama, she released the piano album Krómatík in 2014, her second LP Ask the Deep in 2015, and Grow is a song from her third LP Endless Summer, released in 2017.
Her work is distinctive for its Icelandic ambient world and piano sound, her transparent vocals, and the stark white ice imagery in her music videos.
Candyland feat. JónsiSin Fang
Sin Fang is the solo project of Sindri Már Sigfússon, who is also the frontman of Seabear.
He released the album Clangour as Sing Fan Bous in 2009, followed by his second album Summer Echoes in 2011, Flowers in 2013, and Spaceland in 2016.
In addition to his musical activities, he also creates collages and illustrations, showcasing his multifaceted talent.
Candyland is a track from the 2016 album Spaceland, released by Morr Music.
Frigid/BagStafraenn Hakon
Stafraenn Hakon is a post-rock project by Olafur Josephsson, born in 1977 and hailing from Reykjavik, Iceland.
Active since 2001, he has released more than ten digital albums and EPs.
His music is characterized by spacious soundscapes with an ambient feel.
The album covers often evoke abstract art or Radiohead-like elements, and the music videos also have an offbeat atmosphere.
R4vinSamaris
Samaris is an electronic trio from Reykjavik, Iceland, formed in 2011.
The group consists of vocals, clarinet, and electronics.
They took part in Iceland’s Músiktilraunir in 2011, winning the music competition and also receiving the award for keyboards/programming.
Their self-released EP won the Icelandic Kraumur Award, and they signed with One Little Indian in 2012.
In 2013, they released the album Samaris, which compiled their EPs, and in 2014 they released their debut album Silkidrangar.
“R4ivin” is a track from their second album, Black Lights, released in 2016.