Reykjavík Grapevine - aug 2020, Qupperneq 8

Words:
Andie Sophia
Fontaine
Photo:
James Doyle
Penrose
If I#unn were alive today, she would be
an Instagram influencer. This goddess
was associated with youth and apples,
as was her husband Bragi, making
them the kind of power couple whose
stories you would follow religiously for
tips on how to defy ageing.
So crucial was I#unn, in fact, that
when a giant named !jassi kidnapped
her, all of the gods began to turn old
and whither. This could not be allowed
to happen, and so Loki (who was, not
surprisingly, partially responsible for
I#unn’s kidnapping) set off on a daring
mission to return her to the home of
the gods, Ásgar#r. He succeeded, but
!jassi chased after him. Tough luck
for !jassi, because when he arrived,
the gods jumped him and beat his ass
down, killing him.
I#unn’s apples, which she carried
around in an ash wood box, were regu-
larly eaten by the gods to keep them
forever young. That’s right—without
her, the gods would literally die, so she
is indeed a pretty big deal. And you can
see why the gods would murder anyone
who messes with her.
Today, I#unn is a not-uncommon
Icelandic name. It’s also the name of
an Icelandic organisation dedicated to
traditional verse (rímur). Will rhyming
keep you young? Hey, it can’t hurt. And
in lieu of eating one of I#unn’s apples,
it’s probably your next best bet.
Deities Of Iceland: I"unn
Æsir’s very own Insta!ram influencer
8 The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 06— 2020
Supersport! -
Dog Run (EP)
Just what the
summer needed: a
shiny new EP from
Reykjavík’s most
charming indie
pop group. All four
band musicians are
active members
of Post-dreifing,
an anarchic
grassroots music
collective that we
couldn’t be bigger
fans of here at
the Grapevine.
The record is jam-
packed with lo-fi
fun and wholesome
ethics. Just give it
a listen, you won’t
regret it. PA
Elín Ey - Ljósi"
Bouncy and groovy,
Elín Ey’s newest
single is quality
listening. Aside
from its good vibes,
its lyrical message
comes just in time
for Pride, with the
simple but true
hook: “I can be
myself, you can be
yourself, and they
can be themselves.”
NB
Annalísa - 00:01 (EP)
Annalísa’s first EP
is a heartfelt work
with beautiful
Icelandic vocals,
provided by a so(
yet strong voice
and accompanied
by a musical fusion
of acoustic sounds
and synths. Like
a mix between
lullabies and a
movie soundtrack.
CM
Holdgervlar -
Eiturveitur
This eerie
minimalistic track
is Holdgervlar’s first
release under the
newly launched
Myrkfælni record
label, and what a
great start! The pair
are our favourite
Icelandic post-goth
darkwave duo
(believe me there
was some sti$
competition for
the title). Check out
the music video if
you’re not a fan of
sleeping soundly. PA
Oscar Leone - Lion
With a nice beat and
a distinct summer
holiday feel, Oscar’s
third single radiates
the upli(ing yet
chill vibes of
easygoing indie
rock. In his newest
song he perfectly
balances acoustic
and electric
soundscapes and
invites listeners to
sing along. CM
Tómas Welding - Go
The Distance
Between Tómas’s
melodic tenor
vocals and
steady, rhythmic
instrumentation,
this recent hit is
both engaging
and relaxing. Its
balanced nature
and fun sound
make it an ideal
addition to a road
trip playlist. NB
GRAPEVINE
PLAYLIST
JUST SAYINGS COMIC
This one—which is interna-
tional yes, but weirdly popular in
Iceland—is a bit harsh. It’s direct
translation is “to toss the child
out with the bath water,” meaning
to sacrifice something valuable
along with all the worthless stuff.
But what everyone actually thinks
when they hear this phrase is what
the hell Mom? Did you not see me
in the tub? Mean. In Iceland, this
idiom is not often used by your
average person, but rather by frus-
trated lobbyists that just really
want attention. They yell this as
loudly as they can in order to pres-
sure Parliament into giving them
whatever it is that those greedy
fuckers want. We hope their bath
drains clog. VG
First
My apples bring all the boys to the yard
„A" fleygja
barninu
út me"
ba"vatninu“