Reykjavík Grapevine - jan. 2022, Blaðsíða 2

First 06: Volcano's Return?
06: Slut shaming
07: Here Comes The Sól
23: Pick a card!
24: Axel Flóvent
26: Eruption Photo
Books
It’s that time of the year: The Reykjavík Grapevine Music
Awards are in the house. After a harsh debate, a brutal fallout
between members of the panel and a serious threat of full-
blown cultural war, we have come to the conclusion that there
was just far too much excellent music coming out of Iceland
this year to keep things civil—a reality reflected in the final
list of award recipients. For example, we have two Albums of
the Year. And those two are perhaps the most revealing when
it comes to the past year in music.
On one hand, we have the darkness of sóley’s ‘Mother
Melancholia’, which reflects the sombre vibe of another COVID
year. On the other hand, there’s the light and emotional pop
of kef LAVÍK. That same brightness is delivered by the young-
sters in Inspector Spacetime—our Artist of the Year—who
encourage listeners to dance and bounce. Simple as that. The
band has been like a beacon of fun, even in the heaviness of
the pandemic. And that is no small feat.
Unintentionally we have established a battle between light
and darkness in our award and we are left with the question:
where do we want to go from here when it comes not only to
music but art in general?
While amazing music continues to be produced, musicians’
earnings have dropped by a staggering 87% since the start of
the pandemic. One doesn’t have to have a PhD in anything to
realise that this could dramatically change the industry in the
coming years. There are many obstacles musicians have faced
through the pandemic, but artists have risen through it all to
provide sustenance for our pandemic-beaten souls.
Music is not only important for human beings, it’s vital. It
reflects us, the times in which we live, and the world around
us. We would all do better to remember this simple truth. We
hope that we are seeing the end of the pandemic and that the
world can unite once again on the dancefloor, singing and
bouncing, or going on soul-changing introspective journeys
with musicians like sóley.
We hope you like our decision; if not, you can always check
our honourable mentions in each category. And if you still feel
raw about it, we’ll be waiting.
Happy New Year to all of you.
Valur Grettisson
Editor-in-chief
28: A Fine Edition
30: 2022 In The Stars
31: Fisherman Poets of
Skagaströnd
COVER ART:
Photo: Magnús Andersen
Photo assistant: Nína
Solveig Andersen
sóley, winner of Album Of
The Year in the Reykjavík
Grapevine Awards 2022,
in an grahic nod to her
amazing track "Sunrise
Skulls"
Special thanks:
Ívar Trausti Jósafatsson,
Kolaporti!
Marhallhúsi!
Photo for BSI montage:
Ugla Hauksdóttir
Photo of Ármann for kef
LAVÍK montage:
Hlynur Hallgrímsson
EDITORIAL
Light And Darkness
John Pearson, the
Grapevine's culture
editor, is a Reykjavík
resident with profes-
sional backgrounds
in live music events,
broadcasting, scuba
diving, journalism, en-
gineering and under-
water photography.
We suspect that he
just likes to collect job
titles. He is a big fan of
puns, alliteration and
lists that have three
things in them.
Art Bicnick, the
Grapevine's video
magician and pho-
tographer, is himself
unphotographable.
This is due to the
fact that he consists
mainly of stardust; a
handy characteristic
that enables him to
float smoothly across
rocky volcanic ter-
rain, and through
apparently solid
objects.
Poll" is a hard-work-
ing journalist by day
and an enthusiastic
ball-catcher by
night. A five-year-old
dachshund mix with
an IQ of a five-year-
old human, Poll! is
Chief Morale O"cer
at the Grapevine, and
a regular contribu-
tor to the Grapevine
Newscast on You-
Tube. Woof!
Josie Gaitens, journal-
ist and YouTube
Content Coordinator,
is also an arts worker,
musician and writer
from the Scottish
Highlands. She was
once erroneously
referred to as the
Queen of Scotland
by a Malaysian news-
paper and has been
falsely using that
title ever since.
Catharine Fulton is a
writer who has been
involved with the
Grapevine for many
years—possibly too
many—serving as
journalist, food edi-
tor and news editor
before settling on
copy editor. When not
wielding her red pen
she's o#en found
opining on Canadian
politics (profession-
ally), and bitching
about Icelandic
politics (for fun).
Shuruthi Basappa is
one of Iceland's most
knowledgeable food-
ies. She's covered
local restaurants for
years and has also
been involved in vari-
ous food competi-
tions in Iceland, such
as Food & Fun and
more. By day, she
works as an architect
at Sei Studio.
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.
Reetta Huhta is a
Finnish student who
moved to Iceland
to become an au
pair, and decided
to never fully leave
the country. She
aspires to become a
journalist, and what
would be a better
place to start than
Grapevine? You can
probably spot her at
Ka" Vest, where she
spends most of her
free time.
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' on RÚV.
Valur is not to be
confused with the
dreadful football club
that bears the same
name.
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