Reykjavík Grapevine - apr. 2021, Side 2

First 08: JOHN GRANT!
06: Geldingadalur, The
Remix
07: Wolf Riding Hotties
11: Injustice & Art
19: Introducing RAKEL
23: Reading Too Much
Into A Helicopter
T h e R e y k j a v í k
G r a p e v i n e i s
s u r v i v i n g o n e
more month. And
what a month
to survive! The
Reykjanes penin-
sula has awak-
ened, like scientists feared, offering
Icelanders the most impressive, and
perhaps most beautiful, nature display
on earth right now. Not only is there
one active fissure, but three, and there
could even be more in the same area
within days or weeks. The volcano in
the Fagradalsfjalls volcanic system is
a game changer for the greater city
area, affecting the people nearby in
many ways. The gas pollution adds to
other complications like COVID-19,
which is still a concern, of course. But
it also brings us a lot of opportunity.
This could be the best thing that has
happened to the travel industry in
Iceland. This volcano could go on for
decades according to scientists; histor-
ically, it could go on for centuries.
The government still decided to
open up the borders on May 1st, mean-
ing that those that have been vacci-
nated or already had the virus can
travel to Iceland, no matter if they are
from within the Schengen Area or not.
Icelanders will use colour schemes for
countries when evaluating the danger
of travellers to spread the virus. Mean-
ing if your government is doing poorly
in fighting the virus, it will be labeled
red, and therefore everyone visiting
from those areas has to quarantine
unless you have a certification that you
have been vaccinated or have had the
virus before.
But, Iceland is not only about the
striking nature and volcanos. We also
have incredible artists. In our issue we
interview the cover star, John Grant, an
internationally known musician who
has been living in Iceland for almost
a decade now. John is not only an
interesting artist, but it’s shocking for
Icelanders to read about his past, his
upbringing and the incredible bigotry
and spectrum of violence that he had to
endure for just being who he is. It’s even
more interesting to read about how he
deals with this, not only through his
art, but also his courageous dauntless-
ness. It reminds one of how important
individual freedom is, and the right for
each and everyone to have their right
to exist in the world. And for us at the
Reykjavík Grapevine, we will fight for
those rights as long as we exist.
The fear of those who are different
will never go away. Sadly so. Fortu-
nately, John Grant found his voice in
music, sharing his incredible mind.
More beauty, less bigotry. It's as simple
as that.

Valur Grettisson
Editor-in-chief
More Beauty,
Less Bigotry
John Pearson is a Rey-
kjavík resident who
combines writing with
professional back-
grounds in music,
broadcasting, scuba
diving, engineering
and underwater
photography. He loves
puns, alliteration and
lists that have three
things in them.
Hannah Jane Cohen is
based out of Iceland
by way of New York.
She's known for her
love of Willa Ford,
David Foster Wallace,
and other such
"intellectuals." Her
visionary work is
known for expand-
ing the definitions of
emotion, introspec-
tion, and above all
else, taste. Hannah is
also the current Drag
King of Iceland, HANS.
Poll! is a hard-work-
ing journalist by day
and an enthusiastic
ball-catcher by
night. A four-year-old
dachshund mix with
an IQ of a five-year-
old human, Poll! has
been the o"cial
Chief Of Morale at
the Grapevine for
eight months and is
a regular contribu-
tor to the Grape-
vine Newscast on
YouTube. Woof.
Sveinbjörn Pálsson
is our Art Director.
He's responsible for
the design of the
magazine and the
cover photography.
When he's not work-
ing here, he DJs as
Terrordisco, hosts
the Funk#átturinn
radio show, or sits at
a table in a Laugarda-
lur café, drinking
copious amounts of
co$ee and thinking
about fonts.
Catharine Fulton is a
writer and editor who
has been involved
with the Grapevine
for many years, from
being our online
news editor to sta$
journalist. She is
now our beloved
copywriter. Outside
of dealing with our
writers turning in
work late, she also
has two extremeley
cute kids.
Art Bicnick is an
international man
of mystery. He
moves like a shadow
through the subcul-
tures and soirees
of Reykjavík, never
still, o%en ghosting
the scene in a pu$
of blue smoke—the
exhaust fumes of the
elusive, well-travelled
Bicnick Mini.
Andie Sophia Fontaine
has lived in Iceland
since 1999 and has
been reporting since
2003. They were the
first foreign-born
member of the
Icelandic Parliament,
an experience they
recommend for
anyone who wants
to experience a
workplace where
colleagues work tire-
lessly to undermine
each other.
Owen Tyrie is a young
journo straight out of
Cheshire, England. Af-
ter studying journal-
ism for three years
in Leeds, he recently
moved to Reykjavík
in order to pursue his
dream of becom-
ing Icelandic. He’s a
film fanatic, gaming
enthusiast and most
of all, ginger. Oh, and
he loves tea.
Valur Grettisson is
an award-winning
journalist, author
and playwright. He
has been writing for
Icelandic media since
2005. He was also a
theatre critic and
one of the hosts of
the cultural program,
'Djöflaeyjan' at RÚV.
Valur is not to be
confused with the
dreadful football club
that bears the same
name.
31: A Hot & Steamy Visit
28: Austurlands Speaks
27: We Hate Sagas! We
Want Fantasy Novels!
COVER ART:
Photographer:
Hör"ur Sveinsson
Stylist:
Edda Gu"mundsdóttir
Make Up:
Ísak Freyr Helgason
Assistant:
Ólafur Magnússon
Set design:
Unnar Ari Baldvinsson
Hör&ur Sveinsson, a long
time collaborator with
The Reykjavík Grapevine,
met John Grant in a
studio and took the
photo with the help of
UV light.
EDITORIAL
ARTISAN BAKERY
& COFFEE HOUSE
OPEN EVERYDAY 6.30 - 21.00
LAUGAVEGUR 36 · 101 REYKJAVIK