Blik – A moment in time, by Árstíðir
“If you've ever longed for the combination of Sigur Rós and Radiohead combined-listen no further” /Jer@SBS, Sleepingbagstudios.ca
New Beginnings
Newly signed to the Dutch/American label M.A.R.S.Worldwide, and with the pending release of their crowning achievement BLIK about to explode onto the soundwaves, the eclectic indie outfit from Iceland is bracing to make another splash onto the international arena in 2023.
Volcanic Eruptions
Árstíðir leaped onto the international arena in 2010 as clouds of ash from the Eyljafjallajökull volcano spread across Europe making Iceland the talk of the day. Having spawned two #1 hit singles in Iceland, the eclectic trio formed two years earlier in Reykjavík now embarked on a relentless touring excursion spanning Siberia to San Diego, Zagreb to Svalbard, while at the same time going viral with an 800-year-old hymn performed impromptu at a train station and gathering a cult-like following by devoted fans that have crowdfunded half of the band's 8 albums strong discography.
The bedrock of Árstíðir's music is the chemistry between members, Daníel, Gunnar & Ragnar and their shared passion for vocal harmonies. At the core, the songs are pop music with gripping choruses, robed in suave and sometimes surprising arrangements. Never afraid to experiment the band has collaborated with the likes ofÓlafur Arnaldsas well as creating two collaborative albumswithIceland's premier songwriting legendMagnús Þór Sigmundsson & their loved touring partner of yore Anneke Van Giersbergen. Before temporarily stepping off the touring trail on account of some pandemic, a panel consisting ofTow Waits, Robert Smith (The Cure), and Beth Gibbons (Portishead) crowned the band's albumNivalis'Indie album of the year at the Independent Music Awards in 2019. The pandemic saw the trio write and record more than 30 new songs generating the two sister albumsPendúll&Blik.The latter, due to be released in March of 2023, constitutes their most commercial production to date with songs commanding the listeners to finish their Gin & Tonic and brave the dance floor.
Discography
Árstíðir (2009)
Svefns og vöku skil (2011)
Tvíeind,EP (2012)
Hvel(2015)
Verloren Verleden( 2016)–collaboration with Anneke Van Giersbergen
Garðurinn minn (2018)–collaboration with Magnús Þór Sigmundsson
Nivalis (2018)
Pendúll (2021)
Blik (due March 2023)
Awards:
Eiserner Eversteiner Folk Music Awards, 2012
Album of the year, Independent Music Awards (IMA), 2019
Music video of the year, Independent Music Awards (IMA), 2020
Acoustic song of the year, International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA) 2021
Song of the year, The John Lennon Songwriting Competition (2021)
