Reykjavík Grapevine - 06.10.2017, Síða 44

Agnes Björt is the incandescent, glamor-
ous, party-starting singer of the Reykjavík
electro-pop band Sykur. Here she talks us
through some of her formative influences.
VampireFreaks and Dark Starlings
These two were websites that I spent
a lot of time on as a teenager. They’re
similar to MySpace, but each mem-
ber had a personal style (clothes, hair,
music taste, visuals…) and had created
their own world around it. You could
follow people, and see when they post-
ed. There were no limits, no rules on
how you should be dressed or styled etc.
Everything was allowed. You could be
whoever you felt like; make your crea-
tivity snowball-effect yourself into the
creature you wanted to be. For me this
was so inspiring that it almost made
my head explode. This is still a big part
of me as I like to dress as different char-
acters, wear what someone would call
costumes or drag and go into different
moods based on my persona when I go
out partying.
Leigh Bowery
The most lively figure in the under-
ground clubs of London and New York,
as well as in art and fashion circles in
the ‘80s, was Leigh Bowery, an Aus-
tralian performance artist and fash-
ion designer. I relate to him in many
ways—the forms he uses, texture, col-
ours, patterns, openness and humour.
He’s vibrant, bold, fun, provocative,
pure, stunning, shocking, kitschy and
creative. I also find it inspiring how
clubbing and partying can be like an art
scene—a different world where there
are other rules, behaviour and priori-
ties than in bright daylight, almost like
another planet.
Icelandic language
How Icelandic words are put togeth-
er with these little beautiful different
sounds inspires me. I am really into
learning old Icelandic words and their
meanings. It’s amazing how you can
put them together and make a rhythm
out of them, and make them rhyme. I
bought myself a huge dictionary the
other day and now I don’t have any
money left for food.
How my brain plays games on me
I have images of random places pop-
ping up in my brain every so often.
Those images always show me places
I have been and these places are very
random and I don’t know why I’m get-
ting them flashing in my brain at ran-
dom moments, like when I’m cooking
or driving. For example, one picture is
of a bench I always walked by on my way
to school when I was 14 years old and
living in Barcelona. One is of the place
where the streets cross when you are
driving from Grafarvogur to Kringlan,
and one is a construction area in Mos-
fellsbær. It’s like a puzzle that I haven’t
figured out yet... weird, but inspiring,
in a way.
Flower duet
I’m usually not into this style of sing-
ing but this piece is just so visual it
sends me to a place where I’m naked
on a bed of flowers drinking mountain
water out of a golden trophy. Really well
performed.

My bandmates
Sykur is our baby. We have grown so
much together and they definitely in-
spired me to become who I am. I love
them very much, although we don’t
hang all the time. Fun fact: 2017 is
Sykur’s 10th Airwaves anniversary…
fuck me sideways.
Rokk í Reykjavík documentary
This movie describes so perfectly how
I feel about Reykjavík. The mood and
vibe capture what Reykjavík is all about,
and why I’m so hypnotised by our city. I
saw this as a teenager, and the day af-
ter I had this guy (who obviously had a
crush on me) give me his electric gui-
tar. Those were the days.
Choirs
How fifty voices can become one is a
beautiful artform. Don’t underesti-
mate it.
Music
So so so many bands and artists: An-
drew (my dad’s old band. I never got
the chance to see them live because
he passed away when I was a kid. I’ve
learned listening to his old recordings
that he was an amazing singer and
composer), the X, Frank Zappa, Talking
Heads, Radiohead, Nina Hagen, Toto,
Devo, Level 42, Bring Me The Horizon,
Diamanda Gálas, Usher, CAN, Berlin
Express, The Ramones, Pink Floyd...
and many more.
Culture 44The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 18 — 2017
NO BUN
NO FUN
Vampire Freaks, Leigh Bowery
& Rokk In Reykjavík
A few of Agnes Björt Andrésdóttir's favourite things
MAKING OF
AN ARTIST
Words:
Agnes Björt
Andrésdóttir
Photo:
Art Bicnick
Agnes Björt Andrésdóttir
gpv.is/making
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