Reykjavík Grapevine - 24.08.2018, Page 27

Cloud Nine
The Extreme Chill festival aims for the skies
Since 2010, the Icelandic electronica
community has been rallied together
by the annual Extreme Chill festival, a
multi-locational gathering of the coun-
try’s best and most beloved electronic
acts, along with very select international
names. Now on the verge of its ninth
edition, happening September 6-9 in
various locations in Reykjavík, the fes-
tival has matured into a unique, cutting
edge, finely curated event, with critically
acclaimed artists, international part-
nerships and an emphasis on a gender-
balanced program.
“With our previous festivals, it was
more like our friends were playing and
it was a big party for the Icelandic elec-
tronic scene,” says festival organizer Pan
Thorarensen, whom we caught up with
over the phone as he extreme chilled in
the Spanish sunshine. “Now it’s more
focused. More people are coming from
Scandinavia and Germany for the event
and it’s more like an artist exchange
festival, so it’s quite nice.”
Originally the brainchild of Stereo
Hypnosis — the musical project of
Pan,his father Óskar Thorarensen, and
Thorkell Atlason — the first Extreme
Chill took place in 2010 in Hellissandur,
Snæfellsnes. Over the years it has taken
place there, in Berlin, in Vík í Myrdal,
and, for the past two years, in Reykjavík.
The festival’s original location of Hellis-
sandur had been very dear to Pan, but
was unfortunately disrupted by local
law enforcement in 2015.
It’s a really unique festival and it’s
like my baby,” says Pan, undeterred from
the unfortunate incidents. “It’s a family
business, we are doing it because we love
it. It’s not about money. I don’t think it’s
that many festivals that are really doing
it from the heart. It’s quite special. I need
to keep it alive.”
The artist exchange aspect of Extreme
Chill comes from the festival now being
part of the UP NODE network, which
links a handful of underground Scan-
dinavian electronic and experimental
festivals. This partnership has proven
greatly beneficial to the diversification
of the lineup, as it allowed the organiz-
ers access to artists at the forefront of
the scene in Europe. It also gave them
opportunity to help launch Icelandic
artists abroad, such as sending artists
dj. flugvél og geimskip and Special-K to
the Turku Modern festival in Finland.
This year’s festival will take place in
Harpa Kaldalón, Gamla Bíó, Húrra and
Fríkirkjan, and will also feature meet-
ings and panels with the organizers of
other festivals in the UP NODE network,
as well as workshops conducted by Syn-
thbabes.
“I think it’s a really different program
now. I have met a lot of people now in the
street and they are just amazed because
it’s not just electronica,” says Pan. “We
have Studnitzk, he’s the best jazz player
in Germany now. Ragnhild May, she’s
more an experimental artist. It’s really
mixed and eclectic. Last year it was just
pure electronica. Now there’s also more
live bands, not just one guy with a com-
puter.”
Words:
Rex Beckett
Words:
Alexander Jean
de Fontenay
Photo:
Kolbrún Klara
Gunnarsdóttir
27
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He's chillin. We're all chillin.
Otherworldly Sounds
Berlin-based artist on experimenting with visual
art and electronic music
Kolbrún Klara Gunnarsdóttir is an
artist out of Reykjavík who currently
resides in Berlin. She is a part of the
Sweaty Records music label—previ-
ously mentioned by Electric Dreams
in issue #10. She believes she has
found her voice through experiment-
ing with visual art and music.
For more than a year, Kolbrún has
been focusing on all things visual
for the label. Most of her work—in-
cludingher videos and visuals for
label-mates Volruptus, Kosmodod
and Andartak—interweave ideas
about technology and the future with
hypnotizing electro music at vari-
ous speeds. “I like strange, uncanny
things and transcending the com-
Info:
Find Kolbrún’s
music on
soundcloud.com/
kolbrunklara and
follow up on her
day-to-day at
instagram.com/
kolbmotha.
Info:
Complete festival
info and tickets
available at www.
extremechill.org
mon definition of beauty,” she ex-
plains.
Kolbrún also plans to debut
her music on Sweaty Records, un-
der solo pseudonym Jadzia and as
part of music duo Polar Attraction,
a collaboration with Kosmodod.
“The moment I started creating art
through different mediums, I truly
found my path,” she explains. “Jad-
zia is my emotional outlet and the
visuals I make inspire the music and
vice versa.”
Her favourite part of making
music is the overwhelming feeling
of creating something out of noth-
ing. “I thoroughly enjoy the sound
design and all the otherworldly
sounds,” Kolbrún says. “Seeing an
idea fully realized—after puzzling it
together—truly satisfies me in ways
I could not have imagined.”
Living in Berlin and taking ad-
vantage of the city’s vibrant elec-
tronic music and club scene has
been enjoyable so far. “Since I moved
here I’ve been able to see my biggest
musical inspirations perform their
music live all over the city,” she says.
“A totally new and enjoyable experi-
ence for me.”
Be on the lookout for Kolbrún’s
debut EP as Jadzia in the near fu-
ture. “Polar Attraction also has a
huge collection of tracks waiting to
be released,” Kolbrún adds. Their
first track will be featured on the
upcoming Sweaty Records compila-
tion album.
Return of the Ravers
PLUR Festival 2018
August 25 - 20:00 - IÐNÓ - 2,400 ISK
If you like EDM, this should be right
up your alley. PLUR means “peace,
love, unity, respect,” and we’re
talking full-on AVICII-style glow stick
waving, cake-throwing EDM, not for
those with cheese allergies or
anyone who’s been to Berlin. The
line-up is a veritable who’s-who of
who’s-that: Sam Shards (Deep
House), BS Tempo (Electro), JHAU5
(EDM), Seth Sharp, PvckDrop &
Snitchface and more. Wait, we know
Seth Sharp and he’s great. SP
Hairy Homosexuals
Bears On Ice 2018
August 30 - September 2 - 20:00 -
Reykjavík - Various Prices
According to Wikipedia, “In male gay
culture, a bear is often a larger,
hairier man who projects an image
of rugged masculinity.” If this is you,
or what you are into, you’re in for a
treat. The Bears On Ice three-day
bonanza festival has everything:
Cocktails, day-trips, big hairy men,
“Golden Circles,” a “Top-off” party,
goodie bags, a drag show, Iceland’s
hottest Bear DJ, DJ Dramatík
alongside Bistro Boy, Haffi Haff &
more. One towel included. SP
Finnish Funny Guy
Ismo Leikola
August 28 - 20:00 - Tjarnarbíó -
3,500 ISK
According to a contest at
Hollywood’s Laugh Factory, Ismo
Leikola is “The Funniest Person In
The World.” Even his name is funny!
His website is ismo.fun—what
more do you need to know? More?
OK, he’s been on Conan O'Brien,
his most popular stand-up video
(“Ass Is The Most Difficult Word In
English”) has 63 million views, and
Tjarnarbíó is a pretty small venue,
so get your tickets in time. Jono
Duffy is the warm up. SP