Reykjavík Grapevine - 07.04.2017, Page 21

21The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 05 — 2017
Words:
Hannah Jane Cohen
Photos:
Hörður Sveinsson
KRÚTT HIP-HOPvs
Alvia
Islandia
Let’s start with krútt. Do
you know what it is?
It’s music with like a quiet guitar and
soft voice that lingers in your head all
smooth and soothing. It doesn’t ha-
rass you, just slides into the ear. But
it can have more energy too. Like FM
Belfast is just a big krútt party. A late
night krútt party! A party of krútt.
Do you ever listen to it?
I listened to it growing up. Now it’s
like, if krútt music comes up, I don’t
turn it off. It’s just got a different vibe,
and some people get hyped up by that
intensity, but it doesn’t really work for
me. When I listen to music, it’s to get
my mojo onto some level, to get into
the groove, and krútt doesn’t really
take my energy there. I listen to mu-
sic to get away from that quiet place to
get higher, like chewing-gum music,
know what I mean? But it is good mu-
sic with really good production, well
made, and I do like listening to it if it
is on. My friend in Copenhagen loved
sóley so much and freaked out when
she found out she was from Iceland.
And my friend was from Australia.
That music hits people.
Tell us about the Icelandic
hip-hop scene.
It’s small but it’s big, if that makes
sense. Every weekend there’s a new
solid up-and-coming artist and every-
one has their own style.
What’s your style?
My last album was ‘Bubblegum Bitch’
and my next album is ‘Elegant Hoe’
and that’s my music. It’s poppin’,
bassy, dreamy, and vivid, with a slow
hype. It works for both driving in the
car, feeling cool, and also getting ev-
eryone hyped in a concert. I want my
music to slide in and be soothing, not
harassing, so I guess that’s like krútt
people. There you are. That’s where
the krútt is.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Claim to Hip-Hop fame: She’s sponsored by
Hubba Bubba and won the Kraumur award in 2016.
The clash of Iceland’s music
generations
“FM BELFAST IS JUST
A BIG KRÚTT PARTY.
A LATE NIGHT KRÚTT
PARTY!”
What is the krútt sound?
Hm, well there’s always stuff like
weird keyboards and the glockenspiel,
but it’s more of the vibe around the
music. The lyrics and how you sing
it: it’s breathy and introverted. Krútt
music is all different but it has a “We
are very shy” attitude. That is the krútt
thing. I don’t think I would have been
put in any other movement. I was re-
ally inspired by it.
Tell us about hip-hop.
I love the scene! I am such a big fan. I
love the beats. It’s all so cool and I’m
like damn, I should do this, I’m not
that cool [laughs]. No, but I love the DIY
culture of it all. Everyone is just doing
stuff by themselves and releasing it by
themselves like fuck the system. They
aren’t like, “Well, we don’t have a label
so we can’t make this perfect album.”
They are just like, “Hey, I made a song,
I am going to put it on SoundCloud.”
I love it. At least in the past, rap was
always about manly stuff, but Icelan-
dic hip-hop is kind of turning to love
songs. Like you know, awww, I love her,
but she’s not here. And they all sing
with this sweet voice like Aron Can.
It’s definitely krútt.
Who are some standouts?
Actually, my daughter is three years old
and her favourite band last year was
Vaginaboys. She loved them so much
she would cry if she didn’t hear it in the
car. She also likes GKR’s “Morgunma-
tur.” She learned all the lyrics, which
was amazing. I like GKR a lot too. Reyk-
javíkurdaetur are also great and they are
very important. It’s insane how much
hate they get for what they do though,
but I mean, they push things and sing
about their anger. I never do that, I don’t
know why, but I think it’s so important.
We should all use our voices.
Genre: Krútt
Claim to krútt fame: “Pretty
Face” has almost 6 million
plays on Spotify.
FEATURE
Sóley
“ICELANDIC HIP-HOP IS KIND OF
TURNING TO LOVE SONGS.”