Reykjavík Grapevine - 18.05.2018, Qupperneq 34

Too Blessed To
Stay Stressed
Sólveig Matthildur talks Japan, releases, tours,
and Robert Smith

Words: Rex Beckett Photo: Kinnat Sóley
Concert
Sólveig Matthildur plays at
Gaukurinn on May 30th, Entry 2,000
ISK
In the short time since branching
out her solo music career, Sólveig
Matthildur has caused tidal waves
through Reykjavík’s—and indeed
the world’s—underground music
scene. Having rapidly self-released
her first album “Unexplained Mis-
eries & the Acceptance of Sorrow”
last year to critical awe, she quick-
ly scooped up
awards (includ-
ing the Grape-
vine’s own “You
S h o u l d H a v e
H e a r d T h i s ”
award), grants,
and offers left
and right. Now
freshly relocated
to Leipzig from
Berlin, Sólveig is
contending with
a hectic schedule
comprising of
both her own endeavours and those
of her band, Kælan Mikla.
“I am so busy, I have so much to
do,” she says, speaking over Skype
from a café in her new hometown.
“We just got here on May first, after
looking for an apartment in Berlin
for three months. Suddenly we re-
alised we would be homeless in two
days and just decided to try looking
in Leipzig.”
Big in Japan
The move came right on the heels
of her return from an extensive,
month-long tour of Japan with The
Last King of Poland. “He had lived
in Japan a couple of years ago and
we’ve played
a couple of
times togeth-
er in Berlin,
so he asked
if I wanted to
go tour Japan
w ith him,”
Sólveig ex-
plains. “The
head of 2670,
the Japanese
record label
that released
Kælan Mikla
and my album, organised some of
the gigs and then we just booked the
rest on our own.”
This mix of bookings brought
Sólveig to play a huge spectrum of
venues around the country, from
swanky mid-size bars in Tokyo to
basement shows with computer
speakers for monitors and three
people in attendance. “Japan was
super weird because it was pretty
DIY but it was fun,” she says. “Even
when I was playing that weird base-
ment show I was just laughing.”
While in Japan she also released the
“Stressed And Depressed” official
tour soundtrack with 2670.
Self-reliant and
resourceful
Indeed, Sólveig’s infectious good
nature and proclivity towards
self-reliance have propelled her on
the path she is beating now. Hav-
ing launched her own label, zine
and music festival—Hið Myrka
Man, Myrkfælni and Myrkramakt,
respectively—she is no stranger to
being resourceful and maintaining
an overachieving schedule. Now she
is on the heels of two solo releases,
namely the vinyl release of her de-
but album via Artoffact records, and
the “Affliction/Absolution” 7” on the
new label åtåmåtån.
On top of her own releases, she is
currently home in Iceland recording
an album with Kælan Mikla, who
are about to open for Placebo at the
Robert Smith-curated Meltdown
Festival. “The funny thing is that
he just personally sent the band an
email like, “Hello, would you like
to do this,” she laughs with glee. “I
know it’s going to be big but I’m not
sure if I am ready. I don’t feel like
anything is happening but it’s like
the eye of a storm. I’m just looking
at everything blowing around and I
don’t know what to do.”
Music
Self made records, self made signs
“I don’t feel like
anything is hap-
pening, but it’s like
the eye of a storm.
I’m just looking at
everything blowing
around.”
Closed Mondays.
Marshallhúsið, Grandagarður 20, 101 Reykjavík.
Bus route 14 (Listabraut)
To reserve lunch and dinner call +354 519 7766, or
info@marshallrestaurant.is, marshallrestaurant.is
SALKA VALKA
FISH & MORE
SkólavörDustígur 23 • 101 reykjavík
Steamed Fresh Fish, Traditional Icelandic Fish ‘Stew’, Fish & Vegan Soups,
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