Reykjavík Grapevine - 02.02.2018, Blaðsíða 2

Isolation is rough. It isn’t some-
thing people think about it every day,
and we don’t really take any precau-
tions because of it. We think that the
world has never been as connected
as it is now, because we’re always
liking each other’s pictures on so-
cial media. We’re always together
digitally—over two billion people are
connected through Facebook alone.
You’d think that isolation couldn’t
exist in a small society like Iceland,
where everyone knows each other,
and everyone is in close proximity. I
still call friends that I’ve known since
I was four years old, or hang out with
friends from college to talk about
the political landscape or debate
some nonsense that was in the news.
So it was revealing to read the
stories of 97 immigrant women
who spoke out about the violence
that they have been subjected to
in Iceland. Their stories are hor-
rible. But there’s a red thread run-
ning through all of them—isolation.
Violence thrives when the victim
has nobody to talk to, and no com-
munity or support network around
them. This form of isolation leads
to the victim being at the mercy of
their tormentor. And one of the key
reasons for isolation is that Iceland,
like many other societies, is not open
enough. This is where Icelandic so-
ciety has failed. We are an insular
people, most of whom have known
everyone around us since we were
children. And so, we don’t make the
effort to give new people a chance.
As a society, we need to open
our arms to the country’s immi-
grants and welcome them not only
as neighbours, but also as friends.
The government also has a role to
play. In the UK, a Minister of Lone-
liness was recently appointed to
tackle the isolation suffered by nine
million people. If they believe that
they can take on such a huge, dif-
ficult and emotional problem, the
Icelandic government can also face
this challenge. Because we are all in
shock after reading these women’s
stories. And we need to do better.
First
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The Reykjavík Grapevine
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MAKE UP
Sigrún Sig
THE GRAPEVINE
PLAYLIST
Listen, watch &
more tracks:
gpv.is/play
2
Words:
Valur Grettisson

Find today's events
in Iceland!
Download our free
listings app - APPENING
on the Apple and
Android stores
Kira Kira - Pioneer
of Love
Electronica
experimentalist Kira
Kira returns with
a bold new single.
Characterised
by bassy blasts,
twinkling
synths, brass
instrumentation
and distant vocals,
it’s co-produced by
Hermigervill, and
acts as a fitting
introduction to
her new album,
‘Alchemy & Friends.’
Read more in our
interview on page
36. JR
Rex Pistols - Got Me
All Wrong
After a year of
lurking in Iceland’s
underground
darkwave scene,
Reykjavík-based
Canadian Rex
Pistols emerged
this December
with a memorable
sunset slot at the
Sigur Rós festival
Norður og Niður. A
highlight was this
lo-fi, catchy, gloomy
synth-pop anthem.
It’s early days, but
with hooks like this,
we’re expecting
great things. JR
Dream Wife - Hey
Heartbreaker
This UK/IS trio have
been tearing it up
in the international
media in recent
weeks as the
release of the
eponymous debut
LP draws nigh. It’s
no-messin’ party
music that veers
around the indie
zeitgeist, taking in
pop, rock, punk, and
more. With support
from NPR, and NME
comparing them to
the Yeah Yeah Yeahs,
they look set for a
dream 2018. JR
Fufanu - Tokyo
“Tokyo” is from
Fufanu’s 2016 LP
‘Sports,’ but just
now gets a video.
Effects-laden
guitars and vocals
create an aesthetic
reminiscent of
70s-retro cult
heroes Suicide, and
the monochrome
video sees the band
hanging around
together topless
like skinny rock ‘n’
roll ingenue triplets.
JR
Snorri Helgason -
Egillstaðablá
Folk-pop
troubadour Snorri
Helgason’s new
album features
ten songs woven
from Iceland’s rich
history of folklore
and mythology.
“Egillstaðablá” is
a standout track,
with picked banjo
strings dancing
under an earworm
melody that brings
to mind the earthy,
bluesy feel of the
classic Appalachian
standards. JR
Between Mountains
- Into the Dark
Up and coming
teenage stars
Between Mountains
have unveiled a
spectacular video
set in a dystopian
world where
colourful people
dance-battle with
grey-suited people.
It was shot in the
Westfjords, using
locals as actors, and
Icelandic dancers.
It’s a must see clip:
check it out at gpv.
is/music. VG
This issue's most
important tracks
Issue 02
12: Iceland's Equal Pay Law Arrives
16: The War On Media
18: Praise The Dead: Obituaries For All
28: Mammút Aim High
34: Kira Kira Pioneer
36: Snorri's Folk Tales
44: Enjoy Your Pizza
45: Slippurinn x Apotek
50: Ion Winter Adventure
We Are
In Shock