Meet the new wave of Icelandic artists set to play at Airwaves 2023
Lead image: Celebs
Iceland Airwaves is back for its 23rd iteration with a bigger roaster than last year. As the festival prepares to take over downtown Reykjavík, we've put together a list of artists playing for the first time at the festival.
After a long and gentle summer, autumn has arrived in Iceland in full swing. Stormy winds have already ground airplanes for a couple of days, early hoar frost has come and gone, and any minute now the northern lights will start making their appearance. Which means it’s also time for Iceland Airwaves.
This showcase festival has firmly entrenched itself as a cultural highlight for concert goers from the remote Atlantic island and further afield. Following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, the festival seems to be back to its annual schedule, highlighting local talent as well as bringing in foreign headliners. 99 artists will perform over three days on eight stages, in addition to nine partner venues and eight off-venues.
We have compiled a list of Airwaves Virgins, local artists that have never performed before at the festival (at least not under their current name), in the hopes that ticket holders might check out these amazing talents taking their first steps on the big stage.
Celebs
During the Christmas of 2019, siblings Valgeir, Keli and Katla were all under the same roof in their hometown of Suðureyri in the Westfjords. All three have significant experience as musical artists, having performed with numerous acts at Airwaves already, so for them to come together and deciding to form a band was inevitable. They grew up around music – their father was the sound engineer for Ísafjörður’s yearly Aldrei fór ég suður festival – and they have been in or played with the likes of Rythmatik, Between Mountains, Sigur Rós and Mammút. Celebs was nominated in 2021 for the Icelandic Music Award, the Kraumur Awards and the Icelandic Listener’s Choice Awards. This year they’ve competed in the Icelandic Eurovision preliminaries and released their newest single “I Love My Siblings”.
Describe your sound
We like to have fun, and that is the most important thing we want to get across in our music. We want to create a space where people can check their worries at the door, move to the music and forget whatever is weighing on their mind. As young country bumpkins rehearsing in our grandpa's boat shed, we seriously looked up to the city slickers of the Reykjavík indie scene around 2010 and are still heavily influenced by local bands like FM Belfast, Retro Stefson and Trabant. In terms of sound, you could call us a mix of 80s synths and 2000s indie sleaze. Someone once described us as “if David Byrne and Karen-O made a really happy baby”. Do with that what you will.
Why should we come see you at Airwaves?
Because we’d like to assume you came to Airwaves to have a good time, and that’s exactly what we provide. Wanna dance a little? Or a lot? Wanna laugh and get down with it in the company of great people? Come to our show and you’ll see that and more. We promise a spectacle of lights, sounds and weird dance moves.
Who else do you think is making the most exciting music in Iceland right now?
Without a doubt Keli the troubadour! But in all seriousness, there are a lot of great bands worth shouting out, the Icelandic scene is so varied and immense considering the size of our population. We’re big fans of Jónfrí’s latest release "Aprílmáni", MSEA just released an amazing album called Our Daily Apocalypse Walk and a live show by Kvikindi should not be missed.
What's the best way for a tourist visiting Reykjavík for the first time to get the authentic local experience?
It’s a bit removed from 101 where all the Airwaves fun is happening, but Keli really likes taking a stroll through Laugardalur, it’s the Central Park of Reykjavík, because he really likes the trees there. He grew up in a place without trees, however, so perhaps it would be a little underwhelming for more experienced tree folk.
Where should we go during the day to nurse our Airwaves hangover?
The cliche answer would be to go to a pool, which we can’t recommend enough. However there are other options as well. Have you considered not drinking and getting help instead?
Daniil
22-year-old Daníel Moroshkin is one of Reykjavík’s most exciting hip hop acts as Daniil. He is riding off of the success of recently released sophomore album 600, which features the hit single “Ef Þeir Vilja Beef” (“If they want to beef”) with Joey Christ. Daníel has been making music from his early teens and saw early success with debut album 300, released in 2019.
Describe your sound
I would say that there is a lot of variety in my sound. I like to play around with all kinds of music from melodic pop songs to hard hitting rap. At its core what identifies my sound as an artist is the distinct voice and ability to adapt to different genres and moods.
Why should we come see you at Airwaves?
Of course there are a lot of amazing artists playing at Airwaves, both local and international but if you want to get a taste of what the Icelandic youth is listening to then my set is as good a place as any to satisfy that curiosity and we always have a good party going on so come on down and bring the good vibes!
Who else do you think is making the most exciting music in Iceland right now?
There are so many sick artists in Iceland at the moment, especially in the local hip hop scene. Definitely check out Birnir, Aron Can, Izleifur and more.
What's the best way for a tourist visiting Reykjavík for the first time to get the authentic local experience?
