Ólöf Arnalds
Encyclopedia
Ólöf Arnalds is an Icelandic singer/songwriter and indie
musician who has been active within the Icelandic music scene for quite some time. Apart from her own music and being a touring member of Múm
since 2003, she has cooperated with bands and artists such as Stórsveit Nix Noltes
, Mugison
, Slowblow
and Skúli Sverrisson
. Between 1988 and 2002 Ólöf studied violin and classical singing, and in 2002-2006 she studied composition and new media at Iceland Academy of the Arts.
In 2007 her debut album Við Og Við
was released by 12 Tónar
. The album features a set of songs performed mostly in a traditional troubadour
style.
Ólöf's second album is Innundir skinni
and was released in September 2010.
Ólöf's cousin Ólafur Arnalds
is also a well known neo-classical composer.
and the USA after she had signed to One Little Indian Records.
However, even before being released on both sides of the Atlantic, word of mouth – including Bjork’s patronage - earned Við og Við high profile plaudits in the U.S., ranking in Paste Magazine's Top 100 Albums of 2007 and eMusic's editor's Best Albums of 2008 list.
The success of Við og Við in the US led to Arnalds touring with Blonde Redhead
, Jonathan Richman
, Björk and The Dirty Projectors, Jeff Mangum
and led to her being covered extensively in US publications ranging from Vanity Fair
, New York Times, Village Voice and Time Out New York.
The album was produced by Sigur Ros
’ Kjartan Sveinsson and Davíð Þór Jónsson, and featured contributions from Bjork, Skúli Sverrisson (Laurie Anderson
, Lou Reed
), Shahzad Ismaily (Tom Waits
, Plastic Ono Band, Bonnie "Prince" Billy), María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir (Amiina) and Ragnar.
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
musician who has been active within the Icelandic music scene for quite some time. Apart from her own music and being a touring member of Múm
Múm
múm are an experimental Icelandic musical group whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch beats and effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments.- History :...
since 2003, she has cooperated with bands and artists such as Stórsveit Nix Noltes
Stórsveit Nix Noltes
Stórsveit Nix Noltes are an Icelandic post-rock and Balkan folk band formed in 2004 and composed mostly of members of other Icelandic bands such as múm and Benni Hemm Hemm...
, Mugison
Mugison
Mugison is an Icelandic musician and singer who originally performed as a one-man band using a guitar and computer, but now often performs with a band. He studied in London to become a record producer....
, Slowblow
Slowblow
Slowblow is an Icelandic musical duo consisting of Orri Jónsson and Dagur Kári Pétursson. Their music is an aesthetic of home-made, lo-fi analog tinkerings, which often slips into both electronic and folksy terrain. They began recording in the mid 1990s and have made several albums together...
and Skúli Sverrisson
Skúli Sverrisson
Skúli Sverrisson is an Icelandic composer and bassist residing in New York City.Over the past two decades, bass guitarist-composer Skuli Sverrisson has worked with a veritable who’s who of the experimental world, from free jazz legends to music icons Skúli Sverrisson (born 23 October 1966) is an...
. Between 1988 and 2002 Ólöf studied violin and classical singing, and in 2002-2006 she studied composition and new media at Iceland Academy of the Arts.
In 2007 her debut album Við Og Við
Við Og Við
Við og við is Icelandic musician Ólöf Arnalds debut album, roughly translating to "Now and Then". It was released in by the 12 Tónar label. The album has been produced by Sigur Rós band member Kjartan Sveinsson who together with Skúli Sverrisson and Eiríkur Orri Ólafsson from Múm also contribute...
was released by 12 Tónar
12 Tónar
12 Tónar is a small record shop in Reykjavík, Iceland, and also a record label for Icelandic indie bands. It is located on Skólavörðustígur 15, in downtown Reykjavík....
. The album features a set of songs performed mostly in a traditional troubadour
Troubadour
A troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages . Since the word "troubadour" is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz....
style.
Ólöf's second album is Innundir skinni
Innundir skinni
- Critical response :Innundir skinni is Icelandic musician Ólöf Arnalds second album. The album was produced by Sigur Rós band member Kjartan Sveinsson, who also worked with Arnalds on her debut album...
and was released in September 2010.
