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

Buy Samaris on iTunes

Samaris - Viltu Vitrast

"I Will Run" is the 1st single from Sometime's 3rd album.

The song was used in the fashion film "Sei Bereit III"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEXDFBsri6w

I Will Run

There are strange forces at work, lurking underneath the shiny, impeccable surface of this place: Looming behind all those perfect little fence posts and neighborly smiles, there's a sense of isolation, of emptiness, a hint of claustrophobia, that fear of being in the wrong place, too far removed from where things are really happening. It's true: darkness has fallen upon suburbia. Welcome to the unadorned world of Innhverfi.

Using a play on the Icelandic words for "suburbs" and "introvert" for its title, Innhverfi is the debut solo album from Sigur Rós' and Jónsi's touring keyboard player/percussionist Óbó – in his passport it says Ólafur Björn Ólafsson –, and although comprised of no more than 7 compositions, it does run the gamut of suburban bliss turned upside down: After the LP's minimalistic opener "Úthverfi", a track that melancholically opens up after a long, immensely dark and brooding intro, that ultimately offers some respite in the form of playful Glockenspiel over layers of slow-moving sonic lava, the equally cinematic "Svartur galdur" leaves much room for Óbó's trademark baritone: Like a bespectacled puppeteer with fluffy hair, he seems to shuffle and rearrange home-recorded bits and lullaby-like DIY pieces in front of our very eyes, which can't help but follow, as we move deeper into the somewhat forlorn suburban landscape that has inspired this record. Imagine dark, wet streets, overcast little alleys, and suddenly a cat or a candle on a windowsill, breathing slowly.

Elsewhere, "Gjallarhornin" – all spoken words, piano, strings, vibraphone, rearranged like a whirlwind in slow-motion – makes way for a hopeful oomph deferred and silent-movie era melodies, while "Stilla", an instrumental, commences like early Efterklang, but there's no gaudiness on the horizon: When the subtle electronics and percussions erupt in the end, it all feels just right – if only for a brief moment. Finally, the subdued birdsong and jazz-inspired piano of "Fyrirbo∂i" underline that Ólafsson has worked on motion picture soundtracks in the past – e.g. The Good Heart, Steypa –, and before it all ends, he even throws in a foot-stompin' alt-pop song of sorts ("Rétt e∂a rangt?"). The last stop of this journey into the haunting underbelly of the suburban mind is "Gullregn": A creaking door that opens to unveil his own garden of forking paths, a place where one can still decide, shake things up, jump the fence and run, leave before it's too late. It's pure possibility, presented in a golden light.

Although Innhverfi is his debut effort as a solo artist, Óbó's musical handwriting has been all over the Icelandic map in recent years: A multi-instrumentalist and a wizard on percussions, he studied piano and later composition in various European cities and has performed and recorded with artists such as Sigur Rós, Jónsi, Emiliana Torrini, Stórsveit Nix Noltes, slowblow, Benni Hemm Hemm, múm, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Úlfur Hansson and Valgeir Sigur∂sson, to name a few.

Though few will be able to understand the lyrics in his native Icelandic, one thing is certain: Innhverfi is the very antidote to the affliction and troubles it sketches out. Turns out we've been in the right place all along.

Buy On Itunes

Óbó: Rett Eda Rangt?

Taken from "Ask the deep" the new album from Sóley. Coming May 8th 2015

Referring to the silence that returns when last year’s “Krómantík” EP fades out, Sóley said, “… your closed eyes slowly start seeing something much deeper and darker,” and now that something is here, it’s right in front of us: “Ask The Deep” is a stunningly dark and deeply personal departure after the minimalist and bleak piano compositions of said EP: Relying on guts, ghost ships, and a sonic map that doesn’t show the same piano coordinates as before, her soft-sounding voice leads us deeper and deeper into the shadowy fairytale worlds only hinted at on previous releases such as her “Theater Island” EP and 2011’s much-praised “We Sink” debut album. Changing tactics to fight her inner demon with every track, “Ask The Deep” sees the bespectacled songwriter open Pandora’s box – and close it eventually. At least for now.  

Follow Sóley for updates:
www.facebook.com/soleysoleysoley
www.morrmusic.com


Buy on itunes

Sóley: Ævintýr

Vök - Before

Vök - Circles

Vök - Adrift

Radio Edit of the song Waterfall from Vök new EP, Circles

Vök - Waterfall (Radio Edit)

Vok - Waterfall

The Vintage Caravan - Let's get it on

Morr Music merges electronic and indie musical disciplines that many consider the label to have invented its own genre. It's roster is certainly a testament to this fact - the likes of Lali Puna, Múm, Isan, Seabear, Sin Fang, Sóley, It´s A Musical, Masha Qrella, Tarwater, Fm Belfast, Pascal Pinon, Butcher The Bar, Telekinesis, Opiate, Ms. John Soda, Tied & Tickled Trio, Electric President, Radical Face, The Go Find, and B.Fleischmann making for an impeccable roster. With more than 100 Albums in its catalogue, Morr Music is a label that truly has something for everyone. 


new album | 'black lights' | 10.06.16 
https://OLI.lnk.to/blacklightsSO

new single | 'wanted 2 say' | 08.04.16
https://OLI.lnk.to/wanted2saySo

contact: samarisamaris@gmail.com
mgmt: contact@pictures.management
booking: nick@primarytalent.com

Vök is a dream-pop/indie-electro band from Iceland.
Vök was formed in January 2013 to enter an annual band contest in Iceland, 'Músíktilraunir' (Music Trials).The problem? They didn't actually have any songs. Yet within a few weeks they were at the contest performing their brand new tracks. In a twist of fate (and talent) won the competition.

Vök’s sound mixes wistful electronics and melodic vocals, distant saxophones and reverberating guitars. Think The xx’s hypnotism, The Knife’s sexual tension and Poliça’s playful overdubbing.

Popular tracks tagged #icelandic music