Contrary to what many people think, Icelandic music is not just Björk and Sigur Rós. Since we got here three weeks ago I’ve been sampling as much of the local music as I can, whether recorded (our host has a great collection) or live (so many free performances!). We’ve ended up hearing a good number of bands from other Nordic countries too.* Here are some of my favorites — and I might do another post in future, with more Icelandic music.
This week, we have been enjoying free concerts from UNM, a decades-old Nordic new music festival. New music is the experimental, sometimes inaccessible edge of what you could call classical music; a lot of it comes from academia, which is reflected in the UNM audience — I felt like I was at a younger, better-dressed academic conference! Two of the UNM artists truly impresssed me.
- Aili Ikonen is a Finnish vocalist who has performed with many ensembles; jazz quartet Kvalda is one. We heard her in a pared-down version of this otherworldly piece, but most of her YouTube presence is jazz. I cannot get enough of her voice.
- Bjarke Mogensen is a young Danish accordionist who got a curtain call when we heard him at UNM; wish I could show you the piece he played then, Nick Martin’s “Mother of Sorrows.” He’s amazing. I had no idea accordion could sound so… agile, or so restrained.
I’m headed out to another UNM concert after I post this!
You’ve already seen my sketches from last weekend’s donation-based Melodica Acoustic Festival (they also do Melodica in the UK, Germany, Australia, Denmark, and the US [NY]). At one of their outdoor concerts we heard these two groups:
- Reykjavík-area band Hide Your Kids. Great energy and I love the lead vocals (though Erik’s not as big a fan). While they don’t seem to have anything on YouTube yet, you can listen to them on Soundcloud.
- Swedish singer Xenia Kriisin had a fabulous, slightly wacky presence (see here for what she’s like live!).
Finally, I just came from a (free!) concert at the cool shop/record label 12 Tónar: Icelandic band Tilbury rocking out from their recently-released debut album, Exorcism. I tried to draw the music but it came out kind of literal. I think I would have needed thick paint and a big canvas.
It was a great concert and since Tilbury was mentioned on the Icelandair in-flight magazine, I was excited to get to hear them live instead of just hunting them up online. Their videos are pretty cool though!
Happy weekend, and enjoy the music!
*I had to look this up, but Nordic and Scandinavian are not interchangeable terms. Go back to post!
satsumabug.com | Lisa Hsia 
You are having fun! I am about to nominate you for One Lovely Blog Award. I want others to know about you. Maybe more work than you want but I just want you to know I appreciate your blog. Carla
Thank you, Carla! 🙂 I appreciate your blog lots and lots too!! I don’t know if I’ll get a chance to do the 15 blogs post, but maybe sometime I will put up a links list on my site. ❤
I totally understand 😦
Oooh, new music! Thanks for sharing. And this is the first time I’ve come to your blog since you put up the new home page, and I LOVE IT!!! The layout is fab!
Thanks, Mo!! Ahhhh, I’m so glad you like the layout! This is the trouble with not knowing enough CSS to use the .org site — I’m forced to rely on wordpress.com’s themes and most of them have something I don’t like about them. ;b This one was the best of the bunch and while there are things that still bug me about it, I do think it looks pretty snazzy. 🙂
you should check out Utidur! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=remuzEskRKA
Fun song! Thanks for the recommendation, Maeve!
Woh, what a collection ! I loved Aili Ikonen. There are some Scandinavian vocalists who have a voice of silk and chocholate ice cream and she’s one of them.
Now, I know two things about accordions…. No.1 I don’t like them and No. 2 A rude joke. But Bjarka Mogensen is something else. Both pieces are stunning but especially the duet. OK, my accordion prejudices are now somewhat tempered. 🙂
The modern pop is interesting. I love to hear people try different approaches. Tilbury must sent some people off to bed slightly disturbed, though. The music is great but the videos are pretty dark.
Silk and chocolate ice cream!! I love it! And what an apt description. Glad I could convert you a little to accordions. 😉 I’ve got a soft spot for them for some reason. Maybe it’s in my blood or my culture somehow; I found out in the past few years that my aunt used to play one, and our Toronto family friend too — in Cultural-Revolution China the accordion was one of the few acceptable instruments!