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

GlowWorm Is Green

Worm Is Green – Glow

Worm Is Green is a four-piece electro-organic and ambient pop band from Akranes on the west coast of Iceland, formed in 2000.

They debuted in 2004 with Automagic on Thule Musik, followed by their second album Push Play in 2005, which includes the track Optimistic; their third album Glow was released in 2011, and their fourth album To Them We Are Only Shadows in 2014.

Their sound features elements reminiscent of a Bristol-style electro-ambient act like Portishead, while also being notably organic and pop-oriented.

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.