Atlantica - 01.09.2000, Page 14

QA&
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Q. Which Icelandic musicians/designers are you representing
and in what capacity?
A. I am managing Sigur Rós and Hafdís Huld, and also doing
press for Svo (fashion designer Linda Árnadóttir’s label) and
the Reykjavík Music Festival.
Q. When was Best Est. established and what was your first big
job?
A. I started Best Est. a year ago, as a solo venture out of the
ashes of my previous PR partnership Savage & Best. Quite a
few of the acts that I had represented before stayed with me,
so I already had Pulp and a handful of others.
The idea was to be able to do stuff that fell outside the
traditional idea of what a music PR company ought to look
after; to be able to do anything in any medium – so long as we
liked it.
Since then we have organised multi-media parties, repre-
sented books, a whole slew of disparate fashion labels, put on
art exhibitions, launched websites and A&R’s Jean Michel
Jarre’s remixes! Basically we'll get involved with anything in
any medium, so long as we’re into it.
Q. When did you first visit Iceland?
A. I first came to Iceland as press agent to Móa (who was
signed to Tommy Boy) with a collection of journalists from The
Face, NME, Melody Maker and Attitude. We went to the
Reykjavík Pop Festival, Geysir, the Blue Lagoon, Thingvellir
and basically had a great time.
I came back a few weeks later with Esquire and went to
Gullfoss to do some photos, thus completing my infatuation
with the place.
Q. Can you give us an overview of what Best Est. is up to at
the moment?
A. I run the record label, Kahuna Cuts, with DJs Dan & Jon
Kahuna who host the weekly Headstart club and are renowned
remixers. Our second compilation “Big Kahuna Kicks Two”
will be released in July. Also, new albums have been finished
from Fuselage and Kilo, with two more almost ready from FC
Kahuna and Language Lab.
On the management side, I have started a new company (as
yet unnamed) with Dean O’Connor (ex-Eye Q Records) to
handle my time with Sigur Rós, Hafdís Huld, Chris Helme (ex-
Seahorses) and Eileen Rose (signed to Rough Trade Records).
airmail
Q. Will you name some of the artists/bands you are represent-
ing in the UK?
A. We’re doing the new Jimi Tenor album, “Out Of Nowhere”,
for Warp Records; planning the forthcoming Pulp album and live
shows; and looking after the official web sponsor of the
Glastonbury Festival – PlayLouder.com. Then there’s also UK
hip-hop outfit Unsung Heroes; a DJ Sneak record called
“Kingsize”; a cabaret evening under the name Loop featuring LA
hip-hoppers People Under The Stairs, comedians, poets, elec-
tronic art and scratching from DJ Vadim. We’re also doing half-
a-dozen fashion labels.
Q. Why are you particularly interested in working with Icelandic
musicians and designers?
A. I’m not, per se. I’m interested in working with creative
people who make me feel excited whether they’re from
Reykjavík or Wrexham.
Q. What’s your favourite bar/restaurant in Iceland?
A. I always end up at Kaffi Thomsen, having a good time in the
early hours, so I guess it would have to be there. I really love that
old style Scandinavian fish restaurant near the main square, Vid
Tjörnina. And Svarta Kaffid on Laugavegur, where you can get
soup in a loaf!
Q. When do you think we will be likely to hear some of Hafdís
Huld’s new material?
A. Hafdís has written loads of songs and she will be coming to
the UK in July to start work on them. Lots of people (myself
included) are very excited about Hafdís and we’ve had no end of
offers from musicians and producers wanting to work with her.
Q. Have you had the opportunity to travel in Iceland? If so,
which place has left the strongest impression, and why?
A. The best place I went to was Búdir up near Snæfellsjökull. I
went there the first time I came to Iceland. It was completely
beautiful weather, and there, between the beach, the lava field
and the glacier in the midnight sun, it seemed like the most mag-
ical place you could imagine. I ate guillemot and catfish, and
played football in the churchyard – England v. Iceland, with
Damon Albarn on our team. Even the fact we got thrashed 7–1
didn’t matter, especially when we found out Iceland had a cou-
ple of professionals on their side.
Jennifer McCormack is a freelance writer living in Reykjavík.
Northern Exposure in the Best of Hands
London-based media venture Best Est. comprises a management
company and record label, and covers press and PR for a wide variety of
artists, musicians and designers internationally, including a selection of
Iceland’s export talent. Founder and main man, tells
Jennifer McCormack a bit about the company and it’s Icelandic connection.
John Best
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