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Warning: this is not Sigur Ros.  If you refer to Ólafur Arnalds as such, he will probably be offended.  Fresh off his one night engagement at the Echoplex in Los Angeles (read the review here), I got to talk with Arnalds about his music and background. Also, I attempted to capture this mind-blowing show on video, and, to be honest, the most advanced video equipment out there probably wouldn’t do it justice.  Take this video sample as a mere bite of what’s to be heard from Arnalds, and be sure to see him live at one point in your life.  Even if you don’t [think you] like classical or neoclassical music, there’s something about his sound–probably the electronic sounds and the young approach–that is modern and widely appreciable.

Claire Gallagher: So, what do you do/play?

Ólafur Arnalds: Composer, pianist, electronics

CG: Where are you from?

ÓA: I am from Iceland.

CG: Sounds cold. Did growing up in Iceland influence your music at all?  Do you feel a kinship with your hometown?

ÓA: I think wherever you’re from it’s going to influence who you are, and who you are makes the music you do. I love Reykjavík. No place like home…

CG: Indeed.  Who are some of your biggest musical influences?  Any influences besides music?

ÓA: Artists like Arvo Part, Chopin, Brian Eno, Alva Noto… And films, I get very inspired watching good films and listening to film sound tracks.

CG: What bands do you think you sound like, if any?

ÓA: People like to say I sound like Sigur Rós but that’s bull****. I think a more justified comparison would be Max Richter, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Sakamoto…

CG: [Laughs] Probably ‘cause of the whole “being Icelandic” thing.  So, what do you think you would be doing right now if you weren’t a musician? What did you want to be when you were a kid?

ÓA: If I had to stop making music I’d still like to work in the music business… Management or something like that.

CG: Very cool.  What has been a personal high and a personal low about your musical career so far? Any particular moments of awesomeness or embarrassing blunders?

ÓA: No lows, only highs. Of course there have been bad shows, but they are all a part of this great journey, and it is the whole journey, not small parts of it, that matters.

CG: What is next for you?

ÓA: I [just finished my] tour in America (see www.olafurarnalds.com/tour-dates), and I just did the soundtrack for Sam Levinson‘s film Another Happy Day. After I finish this tour I plan to start experimenting, widening my knowledge and my sound.

 

Catch Arnalds’ next show in London on July 19th.  Until then, be sure to pick up an album or a vinyl.  Whether you’re reading, driving, or doing sweet sweet nothing, you’ll surely get lost in his music.