Reykjavík Grapevine - 15.06.2018, Síða 35

TRACK BY TRACK
Kira Kira -
Alchemy & Friends
Words: Kira Kira Photo: Art Bicnick
Each piece of music is an
alchemical offering; an elixir for
courage, a device for distilling
faith, a meditation on patience
or trust. If not a direct conduit
to healing, the music is an
act of friendship coiled as an
alchemical substrate, offered
with the intention of inviting
transformation on some level.
Talk To Your Hands
The opening track is an elixir for
intuition, you could say. I wrote
it for my dear friend Dustin
O’Halloran, a pianist who could
hardly move his hands for over a
year because of a spinal injury.
The cause was a mystery for a
while; another friend suggested
he ask his hands what
they needed. We’re our own best
healers, but sometimes we don’t
know the right questions. That’s
what friends are for.
Alchemy For The Heart
This was a soothing hymn for a
friend’s wounded heart. It went
through all kinds of transforma-
tions between Los Angeles and
Reykjavík. It features my beautiful
friend Sillus, and percussionists
Samuli Kosminen and Kristó.
Forsæla
This one started from an
improvised recording of Kórus,
a choir I founded three years
ago. Guitarist Daníel Friðrik spun
into that. I sang and played
harmonium, and Hermigervill
played a 300 year old viola. In
essence it has to do with holding
an open and free heart space
even when there’s no apparent
reason to do so.
Courage Walks At Night
This is built on organ recordings
I made in an old barn in Vatnsley-
suströnd. I’m dedicating it to a
great spiritual luminary I know,
writer Þórdís Björnsdóttir. She
has been an inspiration in leading
a life of integrity, going against
norms, and dissolving stagnated
energies in our human villages.
She’s a fearless transformer
of spirit; an energy I aspire to.
Logandi Úlfar
I recorded the vocals on top of
a dark orchestral soundscape in
Hermigervill’s studio at 3 AM two
summers ago. I had a dream the
night before, which felt very real
and it came through the impro-
vised lyrics fully formed. We were
mixing and producing with no
plans to do vocals, but Hermiger-
vill has a way of pressing record
before you know it and was able
to capture this.
Pioneer of Love
Hermigervill and I fell into a
trance while being filmed for a
documentary on friendship and
musical collaboration. Six hours
later, this song had emerged.
Previously we’d had one of our
deep heart to hearts about love
and how every time we fall is like
it’s the first time. Full on intense
intimacy with no discount on
absolute romance.
Call it Mystery - Alchemy
For Patience
My music family in LA, The Echo
Society, commissioned this piece.
It’s a live recording of a 15 piece
orchestra, with Eskmo and I sing-
ing. We wound up recording a
collab album, to be released later
this year.
And When You Fall, You’ll
Know You Have A Heart
I stayed overnight in Alex Somers’
old studio on Laufásvegur and
sometime in the wee hours I
improvised this to tape, and
released it as is. Now the house it
was recorded in is my home.
Alchemy For The End
Let this one be a mystery. Suffice
to say that endings are also be-
ginnings in their own way, in death
there is open space for birth and
healing to happen. Feel the feels,
all of them, and let them transform
you and your loved ones.
Music
Grab a bite at Dunkin’ Donuts. We’re open every day.
BAGELS FROM 599 ISK
Kringlan Hagasmári 9 Fitjar KEF Airport
35The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 10 — 2018
The alchemist at work
Album
Available now at:
kirakira.bandcamp.com
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