Reykjavík Grapevine - 21.06.2019, Page 40

Punk, Poetry
And Pärt
How does one become Úlfur Eldjárn?
Úlfur Eldjárn is an artist, composer and
performer who first came to prominence
as part of the Apparat Organ Quartet.
He’s a creative musician who’s always do-
ing interesting things, whether it’s ex-
perimental live performances, remixes,
film soundtracks, or his ambitious ‘Aris-
tókrasia Project.’ These are some of the
influences that make Úlfur the artist he is
today.
Megas
The poet laureate and, at the same time,
enfant terrible of the Icelandic music
scene. I used to listen to his records as
a child, with my parents’ coconut head-
phones on my head, while reading the
lyrics from the sleeve to decipher his
famously difficult articulation—which
contributed in large part to his image
as a drunk and disorderly intellectual
outsider. Megas is like Dylan, Cohen
and Gainsbourg mixed together, only
better. His lyrics are full of funny, sa-
tirical and diabolical historical and
cultural references. What I love most,
though, is his songwriting style. Me-
gas created the first Icelandic punk
song, but also penned one of the most
beloved love songs, still performed at
every other wedding ceremony in Ice-
land. A childhood dream came true
for me when I got to perform with him
and his band at Iceland Airwaves 2017.
Arvo Pärt
I think that Arvo Pärt is the greatest liv-
ing composer and greatest composer of
our times. I’ve had a deep personal rela-
tionship with his music. Listening to the
‘Alina’ album or the work “Fratres” in
solitude never fails to bring tears to my
eyes. His minimal yet spiritual approach
to music is a reminder that the biggest
emotions are sometimes only aroused by
the smallest gestures. His music seems
to have a power beyond our understand-
ing—a cathartic, cleansing quality.
Kraftwerk
I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m a
Kraftwerk fanboy—and I think everyone
should be, as most of the pop music we
hear today wouldn’t sound the same had
it not been for their pioneering work
at Kling Klang Studio in Düsseldorf.
Practically the whole category of elec-
tronic pop music is derived from their
sound, be it techno, industrial, deep
house, or vocodered rap vocals. I think
the influence of ‘Ralf and Florian’ on
pop music is second only to Elvis, and
maybe the Beatles. Kraftwerk came up
with the aesthetic concept of robotic,
mechanical techno pop, but the real
quality lies in the fact that, beneath the
surface, their music is “human after
all.” They create beautiful, simple melo-
dies, and there’s a surprisingly space
for improvisation in their live shows.
Plantasia by Mort Garson
One of my all time favourite albums. List-
ed here as it’s recently become available
on Spotify. I highly recommend playing
this music on speakers for your plants.
It has been proven to encourage growth
and happiness. Also works for humans.

Finnbogi Pétursson
My favourite visual artist, although his
art has just as much to do with music
and science. As with Arvo Pärt, his ge-
nius lies in using extremely simple but
powerful motives to make big emotional
statements. He creates (sometimes)
large-scale installations where he ex-
ploits the physical powers of sound, light
and physics to create spectacles for the
eyes, mind, ears and lower abdomen.
Rokk í Reykjavík
‘Rock in Reykjavík’ is the famous docu-
mentary about the Icelandic post-punk
and new-wave scene in the early ‘80s.
It features such important bands as
Purrkur Pillnikk, Þeyr, Egó, Fræb-
blarnir, Grýlurnar, Tappi Tíkarrass
(fronted by a very young Björk) and Bruni
B.B. Two scenes from the film sparked
so much controversy that they were later
edited out of the movie. This film is still
(I think) a necessary primer for teenag-
ers who feel the need to rebel against
something and start their own band.

My Father’s Books
My father, Þórarinn Eldjárn, is a writer
and has always been a big influence on
me. He’s released tons of poems, histori-
cal novels and brilliant tongue-in-cheek
short stories. He’s also written quite a
few books of poetry for children, or as he
puts it himself, “for grown-up children
and childish grown-ups”. He’s taught
me, both through life and his works, that
the best ideas are usually to be found
in the most mundane things, and that
humour and language can be an end-
less source of discoveries and ideas.
40The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 10— 2019Making Of An Artist
Composer &
Musician
Find out more
about Úlfur’s work
at ulfureldjarn.
com.
Words:
Úlfur Eldjárn &
John Rogers
Photo:
Art Bicnick
I always wanted you to go, into space, man
“I think Kraft-
werk’s influence
on pop music is
second only to
Elvis... and maybe
the Beatles.”
The House at Eyrarbakki
Opening hours:
May 1st - September 30th
daily 11.00-18.00
or by an agreement
Tel: +354 483 1504 & +354 483 1082
info@byggdasafn.is
byggdasafn.is
Árnessýsla Heritage Museum is located in Húsið, the House,
historical home of the Danish merchants built in 1765. Húsið
is one of the oldest houses in Iceland and a beautiful monu-
ment of Eyrarbakki´s time as the biggest trading place on
the south coast.
Today one can enjoy exhibitions about the story and culture of
the region, famous piano, shawl made out of human hair and
the kings pot, are among items. Húsið prides itself with warm
and homelike atmosphere.