Reykjavík Grapevine - 07.12.2018, Blaðsíða 31

Music 31The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 21— 2018
Great Grief, having a laugh
T RACK BY TRACK
‘Love, Lust, and
Greed’ By Great Grief
Love yourself. Hate the world.
Words: Hannah Jane Cohen & Finnbogi Örn Einarsson
Photo: Art Bicnick
Great Grief has been playing world-
wide for five years, so calling their
newly released debut long-awaited
would be an understatement. Singer
Finnbogi Örn walks us through the
new album, track by track. by track.

Fluoxetine (Burden Me)
This song was written after someone
I had completely cut out of my life
went out of their way to make me
feel weak again. The title is from the
medication I take for my depression
and anxiety. Similar to that person, it
can be a burden.
Feeling Fine
‘Feeling Fine’ is when one accepts
they might never learn “self love.”
I am still trying to figure it out, but
I took a step in the right direction
when I learned it was okay to be
medicated. It’s not weak.

Troubled Canvas
In 2014, I found myself knocked
over and crazy about someone I
could never be with. This song is a
love song, but it goes beyond love
into the gritty reality—the chemical
reactions of affection. Me and that
person broke up so that I could go
on tour. It was probably for the best.

Escaping Reykjavík
A working title for this song was a
play on the name of a record label
that screwed us. They promised us
a record contract just to go back on
their word. We went out of our way
to get blown off, thousands of miles
from home, grinding and touring. I
almost passed out recording this
because I was channeling so much
anger and pettiness.

Pathetic
This song started as a long-winded
view on Iceland’s hookup culture,
but then someone close to me went
through the hell of being drugged
twice in a year while trying to have a
good time downtown. I beg anyone
who reads this or listens, watch out
for those around you. Make sure your
people are safe.

Inhale The Smoke
My outlaw country friend, Krummi
from Mínus, sings here. It’s about
being sick of Iceland: This isolation is
hell, this isolation is home.

The Nihilist Digest
I don’t drink. I never have. I’ve
thought of it, and I’ve envied people
who have it as a sweet release until
I’ve seen them the next day. There’s
no victory in drinking. “Wandering
mouth, this is the best night of your
life, the bottle saved you, but it is all
a fucking lie.”

Ivory (Lie)
‘Ivory (Lie)’ is about lovers who go
through hell and back, just to realize
they're not mature enough to put
the past behind them, and go back
to their vices with pills, alcohol and
meaningless sex. Beauty becomes
petty, horrid and pathetic.

God Sent
You know how we live in Iceland
and it’s great? Why, then, are we
the only European country that
gives tax money to the Church? I
despise established religion. Gunnar
í Krossinum is a piece of shit and
so is anyone monetising people’s
desperation.

Roots (Love, Lust and
Greed)
On April 29th of 2016, I tried to hang
myself. I was undiagnosed with
depression and severe anxiety and
this resulted in a manic episode. This
song is about the journey leading up
to that, and how pathetic and help-
less I felt afterwards. I still feel like
shit sometimes, but I know what’s
wrong and that’s a big part of get-
ting better.
Ludge
The curtain call. While it is obvious
we’re angry, we’re writing to the
older people of the world, the ones
responsible for messing this place
up with dated ideas. Go vegan. Fuck
the meat industry. Thanks for having
us.
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