Category: Iceland

REPORT: ICELAND AIRWAVES

12/12/2012

Iceland Airwaves 2012

31 October – 4 November || Words and photos by Vasilis Panagiotopoulos

Iceland Airwaves has changed drastically over the years. Starting out, in 1999, as a one-off stunt in an airplane hangar, thirteen years on it has become an international professionally run multi-venue event that sells out months in advance. Probably one of its most defining changes has been the recent closure of legendary club NASA, formerly the heart and soul of Airwaves and despite the vehement public outcry – especially within the artistic community – the club is still threatened to be torn down to give way for a hotel. As a result of this, Harpa, Rekjavík’s stunning concert hall has become Iceland Airwaves’ new home giving the festival a sleeker more upmarket feel.

Gusgus

Despite the unfortunate cancellations of Swans, Poliça and Django Django the 2012 Airwaves line-up consisted of a long list of highlights, including Gusgus, Phantogram, Retro Stefson, Dirty Projectors, FM Belfast, Sóley, DIIV, Philco Fiction, Friends and its indisputable headliners Sigur Rós.

But what about the newcomers? The NMO travelled to the Icelandic capital in order to bring you a selection of the best new acts at Iceland Airwaves 2012:

Nova Heart (CN)

http://soundcloud.com/novaheart/beautifulboys

Chinese-born, US/Canada-bred, former MTV VJ Helen Feng was voted the no.11 coolest rock star by Beijing Timeout Magazine. Nova Heart’s new wave sensibilities and uplifting electropop beats were brought to Reykjavik all the way from Beijing. Aided by her huge stage presence and a series of well-thought-out tunes the unsuspecting crowd that gathered on Thursday night at Gamli Gaukurinn was in for a real treat.

Oyama

Oyama (IS)

http://soundcloud.com/oyamaband/oyama-dinosaur

Oyama won’t get an award for being original, but their fuzzy noise-rock is honest, cleverly melodic and highly-addictive and they surely deserve credit for that. The band’s Friday show at Bar 11 was jammed-packed by eager shoegaze fanatics. Júlía Hermannsdóttir and Úlfur Alexander Einarsson’s boy-girl vocals will please all Lush and, Jesus And Mary Chain fans out there.

Tilbury (IS)

http://soundcloud.com/rvkmusicmess/tilbury-slow-motion-fighter-1

On first listen Tilbury sound pretty dull. It takes a while to get into their peculiar dreamy world. Þormóður Dagsson’s softly-spoken voice and quirky melodies convey a dark nostalgic beauty. No wonder that this is an all-star band comprised of members of Skakkamange, Jeff Who?, Valdimar, Sin Fang and Hjaltalin. Unfortunately the writer only got the chance to see a short-but-sweet daytime show. So stay tuned for more… Highly recommended

Nelson Can

Nelson Can (DK)

http://soundcloud.com/music-week/nelson-can-apple-pie

Nelson Can like the minimalism of the White Stripes’ and The Gossip. Consequently the female punk-trio rely solely on bass, drums and some percussion. That didn’t prevent them from causing a mini-riot at Deutsche Bar on Thursday night. Expect ample amounts of attitude, Nordic wit and Danish charm. What’s not to like?

Pascal Pinon (IS)

http://soundcloud.com/ramdadadej/pascal-pinon-bloom

Ethereal female ensemble Pascal Pinon started playing music at the early age of 14. The young Icelanders specialise in genuine and intimate performances such as the one on Thursday afternoon in Eldhús, a tiny house specially built for Airwaves on Ingólfstorg Square; coined the festival’s smallest venue. They played material from their brilliant new album produced by Alex Somers with lyrics in Icelandic, Swedish and English. Managing to charm all passers-by

Retro Stefson

Further new acts worth checking out are folk-pop female extravaganza My Bubba & Mi, eighties devotees Kiriyama Family, stripped-down rock’n’roll duo The Echo Vamper, alternative rockers Two Tickets To Japan, eccentric popsters Monotown, shoegazers Dream Central Station and finally upbeat disco-pop crew Boogie Trouble.

NORDIC MUSIC EXPORT OFFICE SHAKE UP

2/28/2012

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Nordic Music Export (NOMEX) has been granted two million Danish Kronas from the Nordic Council of Ministers. This is following the presentation of the NOMEX strategy, Strength in Unity.

Anna Hildur Hildibrandsdottir, former MD of Iceland Music Export, has been hired to be the programme director of NOMEX and starts her job full time on February 1st.

Anna will be working alongside the Icelandic, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian and Danish export offices and focusing on strengthening connections across the Nordic market, while establishing a Nordic brand for music.

Anna will also be developing collaborative relationships with companies in the travel industry to benefit artists, promoters and music fans alike, as well as working on Nordic music in the Nordic media, building awareness of original contemporary music from all five countries.

Gunnar Madsen, head of Rosa The Danish Rock Council, is the chairman of the NOMEX board: "It's exciting to have funding to strengthen the Nordic collaboration. We have been working together informally for years so this is a very pleasing development, which compliments the work that we are doing at the export offices in all of the countries.”

“We welcome Anna in her new role. She has a great deal of experience, both from working as a music manager in the past and PR person and consultant for brands like Iceland Airwaves and countless projects, as well as her latest job as MD at Iceland Music Export. Her knowledge and insight into the Nordic music scene will be helpful in establishing this new programme, which brings Nordic music the kind of platform that Films and Games have had for years.”

Anna Hildur will be based in London where she has lived for over 20 years but will spend a lot of her time in the different Nordic Capitals over the next few months.

(source text: HERE)

Meanwhile, Music Finland’s Board of Directors has appointed Tuomo Tähtinen as the first Executive Director of Music Finland. Tähtinen will commence his new post on February 1st, 2012.

Tähtinen, 29, has been with Music Export Finland since December 2008, first overseeing marketing and communications, and managing operations in the UK and the USA, and later as the Acting Executive Director. Tähtinen joined Music Export Finland from Warner Music Finland.

“With this merger we’re creating an organization with exceptional and substantial skills and knowledge of Finnish music and the international music industry. It’s excellent that this top-tier team gets Tuomo as their leader. His energy, international expertise and co-operation skills will be instrumental in building the organization”, comments Music Finland’s Chairman of the Board, Pekka Sipilä.

“A whole new chapter is beginning as Music Finland starts getting into shape. The new organization is a wonderful combination of talent with international know-how and extensive knowledge of music and the music industry. We are now able to reach a wider clientele and offer a broader range of services to our clients and partners all around the globe. I’m extremely delighted and proud to be part of building Music Finland”, adds Tähtinen.

The operations of Music Export Finland and the Finnish Music Information Centre Fimic will be integrated into Music Finland during 2012. The founding members of Music Finland are the Copyright Society of Performing Artists and Phonogram Producers in Finland (Gramex), IFPI Finland, Finnish Music Publishers’ Association, Finnish Musicians' Union, Finnish Independent Labels Association (IndieCo), Finnish Society of Popular Music Composers and Authors (Elvis), Finnish Composers’ Copyright Society (Teosto), and the Society of Finnish Composers.

(source text: HERE)

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REPORT: ICELAND AIRWAVES

NORDIC MUSIC EXPORT OFFICE SHAKE UP

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