Mmmm just head out and explore, observe where the locals are going and try out some places. Other than that just do a little research and you will have a good time.
Where should we go during the day to nurse our Airwaves hangover?
Definitely start the day by going swimming. There are not many places in the city that are better for your hangover than the hot tub at the local swimming pool. Then head to Prikið for a coffee and get the day started.
Fókus
The winners of this year’s Músiktilraunir, Iceland’s venerable yearly battle of the bands, is Fókus, a quintet from Iceland’s south coast and Germany. All five girls are aged 16-18 and classically trained, but the outfit was started in 2022 by Amylee Trindade and Alexandra Guðrúnardóttir in Höfn, a small town on Iceland’s southeastern coast. They were then joined by Anna Lára Grétarsdóttir and Arnbjörg ýr Sigurðardóttir from Selfoss, and Pia Wrede from Germany. Following Músiktilraunir, the band has toured all over Iceland as well as the Netherlands.
Describe your sound
We make pop/rock music that is inspired by many different genres and decades of music. We in the band are very different people with different tastes in music but when we come together to play, it somehow works out. Our personal music tastes vary from classical music to modern pop, we all bring a bit of our own personalities to our music. We have some upbeat songs as well as some ballades.
Why should we come see you at Airwaves?
You should come see us play at Airwaves because we are so fun! We have an energetic stage presence and a lot of chemistry. We bring a different perspective from the rock genre that we all love from the late ‘80s through the ‘90s. Plus our outfits never disappoint.
Who else do you think is making the most exciting music in Iceland right now?
We love Juno Paul, his live performance never disappoints. We also like the band Kvikindi which is also going to play at Airwaves so we recommend you go see them. We would also recommend those interested to check out the artists and bands that compete in Músíktilraunir every year, there is so much diversity, experimentalism, and the music is very fresh and personal.
What's the best way for a tourist visiting Reykjavík for the first time to get the authentic local experience?
Go to the top of the church Hallgrímskirkja and enjoy the view of Reykjavík. Then walk downtown Laugavegur. After that, you could go to Pylsuvagninn and eat the Icelandic hot dog. Ask for “pylsa með öllu.”
We also recommend dropping into local bars / venues because in most of them there’s live music. The music scene in Iceland is surprisingly diverse given how small the market is in our country. You will definitely find something you like!
Where should we go during the day to nurse our Airwaves hangover?
Nowhere, the party never stops! You should try to drop into as many venues as possible, small, beginner bands play more during the day than the bigger artist, if you want to get the full Airwaves experience you should try to discover as many fresh artists as possible!
Karítas
The 31-year-old Karítas Óðinsdóttir admittedly didn’t start writing music until she was into her 20s, starting deejaying as DJ Karítas before joining the explosive Reykjavíkurdætur collective and then launching her own solo project. She calls herself a late bloomer, saying she didn’t think she had had it in her until the songs started flowing, and here we are today. While she has performed with Reykjavíkurdætur, this is her first outing as herself, by herself.
Describe your sound
I would describe my sound as dark pop with a little bit of indie.
Why should we come see you at Airwaves?
It’s my first time playing Airwaves and it’s been something that I have wanted to do for a very long time so I’m going all in.
Who else do you think is making the most exciting music in Iceland right now?
Cyber, Soffía Björg, Ultraflex, Árný Margrét, RAKEL, gugusar, Ásgeir, Fríd, Bear The Ant and Neonme.
What's the best way for a tourist visiting Reykjavík for the first time to get the authentic local experience?
I would start by going to the pool, then for brunch at Kaffi Vest, Anna Jóna or Snaps, after that take a little walk around, grab a coffee, look at some shops and check out some art exhibitions.
Where should we go during the day to nurse our Airwaves hangover?
If you have a car then you should go to Hvammsvík. It takes about 40 minutes to get there but it's so worth it and your hangover will be gone in notime.
KÁRI
Kári Egilsson’s started taking piano lessons at seven and has been focused on making music since then. Now 21, the Reykjavík native is studying at Berklee college of music and released his debut album Palm Trees In The Snow this past March as KÁRI.
Describe your sound
I draw on a diverse range of styles, including modern pop/indie, jazz, older rock, and soul. My songs are generally very melodic.
Why should we come see you at Airwaves?
I have a great band of talented young musicians and I think we’ve developed into a strong live act. We’ll play some choice cuts from my debut album and a few unreleased tracks that I’m very excited about. We’ll be playing at Gamla Bíó, which is a beautiful old movie theater, and my personal favorite of the Airwaves venues.
Who else do you think is making the most exciting music in Iceland right now?
One of my favorite Icelandic acts is Moses Hightower. They make very good jazz-influenced pop music.
