Jóhann Jóhannsson

Jóhann Jóhannsson (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈjoːuhanː ˈjoːuhanːsɔn]; born September 19, 1969 in Reykjavík, Iceland) is an Icelandic musician, composer and producer. He is a co-founder of Kitchen Motors in Reykjavík, the art organization/think tank/record label which specializes in initiating collaborations, promoting concerts and exhibitions, performances, chamber operas, producing films, books and radio shows based on the ideals of experimentation, collaboration and the search for new art forms.^[1]

Jóhann founded the Apparat Organ Quartet in 1999, who have played various European festivals. Jóhann has also produced and written music with artists as diverse as Marc Almond (Stranger Things album), Barry Adamson and Pan Sonic, The Hafler Trio, Magga Stina and others. He has written music for theatre, documentaries and soundtrack music for several feature films.^[2] Jóhann is a member of the Icelandic electronica supergroup Evil Madness.

Jóhann was a member of the selection committee for ART2000, the first Icelandic International Computer and Electronic music festival which was held at Salurinn in Kópavogur. Also, he has taught a course on the creative use of sound in art, film and multimedia at Borgarholts College in Reykjavík.

Discography

Albums

• Englabörn (2002, Touch)
• Virðulegu Forsetar (2004, Touch)
• Dís (2004, 12 Tónar, in Iceland; 2005, The Worker's Institute, in the US)
• IBM 1401, A User's Manual (2006, 4AD)
• Englabörn (2007, 4AD)
• Fordlandia (2008, 4AD)
• And In The Endless Pause There Came The Sound Of Bees (2009)
• The Miners' Hymns: United To Obtain The Just Reward Of Our Labour (2011)

Singles

• The Sun’s Gone Dim And The Sky’s Turned Black (2006, 4AD)

Selected works

As composer

Feature films

• Íslenski draumurinn by Robert Ingi Douglas (Iceland, 2000)
• Óskabörn þjóðarinnar by Jóhann Sigmarsson (Iceland, 2000)
• The End of St. Petersburg by Vsevolod Pudovkin (Russia, 2001)
• Maður eins og ég by Robert Ingi Douglas (Iceland, 2002)
• Dís by Silja Hauksdóttir (Iceland, 2004)
• Wicker Park by Paul McGuigan (United States, 2004)
  • Writer and performer for tracks: "Sálfraedingur", "Ég Átto Gráa Aesku", and "Ég Sleppi Thér Aldrei"^[2]
• Blóðbönd AKA Thicker than Water by Árni Óli Ásgeirsson (Iceland, 2006)

Short films

• Keepsake by Tim Shore (United Kingdom, 2003)
• Propinquity by Jonathan Skinner (United Kingdom, 2006)
• Varmints by Marc Craste (United Kingdom, 2008)

Television documentaries

• Corpus Camera (Iceland, 1999, Stöð 2)
• Leyndardómar Íslenskra Skrímsla (Iceland, 2000, Sjónvarpið)
• Erró- Norður, suður, austur, vestur (Iceland, 2000, Stöð 2)

Plays

• Margrét Mikla by Kristín Ómarsdóttir (1996, Icelandic Take-away Theatre)
• Vitleysingarnir by Ólafur Haukur Símonarsson (2000, Hafnarfjördur Theater)
• Fireface by Marius Von Mayerberg (2000, RÚV)
• Englabörn by Hávar Sigurjónsson (2001, Hafnarfjördur Theater)
• Kryddlegin Hjörtu by Laura Esquivel (2002, Borgarleikhús)
• Viktoría og Georg by Ólafur Haukur Símonarsson (2002, Icelandic National Theatre)
• Pabbastrákur by Hávar Sigurjónsson (2003, Icelandic National Theatre)
• Jón Gabríel Borkman by Henrik Ibsen (2004, Icelandic National Theatre)
• Dínamít by Birgir Sigurðsson (2005, Icelandic National Theatre)
• Døden i Teben by Sophocles/Jon Fosse (2008, Det Norske Teatret)

