Category Archives: Iceland Airwaves

Live Video: Of Monsters and Men at Iceland Airwaves ’12

By Jim Beckmann | Published: December 5, 2012

The idea was to recreate the session that started it all. Back in 2010, we filmed Of Monsters and Men in their living room as they were rehearsing for a gig during Iceland Airwaves that year. It was a special moment, for sure, but at the time none of us could predict the outcome orRead more...

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Live Video: Tilbury at KEX Hostel

By Jim Beckmann | Published: December 2, 2012

It’s hard to call any Iceland band a “supergroup,” since it’s standard practice for musicians there to juggle any number of projects, but the members of Tilbury come with a high pedigree, hailing from current groups like Sin Fang, Amiina, Hjaltalín, and Valdimar. Unlike those other bands, Tilbury, like the name of the band itself,Read more...

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Live Video: Ghostigital at KEX Hostel

By Jim Beckmann | Published: November 30, 2012

Want to learn a little bit about politics and culture in Iceland? Just look to Einar Örn. The former member of The Sugarcubes, and a venerated godfather of Icelandic punk through early 80′s bands Purrkur Pillnikk and KUKL, was recently elected to Reykjavik’s city council. And yet, whatever respectability might come with, or be expectedRead more...

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Live Video: Sólstafir at KEX Hostel

By Jim Beckmann | Published: November 29, 2012

It might surprise listeners that Iceland isn’t chock full of death metal bands like some other Nordic nations. The small music-loving community needs only so much Cookie Monster-esque guttural growling, after all, and so the heavier sounding bands tend to explore other regions. Icelandic group Sólstafir, for instance, seem to travel vast aural distances, acrossRead more...

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Song of the Day: Borko - Two Lights

By Jim Beckmann | Published: November 29, 2012

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s selection, featured on the Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, is “Two Lights” by Borko fromRead more...

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Live Video: My bubba & Mi at KEX Hostel

By Jim Beckmann | Published: November 28, 2012

On one of the videos we posted for Icelandic reggae band Ojba Rasta, someone wrote, “What’s next, Icelandic bluegrass?” Well... yes. Sort of. Copenhagen based duo My bubba & Mi is at its core two young women -- My, from Sweden, and Bubba, from Iceland -- whose music hails more from the Appalachian mountains thanRead more...

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Live Video: FM Belfast at KEX Hostel

By Jim Beckmann | Published: November 27, 2012

The last thing you want to see at Iceland Airwaves is FM Belfast. Literally. The Icelandic group usually blows out the festival with an outrageous dance riot on the final night, and no matter how large the room, it’s always packed shoulder to shoulder with bouncing bodies. And you thought they might pair it downRead more...

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Live Video: Ojba Rasta at KEX Hostel

By Jim Beckmann | Published: November 26, 2012

Rocksteady riddims from Reykjavik! Icelandic irie! We could go on, but the novelty of Icelandic reggae wears off as soon as Ojba Rasta’s grooves begin. We featured young, 11-member Icelandic band recently as a Song of the Day podcast and then live on air during KEXP’s broadcast from Iceland Airwaves ’12. Their appeal, though, isRead more...

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Live Video: Ólafur Arnalds at KEX Hostel

By Jim Beckmann | Published: November 23, 2012

On listening to the gentle touch and swelling beauty of songs like “Ljósið”, it’s hard to imagine that Ólafur Arnalds‘s roots are in hardcore and metal. The 26-year old Icelandic composer, producer, and performer has earned international acclaim with his “new classical” compositions, which tap directly into the indie music fans who seem less likelyRead more...

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Live Video: Retro Stefson at KEX Hostel

By Jim Beckmann | Published: November 21, 2012

As if broadcasting 15 bands live on air during our broadcast from Iceland Airwaves wasn’t enough, we couldn’t help ourselves from recording as much local music as possible -- there are just too many great bands on that small island nation! Throughout the week, we found ourselves invading bands’ practice spaces, studios, and even theirRead more...

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