Reykjavík Grapevine - 21.04.2017, Blaðsíða 2

When I was a child, my parents taught
me two things about Iceland: one, that
we were once strong Vikings, and
two, that we had no fear. They also
told me that there is something called
the Atlantic Ocean, and it should be
respected and feared, even by the
berserking Vikings. This is a para-
dox that all Icelanders grow up with,
and it’s the reason we respect Icelan-
dic sailors like we respect our doc-
tors. Because the sea doesn’t always
give—it also takes back without mercy.
For example, my uncle was working on
a fishing ship in his twenties when a
wave grabbed him from the deck, and
pulled him overboard. He was never
found. The sea swallowed him whole.
My father was a sailor for a long time,
and I was always aware of the danger.
≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈
Most Icelanders have a story
like that to tell. Everybody has
lost something to the ocean.
So imagine our surprise when we heard
about these fearless women who travel
around Iceland and transform these
dangerous waters into a playground
with their surfboards. They’re not only
fearless, but berserking Vikings them-
selves. Because who would go willingly
into the cold water to tame this danger-
ous beast? To ride waves that can easily
crush you? For me, it’s the same as rid-
ing the fire of a flame-breathing dragon.
And I’m pretty sure that there’s some
kind of metaphor about our society
here. These strong women face the bru-
tal power of the ocean, and although
it spits them out again and again,
they get right back on the board, un-
til that wave has finally been beaten.
Hafnarstræti 15,
101 Reykjavík
www.grapevine.is
grapevine@grapevine.is
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PUBLISHER
Hilmar Steinn
Grétarsson
hilmar@grapevine.is
+354 540 3601
publisher@grapevine.is
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Valur Grettisson
valur@grapevine.is
MANAGING EDITOR
John Rogers
john@grapevine.is
ART DIRECTOR
Sveinbjörn Pálsson
sveinbjorn@grapevine.is
NEWS EDITOR
Paul Fontaine
paul@grapevine.is
TRAVEL EDITOR
John Rogers
john@grapevine.is
PHOTO EDITOR
Art Bicnick
art@grapevine.is
JOURNALIST
Nanna Árnadottir
nanna@grapevine.is
LISTINGS DIRECTOR
Hannah Jane Cohen
hannah@grapevine.is
COPY EDITOR
Mark Asch
EDITORIAL INTERNS
Joanna Smith
Gabriel Dunsmith
ILLUSTRATIONS
Inga María
Brynjarsdóttir
Lóa Hjálmtýsdóttir
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Björn Halldórsson
Davíð Roach
Eli Petzold
Elín Hansdóttir
Elías Þórsson
Grayson Del Faro
Hanna Jane Cohen
Joanna Smith
Nanna Dís Árnadóttir
Mark Asch
Óli Dóri
Steindór Grétar Jónsson
Valur Gunnarsson
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Helga Laufey
Ásgeirsdóttir
Timothée Lambrecq
Varvara Lozenko
Art Bicnick
Xindan Xu
Larissa Kyzer
Craig T. Mathew
Atli Arnarson
SALES DIRECTORS
Aðalsteinn Jörundsson
adalsteinn@grapevine.
is
Helgi Þór Harðarson
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Hörður Kristbjörnsson,
Jón Trausti Sigurðarson,
Oddur Óskar
Kjartansson,
Valur Gunnarsson
The Reykjavík Grapevine
is published 21 times a
year by Fröken ltd. Monthly
from December through
February, and fortnightly
from March til October.
Nothing in this magazine may
be reproduced in whole or
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The Reykjavík Grapevine is
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#1, and all major tourist
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COVER PHOTOS BY
Timothée Lambrecq
timotheelambrecq.com
Some Kind of a Metaphor
THE GRAPEVINE
PLAYLIST
Skrattar - Eina Væna
While “sensitive”
might not be the
first word you’d
associate with
Skrattar, “Eina Væna”
shows the band has
more to offer than
bizarre stage antics.
The tune is somewhat
country-rock, if
country-rock did
stick-and-pokes. HJC
Godchilla - Sparkling
Void
One band you can
definitely trust not
to use AutoTune or
on-trend sparkling
synths is surf-
sludge-rock project
Godchilla. “Sparkling
Void” is a Melvins-
esque slab of riffing
and screaming, and
being heavy and
retro makes it sound
positively fresh in the
current scene. JR
AUÐUR - When It’s
Been A While
The “walking around
in Reykjavík” music
video genre got
a new addition
recently from
Iceland’s skinniest
sex-obsessed R&B
crooner AUÐUR, who
takes to the back
alleys to sing about
sexual frustration,
and its resolution, in
sign language. JR
Vaginaboys - Feeling
The bemasked, Auto-
Tuned Vaginaboys are
back with another
slice of on-trend R&B
pop. This time, the
heavily AutoTuned
lyrics are set to a
video that features
some masked girls
examining various
dildos whilst making
a fruit salad. Is this
peak sad boy? JR
Draugsól - Bót Eður
Viðsjá Við illu Aðkast
Draugsól’s newest
album ‘Volaða Land’
proves black metal
is alive and well in
Iceland. Vicious, des-
perate, dissonant,
and violent, ‘Volaða
Land’ is emotion-
ally agonizing in
the best possible
way. “Bót Eður Viðsjá
Við illu Aðkast” is a
standout track. HJC
ICY G & Andsetinn - In
The Clouds With You

If you’re a fan of
benzo-rap, then “In
The Clouds With You”
is for you. The music
is almost inhumanly
chill—great for
when you want to
daze out but proba-
bly not the best for a
pre-game. Have fun,
but be careful not to
depress yourself too
much. HJC
Listen & watch:
gpv.is/play
EDITORIAL
2
In This Issue
Words:
Valur
Grettisson
Photo:
Varvara
Lozenko
P:12 ICELAND'S LANGUAGE CRISIS
P:16 "SUMMER" IS HERE
P:28 ICELAND DOES L.A.
P.39 WEIRD KIDS PARTY
P:40 NU-SPORTSWEAR
P:50 SEAWEED BATHS
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