Written by Nol
Sigur Rós | Live at ACL Live, 2022. Courtesy of Michael Maly
Sigur Rós | Live at Palo Alto, 2022. Courtesy of Derek Tobias
In this edition of The Sound of Nol, we’re excited to profile the Icelandic band Sigur Rós – a recent favorite artist of the Nol Team’s. Originating in Iceland in 1994, its members include singer and guitarist Jón Þór ‘Jónsi’ Birgisson, bassist Georg Holm, and keyboardist Kjartan Sveinsson. Their band name translates to ‘Victory Rose’ (taken from Jónsi’s younger sister Sigurrós, who was born a few days before the band formed). Sigur Rós is known for their ethereal sound produced by incorporating classical and minimalistic elements that soothe and inspire. Fans revere Jónsi for his falsetto-style of singing. The band began after signing a record deal with ‘Bad Taste’ records, who believed Jónsi high-pitched voice would appeal to young female audiences. Soon enough, however, the group grew popular enough to open for bands like Radiohead, and has been featured in several significant films and television shows. Their piece ‘Staráflur’ appeared in Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, in addition to CSI Miami, Black Mirror, Orphan Black, and more. After numerous successful albums and several restructurings of the band’s formation, they are working on yet another album as we speak.
Nol first saw Sigur Rós live in Paris in 2016, and was immediately inspired by their ability to craft a musical landscape that evokes a unique sense of stillness. Listeners are transported to the homeland of Sigur Rós’ sound: Iceland. As you are swept away on this remote musical journey, you are invited to imagine quiet coastlines and rolling green hills unfolding before you. Let’s take a closer look at some of their most popular songs, why the Nol Team loves them, and why you should too!
a perfect soundtrack for the visualization of the ethereal
Icelandic moss over lava fields. Courtesy of Matt Hall
Our Favorite Pieces
Sigur Rós | Untitled #1 - Vaka. Live at Álafoss, 2006.
Sigur Rós | Untitled #3 -Samskeyti. Live at BBC London, 2007
‘Untitled #1 - Vaka’
This first piece begins with soft piano and Jónsi’s eerie vocals emerging from the background. ‘Untitled #1 - Vaka’ creates a sense of calm that is almost galactic, encouraging listeners to bring the world as we know it into perspective. As the song continues, visions of Iceland become vivid. The remoteness and picturesque naturalness of the country are evident inspirations for Sigur Rós’ style at this point. Singing finally emerges at 2:24, where warm vocals speak these two poetic lines: ‘You sat along the fire / You saw the light.’ Layers and harmonies are added as the vocals continue, bringing forth a feeling of lightness with several voices calling out into the melody of soft piano and violin. The piece ends just as hauntingly as it began, with soft piano.
‘Untitled #3 - Samskeyti’
Like the first song, ‘Untitled #3 - Samskeyti’ begins quietly, with the occasional chime and light gong of noise as a voice softly hums in the background. About a minute in, a thoughtful melody erupts – soothing the mind and encouraging creativity. The piece grows in complexity with increasing layers of violin, reaching its loudest point at around four minutes and transforming into a perfect soundtrack for the visualization of the ethereal.
‘Untitled #5 - Álafoss’
‘Untitled #5 - Álafoss’ begins with a melodic minor scale of organ, curating an eerie soundscape. Much like the aforementioned pieces, sonorous waves of noise and siren-like singing are the centerpiece of the song, followed by a picking up of pace with increasing drums that mimics a creative epiphany; before returning to a sense of calm at the song's completion.
Sigur Ros | Gong & Andvari. Live at Mann Center Philadelphia, 2012.
‘Gong’
‘Gong’, on the other hand, is slightly more upbeat than their other pieces due to its crescendoing use of drums. The Sigur Rós ‘vibe’ is nonetheless maintained by clear, graceful vocals.
‘Ny Batteri’
The dissonant horns in ‘Ny Batterí’ are complemented by the layering of sonorous, low vibrations and an even more complementary bass. Jónsi sings celestially in Icelandic, with drums breaking out at minute five to change up the tone before returning to musical one-ness once again.
Lead singer Jonsí. Courtesy of Stefan Hoederath
Sigur Rós’s music “expresses what language cannot connect”
-Al Newstead, 2019
Why Sigur Rós?
The sounds of Sigur Ròs invite listeners to be transported to both a stillness of mind and the tranquil remoteness that the scenery of Iceland provides. The band has even said that through their music, they intend to evoke the awe-inspiring scenery of their homeland (ABC).
Aside from the Icelandic landscape, Sigur Rós has been inspired by notable artists like Aphex Twin and Brian Eno. Apple Music has compiled a playlist of the Icelandic band’s main musical influences that you can listen to here.
ABC even suggests that Sigur Rós’s music “expresses what language cannot connect,” noting that the vast majority of their songs being sung in Icelandic provides no barrier between listeners who speak the language and those who do not. With the ability to transcend language and evoke a sense of peace and calm amongst remarkably diverse audiences, Sigur Rós is a band worth remembering and definitely worth listening to.
Hornstandir, Northern Iceland. Courtesy of Jess Craven
We hope you have enjoyed the breakdown of this month’s edition of The Sound of Nol feature band Sigur Rós. We encourage you to listen to and enjoy their music just as much as the Nol Team has!
May you be well,
The Nol Team