Reykjavík Grapevine - 05.01.2018, Blaðsíða 2

When you think everything is going
sour , take a breather. Because it’s not.
Of course, last year was a year of
highly unstable politics, and it some-
times felt like the end of the world was
eerily near. We had fake news, the in-
sane world of social media, and even a
political conspiracy in Iceland, like it
was still the ’80s. But fear not. Because
what makes this world better is not pol-
iticians; it’s art. It’s love. And it is music.
We proudly present our annual
Reykjavík Grapevine Music Awards
in this issue. We had of course a
tough debate about the winners. Our
panel was chosen by the music gods
themselves. And after bloody du-
els and polite deliberation (which
not everybody survived), we have
awarded Iceland’s finest musicians.
Two amazing bands in particu-
lar exploded onto the scene like uni-
corns full of rainbows this year, and
both are worth mentioning here. The
first is our favorite, JFDR, who took
flight as a solo artist and showed
the world that Iceland is like a tal-
ent machine that shoots stars into
the air, like volcanos shoot ash into
the atmosphere and stop air traffic.
The second is Hatari, who took us
by a surprise with their gothic vision
and nihilistic criticism of our insane
over-consuming society. And Iceland-
ers do take the cake when it comes
to consumerism. In this climate,
Hatari seem like a voice of reason. I
can’t wait to buy their merchandise.
Of course, as in past years, we will
hold our award ceremony at Húrra on
the night of January 5th. Some of the
bands will play. Some jokes will be told.
Someone will probably say something
they’ll regret the day after. So it’s gonna
be a ball. If you read this after the 5th,
don’t worry, we’re probably still cel-
ebrating. Happy New Year, everyone!
First
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ILLUSTRATION
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
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Fontenay
Alice Demurtas
Björn Halldórsson
Grayson Del Faro
Jónas Reynir
Nanna Árnadóttir
Rex Beckett
Shruthi Basappa
Steindór Grétar Jónsson
Valur Gunnarsson
PHOTOGRAPHERS
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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.
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COVER PHOTO
Photo by
Magnús Andersen
magnusandersen.co.uk
Special thanks to Grái
Kötturinn on Hverfisgata
for hosting the photo
shoot
THE GRAPEVINE
PLAYLIST
Listen, watch &
more tracks:
gpv.is/play
2
Words:
Valur Grettisson
Photo:
Magnús
Andersen
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Hatari x CYBER -
Hlauptu
A standout from the
recently released
Myrkfælni #2
compilation is this
collab between
horror rap girl
group CYBER and
theatrical synth-
punks Hatari.
It might seem
like an unlikely
combination at the
outset, but it works
perfectly, with the
evil synths and
alternating rap/
falsetto/ranting
vocals melding
together like the
two bands were
made for each
other. JR
Daði Freyr - Seinni
Tíma Vandamál
Icelandic pop
darling Daði Freyr
ended the Icelandic
year with the final
song on the popular
end-of-year TV show,
Áramótaskaupið.
This annual
programme
makes fun of
the political and
cultural scandals
of the preceding
twelve months.
Daði Freyr’s song is
about the anxiety
of the Icelandic
nation, and how we
could just chill and
have fun, because
everything is going
to be fine anyways.
Or as we say in
Icelandic: “þetta
reddast.” VG
ALVIA - Level Loco
Alvia Islandia is one
of the winners at
the Grapevine Music
Awards, receiving
a Shout Out prize
from the panel for
her DIY methods,
strong presence
in the scene and
on the stage, and
her alternative
take on rap. Case
in point: her new
single “Level Loco”
is produced by
atmospheric
krautrock/shoegaze
duo Russian Girls,
giving the track
an unexpectedly
dreamy flavour. JR
Sin Fang, Sóley &
Örvar Smárason -
Dream Team Party
Kids
This dream team
fulfilled their team
dreams in 2017,
creating a song
for each month
of the year. The
tracks varied from
ambient, lovelorn
slowcore to catchy,
hazy alt-pop. This
season finale is one
of the latter, with
all three singers
combining on an
epic torch song.
The album, ‘Team
Dreams,’ is out
now. JR
RVKDTR - Hvað Er
Málið
Feminist punk-
rappers RVKDTR
released a new
song just before
the arrival of the
new year. It’s both
slick and rough,
taking on the
tough questions
like “What’s the
deal with your
boyfriend? He’s
always saying hi.”
The striking video
sees RVKDTR playing
with stereotypes
such as “bimbo”
and “skinkur”—
and if we’re not
mistaken, one of
most powerful
businesswomen in
Iceland, Ingibjörg
Pálmadóttir, has
a short cameo
drinking bubbly
with the band. VG
This issue's most
important tracks
Issue 01
16: Pirate MP Proposes Citizen's Wage
17: Looking Back: 2017 In News
19: The Grapevine Music Awards
32: Dark Music Days
34: Norður Og Niður
36: Berg Contemporary
44: The Wasabi Makers
45: Mat Bar Reviewed
48: The Aurora Hunt Is On
Music Will
Save Us