SAGA SHOP - Haust I Fall 2019

84 Icelandair Stopover Icelandic music steps into the spotlight each November as the annual Iceland Airwaves festival rolls around, but no matter the time of year, it’s a subject worthy of attention. Icelandic artists punch well above their weight. How does a small, remote island of 360,000 people produce music that turns heads, wins accolades and fans, and—above all—creates such a strong sense of place? We’re not just talking about internationally famous homegrown artists such as Björk, Sigur Rós and Of Monsters and Men, but also the roster of genre-defying bands and artists on show at any local music festival. There are also plenty of Icelandic music-makers who may not step onto a traditional performing stage, but bring their atmospheric, mood- setting compositions to cinemas and living rooms via film and television soundtracks. In 2019 Hildur Guðnadóttir gained global recognition (and an Emmy nomination) thanks to her haunting score for the HBO TV mini- series Chernobyl , and she follows in some impressive footsteps. The multi-talented Ólafur Arnalds created an award-winning soundtrack for the English drama series Broadchurch , while Jóhann Jóhannsson won acclaim (and awards) for his work, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score in 2014 for the film The Theory of Everything . Record in Iceland—With a Rebate As well as its remit to promote the work of Icelandic artists abroad, Iceland Music has a project whose clear-cut goal is to entice for- eign musicians to come and tap into the creative inspiration that seems to readily flow in Iceland. Extra incentive comes in the form of assistance with costs. Record in Iceland is the name of the project, and it does what it says on the label: It exists to help musicians travel to Iceland to be inspired by the epic landscapes and home- grown creativity, and to make use of the studios, producers and talent that reside here. Interested? You’d be in illustrious company: Kanye, Ladytron, The Fall and Damien Rice have all recorded in Iceland. Interconnectedness shines in a small music community such as Iceland, and Record in Iceland serves as a well-connected local friend able to set you up in world-class studios, big or intimate, in the heart of Reykjavík or in the THE SWEET SOUNDS OF RECORDING IN ICELAND Travel to Iceland to find Icelandic inspiration (and expertise), and add a little magic to your own music-making. countryside if you’re looking for some edge- of-the-Arctic natural inspiration. They can also hook you up with brilliant producers and talented session players. As a bonus, the Icelandic government—specifically the Ministry of Industries and Innovation—offers a 25% reimbursement for recording costs incurred in Iceland. That includes travel and transport costs for musicians, studio hire, and the cost of hiring producers, sound engineers and session musicians. The offer is open to all music-makers, from bands and solo artists to composers, and for works that range from albums to movie scores. More details, including studio descriptions and reimbursement terms, are online at recordiniceland.com . Top: Orchestral recordings at SinfoniaNord. Photo provided by SinfoniaNord. Bottom: Live Room with a view at Master- key. Photo provided by Masterkey. Special Promotion