Ólöf's cousin Ólafur Arnalds
Ólafur Arnalds
Ólafur Arnalds is a multi-instrumentalist and producer from Mosfellsbær, Iceland. Ólafur Arnalds mixes strings and piano with loops and edgy beats crossing-over from classical to pop....
is also a well known neo-classical composer.
Við og Við
Arnalds' debut album Við og Við was originally only released in Iceland in 2007 on Tonar, however, it wasn't released until 2009 in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the USA after she had signed to One Little Indian Records.
However, even before being released on both sides of the Atlantic, word of mouth – including Bjork’s patronage - earned Við og Við high profile plaudits in the U.S., ranking in Paste Magazine's Top 100 Albums of 2007 and eMusic's editor's Best Albums of 2008 list.
The success of Við og Við in the US led to Arnalds touring with Blonde Redhead
Blonde Redhead
Blonde Redhead is an American alternative rock band composed of vocalist/rhythm guitarist Kazu Makino and twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace , which formed in New York City in 1993....
, Jonathan Richman
Jonathan Richman
Jonathan Michael Richman is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. In 1970 he founded The Modern Lovers, an influential proto-punk band. Since the mid-1970s, Richman has worked either solo or with low-key, generally acoustic backing...
, Björk and The Dirty Projectors, Jeff Mangum
Jeff Mangum
Jeff Mangum is a musician best known for being the lyricist, vocalist and guitarist of the band Neutral Milk Hotel, as well as being one of the cofounders of The Elephant 6 Recording Company. Mangum, along with the other founding members of the Elephant 6, attended Ruston High School in the late...
and led to her being covered extensively in US publications ranging from Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
, New York Times, Village Voice and Time Out New York.
Innundir Skinni
Arnalds' second album Innundir Skinni was released in 2010 by One Little Indian Records. It marked a departure of her previous work by including three English sung songs, including the single 'Surrender' which features Bjork’s distinctive vocal in the background.The album was produced by Sigur Ros
Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with classicaland minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound, and frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals and use of bowed guitar. In January 2010, the band announced that they will be on hiatus. Since then, it has since been announced...
’ Kjartan Sveinsson and Davíð Þór Jónsson, and featured contributions from Bjork, Skúli Sverrisson (Laurie Anderson
Laurie Anderson
Laura Phillips "Laurie" Anderson is an American experimental performance artist, composer and musician who plays violin and keyboards and sings in a variety of experimental music and art rock styles. Initially trained as a sculptor, Anderson did her first performance-art piece in the late 1960s...
, Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
), Shahzad Ismaily (Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
, Plastic Ono Band, Bonnie "Prince" Billy), María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir (Amiina) and Ragnar.
Albums
- Við Og ViðVið Og ViðVið og við is Icelandic musician Ólöf Arnalds debut album, roughly translating to "Now and Then". It was released in by the 12 Tónar label. The album has been produced by Sigur Rós band member Kjartan Sveinsson who together with Skúli Sverrisson and Eiríkur Orri Ólafsson from Múm also contribute...
(12 Tónar12 Tónar12 Tónar is a small record shop in Reykjavík, Iceland, and also a record label for Icelandic indie bands. It is located on Skólavörðustígur 15, in downtown Reykjavík....
, 2007) - Innundir skinniInnundir skinni- Critical response :Innundir skinni is Icelandic musician Ólöf Arnalds second album. The album was produced by Sigur Rós band member Kjartan Sveinsson, who also worked with Arnalds on her debut album...
(release September 13, 2010)
Singles
- 7" Maria Bethânia/Sveitin milli sanda (Aug. 2009)
- 7" Innundir skinni/Close My Eyes (Jun. 2010)
- 7" Crazy Car/Sukiyaki (Sept. 2010)
- 7" Surrender/Instans (Mar. 2011)
External links
- Official website
- Ólöf Arnalds review at Favorite10.com
- Videos of Ólöf Arnalds performing live at lofi.tv
- Videos of Ólöf Arnalds performing on KEXP radio, Seattle at brooklynvegan.com
- Ólöf Arnalds interview at voixdesgeysers