From the North

Nordic countries have a special atmosphere. We have certain way of understanding others. We know how to survive from the dark winters. I think in most Nordic music you can see and feel the fact that we have so little sun light almost half of the year. I think that's why there's so many metal fans in Finland and in Scandinavia. But especially the electronic music scene is something quite unique in Finland. And so long all the Icelandic composers who's music I have been listening to have something very common. The compositions and the atmospheres of the music are so fragile and at the same time beautiful. It's not easy listening. It demands concentration from the listener. It brings you into the darkness of the winter of the North but then reveals also the light. It's very confronting and honest music. How is the Nordic mentality too.

I love the the honesty of people in the North, you don't need to pretend to be happy or something else if you don't feel like it. Where in some Mid-Europe countries you always see this phenomena of people trying to play the hard guy, something else or just trying to keep up the smile. I hope these both groups could learn things from each others. To give the peace to people to be alone if they need to be but also to be able to show the joy if they feel happy. To be able to be honest towards others. To show the care towards others around you.

I found two to me new Icelandic composers. Daníel Bjarnason released his debut album "Processions" (2010). He is a composer but also a conductor and has worked with London Sinfonietta, Icelandic Opera and Icelandic Symphony Orchestra. He has had collaborations with bands like Sigur Rós, Efterklang and Múm just name some. In 2011 Bjarnason collaborated with Ben Frost and together they created the album "Sólaris". Here you can listen two songs from this album: http://www.bedroomcommunity.net/releases/solaris

Here you can watch the teaser of Sólaris:

Frost and Bjarnason are performing Sólaris together with the Sinfonietta Cracovia at Todaysart festival in Den Haag 21.9 20.00-21.00 o'clock. You can check for more info about the concert here: http://todaysart.org/2012/artist/?aname=music-for-solaris&lang=en

But if you don't have the chance to go to see it yourself you can reserve a virtual seat for the concert via here: http://disquiet.tv/ Reservations are free but limited to 200, so be fast!

Daníel Bjarnason - "Reyja"

Check here the MySpace page of Bjarnason: http://www.myspace.com/danielbjarnason

Another Icelandic composer and sound artist I found is Bjarni Gunnarsson. He is currently living in Den Haag in the Netherlands. He's music is more abstract, rough and sometimes I could say, scary.

See more info about him here: http://bjarni-gunnarsson.net/

Album video for "Dried up".

"Timeless"