Introducing: Retro Stefson

Retro Stefson, are one of Iceland’s brightest hopes and best live bands. They effortlessly and energetically fuse surf, latin, blues and afro (among other influences) into a refreshing pop sound overflowing with fun and vigour.

Retro Stefson kindly gave us an insight into their moustacheod psyche, by way of our world-famous Seven Questions…

Catch Retro Stefson play alongside Eleanoora Rosenholm and Young Dreams this Thursday, May 26 at The Lexington. Tickets are on sale now. For more info on this months Ja Ja Ja lineup click here.

For people out there that have never heard of you, give us three reasons why they should?

Because we are sexy, poor and very funny.

Tell us a little about where you’re from: do your surroundings affect the music that you create?

It’s actually quite easy for us to proof that we’re not to affected by our surroundings, playing tropical music but coming from a North-Atlantic island.

If you could have played on or written any song, what would it be?

I’d say “The party after the party” by The Weekend. It’s a wicked song with very special vocal phrasing, I like that.

How did the band come in to being? And where did the name come from?

We started playing together in elementary school. And in that school we had a “Retro-Ball” the same night our first band practice occurred, we thought that was a cool word back then. Stefson is an abbreviation of our surname Stefánsson.

What is the most memorable gig you have played, and what can we expect of your live set at Ja Ja Ja?

As I have a rather short-term gig-memory I’d say it’s our last concert at Iceland Airwaves 2010. In London I hope we can have loads of sweat and fun.

If you were asked to curate your own Ja Ja Ja night, which three acts would you choose and why?

I would like to see Lindström from Norway, LCMDF from Finland and Kim Larsen from Denmark. There is a simple reason for the first two acts, I love their music and I know they have a good live show. But Kim Larsen is something our teacher in elementary school played a lot, so I think it would be loads of fun to have him as well!

We’d like you to make us a Nordic themed mix-tape. Which five tracks would you choose?

Mezzoforte – Garden Party
Casiokids – Fot i hose (Axemax & Big P remix)
LCMDF – Gandhi
GusGus – Within You
The Knife – Pass this on