Atlantica - 01.03.2004, Síða 44

How has your life changed since win-
ning Iceland’s Idol contest?
My singing career has changed a lot. I now
have the opportunity to maybe one day live off
my music. But I’ve tried not to let all the public-
ity change me too much.
Now that you have won the contest,
what are your plans?
I want to use this big jump to make a career for
myself that will keep on going long after the
next Idol star has won.
Why do you think Icelandic Idol, and
the Idol contests, are so successful
worldwide?
Because the people on the show are just
ordinary people. They work in stores, in
bakeries, or they’re fishermen, like
myself. People at home like to see
people like themselves on TV.
What advice do you have
for the next batch of
Idol contestants?
Don’t be someone you
think others want you
to be. Just be your-
self.
What Icelandic
singer do you
idolise, and why?
Páll Rósinkrans from Jet
Black Joe. He can sing
everything from heavy metal to
lullabies. He has a fantastic
voice and stage presence. I actu-
ally got the chance to sing with him.
It was an amazing experience.
You come from the small fishing village
of Grindavík. It’s a Saturday night,
where are you headed?
To a bar called Kaktus. It’s a local pub with
great food. There’s always something happen-
ing there. When there’s live music, sometimes
180 people show up.
If friends from abroad visited Iceland
for the first time, to which three places
would you take them?
I’d take them to the Blue Lagoon. It’s a natural
gem. If it was winter, I’d also take them to
Bláfjöll, skiing. There are no trees, so there’s
lots of space to ski. Then I’d take them on a
jeep safari in the highlands. We’d drive up to
the glaciers and go snowmobiling. That’s
something everybody must try.
What is your dream vacation?
I’d go with my wife and kids to a little island
with no phone, no radio, no TV – just the sun
and some coconuts. And, of course, a nice
hotel to sleep in.
Why has Iceland become such a popu-
lar tourist destination?
Iceland is a very pristine country. We have a
lot of open space. You can drink the water right
out of the tap. And we have beautiful moun-
tains and waterfalls. It’s a country that’s both
rugged and beautiful. Coming to Iceland is an
adventure.
Finish this sentence: One thing that would
make Iceland a better place is ….
Lower taxes.
Compiled by Edward Weinman.
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42 A T L A N T I C AL I Q&A
The Atlantica
INQUISITION
Having won Iceland’s Idol contest, Kalli Bjarni has gone
from a small-town fisherman to a celebrity with a
burgeoning music career. Kalli Bjarni sits down with
Atlantica magazine.
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