Samaris single Viltu Vitrast released on 7th October 2013.


‘Elegant and unusual, this is a gem’ NME 8/10 
‘Imagine The xx and Little Dragon eloping to that magical forest in Lord of The Rings and you might be getting close to this record’s wonderfully paranormal aesthetic’ The Line of Best Fit 8/10 
‘Samaris specialise in gorgeous, haunting nocturnes’ Drowned In Sound
‘Samaris is superb. It’s fantastic. It’s amazing.’ The 405
‘This is an effortlessly atmospheric album that has all the arty sophistication of any great Icelandic act’ The Fly 4/5
‘An excellent forward thinking record from three talented musicians, not yet out of their teens’ Loud&Quiet  8/10
‘Mesmerisingly breathy groove from the young Icelandic combo, which should lure you to the delicious confections of their self-titled album’ Metro 

Icelandic teenage wunderkind Samaris’ first UK release comes in the shape of an eponymously-titled album on 29th July. Samaris compiles their two Icelandic-released EPs, Hljóma Þú (2011) and Stofnar falla (recorded at Sigur Rós’ Sundlaugin studio with Gunnar Tynes of múm, 2012.

Combining disparate elements of electronics (Þórður Kári Steinþórsson), clarinet (Áslaug Rún Magnúsdóttir) and Jófríður Ákadóttir’s haunting voice, Samaris mix glacial electronica and bold, percussive beats with haunting chant-like vocals - the lyrics culled from nineteenth century Icelandic poems. Viltu Vitrast for example retells an Icelandic folk tale about villages who ask for help from a supernal being, but worry it will choose not to manifest its power on Earth. The effect is simultaneously ancient and modern – an ethereal sound filled with dark spaces and alien atmosphere. 

Formed in 2011 in Reykjavik, within months Samaris had won both the Icelandic Músíktilraunir (past winners include the likes of Of Monsters and Men) and Kraumur Award. The band’s show at Iceland Airwaves in 2012, attracted the attention of Line Of Best Fit, Drowned In Sound and NPR amongst many others. Singer Jófríður also performs with her sister Ásthildur in the more folk-inclined Pascal Pinion.
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Order new album ‘Silkidrangar’ now!
iTunes: smarturl.it/Samaris-Silkidrangar
CD/Vinyl: bit.ly/skdr-oli

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Samaris - Viltu Vitrast

Felix Laband - Whistling In Tongues

Portico Quartet - Line

The song tells the story of a fleeting encounter that leaves a lasting impact. It explores themes of obsession, mystery, and the emotional aftermath of meeting someone who enters your life briefly but changes everything. It’s about the tension between desire and loss, and the haunting feeling of something unfinished.

Velvet Skirt & Cherry Wine

The Cinematic Orchestra - Burn Out

Art in the Age of Automation

Endless

Vocals, Lyrics-  Ola Szmidt
Recording and Mixing- Ola Szmidt
Mastering -  Kieran Hebden
July, 2017

Wrapped

04 Wrapped

Illumina (Radio Edit)

Haku

B.Fleischmann - Composure

Taken from the forthcoming album 'Memory Streams'. Gondwana Records 2019.

Memory Streams

Signals in the Dusk

OLA SZMIDT  is a  singer-songwriter, producer and sound therapist based in the UK.  Steve Reid Award winner, funded by PRSF and has been mentored by Four Tet.