LISTEN! Iceland

So I was just going over my notes from our family trip to Iceland a few years ago as it seems like a lot of friends are heading there this year. Lucky you! And of course I detoured into some music, thinking I only had like two or three bands to recommend. Um, rabbit hole to say the least! Given how expansive and otherworldy so much of Iceland is, it’s not really surprising that a lot of this music I am now listening to on repeat has complex emotional and ethereal qualities.

Acts like Sigur Ros, Bjork, KALEO and Of Monsters and Men have of course made it onto the global stage, but there are also a lot of lovely indie performers and groups to explore. There is a big metal scene too if that’s your bag, but it’s not mine so it’s not represented on my play list.

A couple of maybe unexpected things I included:

• In 2024 bluegrass jam band Greensky Bluegrass released an EP with four tracks recorded in Iceland with acclaimed pianist Holly Bowling. Lovely.
• Griff Washburn of Goth Babe was commissioned to visit Iceland to compose and record for the gorgeous documentary film Creation Theory . If this breathtaking footage doesn’t inspire you to visit Iceland, maybe it’s not for you…
• And of course I really had to feature a song from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga because it’s maybe my favorite movie and it makes me snort laugh every time.