What's the best way for a tourist visiting Reykjavík for the first time to get the authentic local experience?
If the weather permits, taking a stroll downtown is a great way to explore the city. The old town has some very picturesque streets. If you’re looking for something to do indoors, maybe catch an exhibit at the National Gallery of Iceland or see a movie at Bíó Paradís.
Where should we go during the day to nurse our Airwaves hangover?
Sweat it out in the steam baths at one of Reykjavík’s many swimming pools or take a walk in the bracing wind near the lighthouse at Grótta. A strong coffee at Kaffifélagið will help as well.
Kvikindi
The duo behind the dance punk outfit Kvikindi is no stranger to the limelight. Singer Brynhildur Karlsdóttir was the frontwoman of art punks Hórmónar, and classical composer Friðrik Margrétar Guðmundsson is a member of cover band Bjartar sveiflur. Kvikindi released their debut album Ungfrú Ísland (Miss Iceland) in 2022 and was awarded Album of the year at the Icelandic Music Awards and the Kraumur award, and was nominated as album of the year at the Icelandic Listeners Choice Awards. They opted to answer our questions separately.
Describe your sound
Brynhildur: Our sound is what happens when a punk band rascal like me teams up with a learned opera composer and they spend a good evening drinking tea, spilling the tea and listening to Tami T, if you know what I mean.
Friðrik: If you went to a roller skate rink, punk concert, to the club, had a very deep conversation with a stranger on the way home and fell asleep to the sound of your neighbors having an after party, all in the same night, we would be the soundtrack to your dream.
Why should we come see you at Airwaves?
Friðrik: We’ve got a great beat, heavy bass and a singer who is a certified hypnotist (for real)!
Brynhildur: Because you might see my pregnant belly in full swing. We’re an award winning band who love to share, perform, and connect with our audience.
Who else do you think is making the most exciting music in Iceland right now?
Brynhildur: The short answer is Björk. But aside from her, there’s a wave of female talent in Iceland these days, ranging from the grassroots to the mainstream. I really love Gróa.
Friðrik: I really love the new Gugusar album. I also just discovered Ronja, she's fantastic.
What's the best way for a tourist visiting Reykjavík for the first time to get the authentic local experience?
Brynhildur: Go to the outdoor toe bath thing in Seltjarnarnes. Bring towels, snacks and some hot cocoa. Sometimes a shivering naked man comes and performs poetry.
Friðrik: Go to a swimming pool, not the expensive spa/lagoon whatever. Just a regular local swimming pool. Vesturbæjarlaug, Kópavogslaug and Lágafellslaug are our favorites.
Where should we go during the day to nurse our Airwaves hangover?
Friðrik: Swimming pools! Then go have something nice to eat. Chickpea, Ramen Momo and Ban Thai are great. But the best way to cure a hangover is to not drink so much alcohol. Maybe have a Maltöl instead.
Brynhildur: Since I am basically a stay-at-home mom these days, I’m not up to date on this kind of advice. I would probably start the day with a coffee at Kaffifélagið.
Kónguló
Herdís Stefánsdóttir is an accomplished music composer and producer, who has composed for films such as M Night Shyamalans’s Knock at The Cabin, series The Essex Serpent and Y The Last Man, and is one half of electro pop duet East of my Youth. She says she started making and writing music while feeling lost and bored studying law. Slowly she started teaching herself how to play the piano, studying music theory by herself, and then arranging and writing for strings and choir. Now she is playing as Kónguló (Spider) where she blends electronic beats with haunting vocals. She has an upcoming LP.
Describe your sound
I have always been fascinated with sound and exploring the world of sound. I started getting very much into electronic music as a teenager and that’s how I started out producing, collecting synths and digging into the world of electronics. As I also have this classical background and work as a film composer I have gotten used to exploring a very wide range of sound when writing which I think influences my current music. It goes from big very produced sound worlds to more acoustic intimate soundscapes.
Why should we come see you at Airwaves?
I promise I will take you on an unexpected journey! Plus my band is amazing :)
Who else do you think is making the most exciting music in Iceland right now?
Some of my current favorites are Neonme, JFDR, RAKEL, Sandrayati.
What's the best way for a tourist visiting Reykjavík for the first time to get the authentic local experience?
Definitely the local swimming pools, soaking in hot water is one of the best ways to survive the winters here. Also the saunas and going into cold water or the ocean in winter. One of my favorite experiences is the traveling sauna! There is a lot of good food and bars downtown, I think the Reykjavík Grapevine is a great guide to see what is going on each month!
Where should we go during the day to nurse our Airwaves hangover?
