Reykjavík Grapevine - 03.07.2015, Page 48

Anna comes from a background of clas-
sical training, and graduated from the
Tónlistarskólinn í Reykjavík, where she
received lessons primarily from Alina
Dubik. While she typically sings lieds and
arias, her “secret side project,” as she calls
it, is singing Icelandic folk songs a capella.
Except for two songs in which Svavar
Knútur accompanies her with a harmo-
nium, a capella folk songs are exactly what
listeners can find on ‘VAR’.
Speaking about her decision to make
an a capella folk album, Anna explained, “I
wanted to perform the songs as pure and
as near to their origin as possible.” In com-
paring ‘VAR’ to her first album ‘Móðurást’,
she describes the latter’s style as being
more traditional. “In ‘VAR’, I was more
impulsive,” she said, “working fast, fol-
lowing my heart and doing it my way.” But
while ‘VAR’ (literally, “was” and “shelter”)
and ‘Móðurást’ (“motherly love”) have
their stylistic differences, Anna returned
back to the theme of origins, explaining,
“both albums express my gratitude to the
past and my ancestors.”
This tour is Anna’s first, and will in-
clude stops in some unbelievably remote
and seemingly impossible spots. Perfor-
mance locations include an avalanche
barrier in Siglufjörður, a lava tube in
Dimmuborgir, a forsaken fish oil factory
in Hjalteyri, as well as an array of caves,
churches, and lighthouses—all in areas
with populations you could probably
meet in a day. The spot Anna most looks
forward to is a church on Grímsey, a tiny
island that marks the northernmost in-
habited territory of Iceland.
Remote and impossible
For her tour, Anna decided to explore the
nooks and crannies of Iceland for several
reasons. For one, her album was actually
recorded in some of her performing spots,
including in an oil tank in Djúpavik and in
the Akranes lighthouse, where, Anna not-
ed, “the acoustics are amazing.” Not only
are these spots the location of her record-
ing sessions, but also the spots where Ice-
landic folk music was originally inspired.
“I wanted to make concerts in very special
places, where people can experience the
environment and surroundings as a part of
the concert, and maybe make them come a
little closer to the subject of Icelandic folk
songs,” she said. “Having concerts out in
the country, where the heart beats nearer
to the environment from which the songs
came, gives me and hopefully the audi-
ence more depth in impression.”
She has also been enjoying the inti-
macy and closeness of the concerts and
the people she has been meeting at her
performances and along the way. “For me,
the tour is also a way to get to know my
country and its inhabitants better,” Anna
explained. “Performing at places not in
the busy route is a way for me to meet the
people who are more open to events like
this.” It’s not only the performance loca-
tions, however, but also the very nature of
singing a cappella that Anna says adds to
the feeling of togetherness and vulnerabil-
ity of each performance. “With a cappella,
I cannot hide anything.”
Anna began her tour on June 20 with a
midnight concert inside the Akranes light-
house. So far, she said, the highlights of the
tour have been “the summer light and the
power of nature,” and that she has received
only gratitude and generosity from her au-
dience members so far. She will continue
to travel and sing around the country until
August 2, so if you find yourself wandering
through a cave or perhaps stranded on an
island, stick around and you might catch
one of Anna’s performances.
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MUSIC
PERFORMANCE
8
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 9 — 2015
Following the release of her most recent album, ‘VAR’, Icelandic soprano singer Anna Jóns-
dóttir will be touring Iceland to perform in some unusual spots, from lighthouses, to caves,
to an abandoned fish oil factory.
Photo Karl Petersson
Words Katie Steen
Back To The Roots
Anna Jónsdóttir sings Icelandic
folk in distant locales
* Klambratún Park, Reykjavík (five minutes walking from Hallgrímskirkja Church) *
* Knowledge of Icelandic unnecessary to enjoy the shows *
* Ticketsales are on www.midi.is and by the tent *
* Ticketbooth phone number: 6593388 *
* www.sirkusislands.is *
* Children show *
Sunday
* Family show *
Thursday through Sunday
* Adult show (18+) *
Friday and Saturday