Ólöf Arnalds
| Ólöf Arnalds | |
|---|---|
 Ólöf Arnalds (2010) | |
| Background information | |
| Born | January 4, 1980 |
| Origin | Iceland |
| Instruments | Vocals, violin, stroh violin, guitar, charango |
| Years active | 2002-present |
| Labels | One Little Indian Records |
| Associated acts | múm |
Ólöf Arnalds (born 1980) is an Icelandic singer/songwriter and indie musician who has been active within the Icelandic music scene for quite some time. She has released three albums to date and before launching her solo career she was a touring member of múm from 2003 for about 5 years. She has cooperated with bands and artists such as Björk, Stórsveit Nix Noltes, Mugison, Slowblow and Skúli Sverrisson.[1] 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.[2]
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 by One Little Indian Records in September 2010.
Ólöf's third album is Sudden Elevation and was released by One Little Indian Records in February 2013.
Ólöf's cousin Ólafur Arnalds is also a well known neo-classical composer.
Við og Við
Ólöf's debut album Við og Við was originally only released in Iceland in 2007 on 12 Tónar, however, it wasn't released until 2009 in the United Kingdom 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 Björk'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 Ólöf 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.
Innundir Skinni
Ólöf's 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 Björk’s distinctive vocal in the background.
The album was produced by former Sigur Ros member, Kjartan Sveinsson and Davíð Þór Jónsson, and featured contributions from Björk, Skúli Sverrisson (Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed), Shahzad Ismaily (Tom Waits, Plastic Ono Band, Bonnie "Prince" Billy), María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir (Amiina), and Ragnar.
Sudden Elevation
Ólöf's released her third album Sudden Elevation in 2013 on One Little Indian Records and it is her first album sung entirely in English. Produced again by long-time collaborator, Skúli Sverrisson, Sudden Elevation was largely recorded in a late autumn 2011 stint in a seaside cabin in Hvalfjörður (literally ‘Whale-fjord’), in the west of Iceland.
Discography
Albums
- Við Og Við 12 Tónar 2007
- Innundir skinni One Little Indian Records 2010 [3]
- Sudden Elevation One Little Indian Records 2013 [4]
EPs
- Ölof Sings (Sept. 2011)
- The Matador Ep (Oct. 2013)
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)
- A Little Grim
- German Fields
- Innundir Skinni
- Crazy Car
- Surrender feat. Björk
- Call It What You Want
References
- ↑ "Iceland Airwaves 2006 artist profile: Ólöf Arnalds". Iceland Airwaves. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
- ↑ "LARM artist profile: Ólöf Arnalds". LARM - Nordic sound art festival. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
- ↑ Innundir skinni available for pre-order
- ↑
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
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