Stage works

• IBM 1401, a User's Manual with Erna Ómarsdóttir (2002)
• Mysteries of Love with Erna Ómarsdóttir (2005)

Installations

• Music for an installation by Ari Alexander Magnússon at Gallery Mokka (1997)
• "Chairmen of the board" by Ari Alexander Magnússon at the 30/60 exhibition, Kjarvalssta_ir Art Museum and Akureyri Art Museum (1998)
  • Collaboration with Óttarr Proppé.
• "XXX-reyri" by Snorri Ásmundsson at the "Orgasm 2000" exhibition at Akureyri Art Museum (January 2000)
• "We are the world" by the Icelandic Love Corporation at Batofar in Paris (2000)
• "Duet" by Sigurður Guðmundsson at the Icelandic National Gallery (October 2000)
  • Title of composition: "Já".
• "Fjörfiskar" by Finnur Arnar at the Epal showroom (March 2001)
• "Vocal IV" by Rúrí at Reykjavík Art Museum Hafnarhús (October 2008)

Other projects

• Music for the radio art piece Völuspá by Jón Hallur Stefánsson (with composer Haukur Tómasson)
• Theme music for the TV program Femin (Iceland, 2001, Stöð 2)
• Music for the TV program Svartir Englar (Iceland, 2008, RÚV)
• Music for the trailer of Battle: Los Angeles by Jonathan Liebesman (United States, 2011)

As producer/arranger

• Ýmsir - Megasarlög (1997, POP)
• Magga Stina - An album (1998, One Little Indian)
• Siggi Ármann - Mindscape (2001, Smekkleysa)
• Hafler Trio - La Chanson Dada (2002, These Records)
• Barry Adamson & Pan Sonic - The Hymn of the Seventh Illusion (2001, Kitchen Motors/Ómi)

As composer, performer, producer

• Daisy Hill Puppy Farm - 7" (1988, Lakeland Records)
• Daisy Hill Puppy Farm - Spraycan 12" (1989, Lakeland Records)
• HAM - Saga Rokksins 1988-1993 (1993, Nordisk Musik Disk)
• HAM - Lengi Lifi (1994, Smekkleysa)
• HAM - Dauður Hestur (1995, Skífan)
• Lhooq - Lhooq (1998, Echo)
• Dip - Hi-Camp Meets Lo-Fi (1999, Smekkleysa)
• Emilíana Torrini - Love in the Time of Science (1999, One Little Indian)
• Apparat Organ Quartet - "Nafnlaust Uppklapp" from Nart Nibbles (1999, Kitchen Motors)
• Hljómúrinn - "Eind/Neind" from Nart Nibbles (1999, Kitchen Motors)
• Hilmar Jensson, Úlfar Ingi Haraldsson, Jóhann Jóhannsson and the CAPUT-ensemble - "Veltipunktur" from Motorlab 1 (2000, Kitchen Motors/Smekkleysa)
• Andrew Mckenzie and Jóhann Jóhannsson with Curver - "Telefónía" from Motorlab 1 (2000, Kitchen Motors/Smekkleysa)
• Apparat Organ Quartet - 3 songs from Motorlab II (2000, Kitchen Motors/Smekkleysa)
• HAM - Skert Flog (2001, Hitt)
• Marc Almond - Stranger Things (2001, IIIX Bis Records/Universal)

Miscellaneous

• Musical Director for the Icelandic Dance Company's performance of "Milli Heima" by Katrín Hall.

Awards

• First prize for Best Original Score for Varmints at the Rhode Island International Film Festival (2008)

References

External links

• Johann Johannsson.com - Official website
• Biography of Johann Johannsson at Touch Music
• Kitchen Motors.com - Johann Johannsson's record label
• Beggars.com - The biography, discography and promotional photos.
• Interview with Jóhann Jóhannsson on Headphone Commute (September, 2011)