Again, the best way to cure a hangover is going to the pool and to really get rid of it, soak in ice cold water and then go to the sauna!
Myrkvi
This indie rock outfit is the alter ego of Magnús Arnar Thorlacius, a self confessed cat daddy who reached out to fellow cat daddy Yngvi Holm to help him with Myrkvi (Eclipse or Darkness). Magnús had competed in and won Músíktilraunir in 2014 with his friends as Vio, and Yngvi similarly joined that project a few months later. That act had a few hit singles and was nominated for the Icelandic Music Awards, but they lost the momentum and fizzled out a few years ago. Meanwhile, Myrkvi has been picking up steam, having released album Reflections in 2020 based on old Vio song ideas, and has just this October released their sophomore album Early Warning.
Describe your sound
I sometimes feel like we fall in-between genres. My roots are in folk music and the classical guitar, while Yngvi is more of a shoegaze-head. We are both very much into indie rock, though, and the neo-psychedelic scene in Australia. Our music is always spiced with a healthy dose of pop too. Somebody once described it as putting Pearl Jam and Sigur Rós into a blender, which sounds like a train crash but is actually kind of cool. I usually write the songs but a lot of the soundscapes, especially on the upcoming album, are inspired by Yngvi’s mesmerizing guitar wizardry. Our current sound is something of a mix of the rock we listened to growing up in the 90s and 00s, and the jangly slacker stuff and psychedelic pop of today.
Why should we come see you at Airwaves?
We are going to rock your world. It will be packed, massive, and the atmosphere is going to be tripping. We have one hell of a program prepared for you. You do not want to miss this. The album will have dropped only a few days earlier and this will be the kick-start of something incredible.
Who else do you think is making the most exciting music in Iceland right now?
There is so much to choose from and the scene is as vibrant as ever. Off the top of my head I can mention JFDR, Kári, Árný Margrét and Laufey, as well as our friends in Andy Svarthol, Warmland, superserious and Axel Flóvent.
What’s the best way for a tourist visiting Reykjavík for the first time to get the authentic local experience?
I think going to Iceland Airwaves is quite a good way to experience the local atmosphere! The locals, the tourists, the bands, and the music business, all mingling together in various venues and bars in Reykjavík is really something special, and probably one of the best ways to get to know the locals. Everyone is extra friendly and outgoing during the festival. Going to concerts and art exhibitions at other times during the year is also a good way to experience something authentic in Reykjavík. I think Icelanders are rather reserved in general, but everyone can always appreciate people showing up to experience the local culture. One could also go to a local sports match.
Where should we go during the day to nurse our Airwaves hangover?
That’s a good one! I am a big fan of Lóla Flórens, a cozy café that also sells second-hand clothes. A classic local trick is to go to the swimming pools. There is an excellent one downtown called Sundhöll Reykjavíkur. That’s also just a great way to get to know the locals. My best friend is dating a girl he met when hungover in the hot tubs of this exact swimming pool. One could also walk to Vesturbæjarlaug, another popular swimming pool, and grab a burger at Hagavagninn afterwards. You could even stop at Melabúðin, a local favourite, on the way to buy some groceries. No alcohol is sold there though, mind you, it is only sold in specific state-run stores. If you want to skip the hangover and go straight to drinking again, I can recommend the all-you-can-eat-and-drink brunch at Bastard. That will get you well over the hangover and perhaps even a little further.
Sigrún Stella
Icelandic-Canadian Sigrun Stella Haraldsdottir Bessason was born in Winnipeg, Canada, spent some of her formative years in Akureyri, in the North of Iceland, before moving to Toronto, Canada, where she lives today. This singer-songwriter says she has been making music since she was a child, but didn’t start writing melodies and songs until she was in her 30s. She was nominated as vocalist of the year at the Icelandic Listener’s Choice Awards in 2022 for “Sideways”, and is playing for the first time at Airwaves.
Describe your sound
Haunting folk pop.
Why should we come see you at Airwaves?
Well, why not! We are flying in my whole band from Toronto - and we are pretty excited to play this show! Honoured to get to play Airwaves.
Who else do you think is making the most exciting music in Iceland right now?
So many great acts from Iceland, it’s hard to choose. Vök, Gus Gus, Sycamore Tree, Emmsjé Gauti, Blood Harmony, Tilbury, Una Torfa, , Soffía, Árny Margrét just to name a few! I'm a big fan of the Icelandic music scene.
What's the best way for a tourist visiting Reykjavík for the first time to get the authentic local experience?
Go check out one of our swimming pools and then have a hot dog after!
Where should we go during the day to nurse our Airwaves hangover?
Kaldi bar! Kex Hostel is great too!
Find out more about Icleand Airwaves at airwaves.is
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