Amiina
Encyclopedia
Amiina is an Iceland
ic band composed of Hildur Ársælsdóttir (born January 31, 1980), Edda Rún Ólafsdóttir (born February 3, 1978), Maria Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir (born September 29, 1980), and Sólrún Sumarliðadóttir (born August 10, 1977). They frequently perform live and in the studio along with Sigur Rós
. Back in 2001 violinist Ólöf Júlía was part of the band but has since been replaced by Hildur Ársælsdóttir.
The music is made with a great number of instruments. It contains elements of minimalistic style, contemporary classical, ambient
, and electronic
loops
.
In their performances, each of them plays from the large range of instruments, moving from one instrument—and side of the stage—to another mid-song, often after sampling
.
Before adopting the name Amiina, the group were initially a string quartet: María and Hildur as violinists, Edda as violist, and Sólrún as cellist. As a string quartet Amiina have recorded work with Sigur Rós
, notably on the award-winning album
as well as its follow-up, Takk...
.
Their first commercially-available recording was the four-track
EP
Animamina
. This was followed by their first single
, "Seoul
". Their first full-length album
, Kurr
, was released March 21, 2007, through the band's own label, Bláskjár. It was re-released by Ever Records in June 2007.
When Sigur Rós ceased touring in July 2006, Amiina followed with their first solo tours of Europe and America in October and November. Following the release of Kurr
, they toured North America in March and April and Europe in May.
The song "Hilli
" was released on December 10, 2007 as the second single from the album Kurr. It is a collaboration between Amiina and Lee Hazelwood whose vocals (the last recording before his death) are mixed with a reworked version of the original song.
Amiina appeared in the Icelandic movie Brúðguminn
, (White Night Wedding) released early 2008.
Prior to their 2009 release of Re Minore
Amiina toured with a drummer named Magnús Trygvason Eliassen (usually referred to as Maggi) who, together with Kippi Kaninus, joined the band on the EP. Both participated in the recording of Amiina's second studio album Puzzle
during spring or summer of 2010, released on Sept 27, 2010.
Guitar
s
Harp
s
Reeds
Metallophones
Viols
Zither
s
Other
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic band composed of Hildur Ársælsdóttir (born January 31, 1980), Edda Rún Ólafsdóttir (born February 3, 1978), Maria Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir (born September 29, 1980), and Sólrún Sumarliðadóttir (born August 10, 1977). They frequently perform live and in the studio along with Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with classicaland minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound, and frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals and use of bowed guitar. In January 2010, the band announced that they will be on hiatus. Since then, it has since been announced...
. Back in 2001 violinist Ólöf Júlía was part of the band but has since been replaced by Hildur Ársælsdóttir.
The music is made with a great number of instruments. It contains elements of minimalistic style, contemporary classical, ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
, and electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
loops
Music loop
In electroacoustic music, a loop is a repeating section of sound material. Short sections of material can be repeated to create ostinato patterns...
.
In their performances, each of them plays from the large range of instruments, moving from one instrument—and side of the stage—to another mid-song, often after sampling
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
.
Before adopting the name Amiina, the group were initially a string quartet: María and Hildur as violinists, Edda as violist, and Sólrún as cellist. As a string quartet Amiina have recorded work with Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with classicaland minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound, and frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals and use of bowed guitar. In January 2010, the band announced that they will be on hiatus. Since then, it has since been announced...
, notably on the award-winning album
is the third full-length album from Icelandic band Sigur Rós, first released in October 2002. It comprises eight untitled tracks, divided into two parts: the first four tracks are lighter and more optimistic, while the latter four are bleaker and more melancholic. The two halves are divided by a...
as well as its follow-up, Takk...
Takk...
Takk... is the fourth full-length studio album by the Icelandic band Sigur Rós. The first singles, "Glósóli" and "Sæglópur", were released on August 15, 2005 and August 16, 2005 respectively, the former worldwide and the latter only in the United States. The single "Hoppípolla" was released in the...
.
Their first commercially-available recording was the four-track
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Animamina
AnimaminA
AnimaminA is the debut EP of Icelandic string quartet Amiina.The EP was first published in early December 2004 by Smekkleysa in Iceland, and then in mid-2005 by The Workers Institute in the United States and Speak N Spell in Australia. Its title was a palindrome of the band's name, which at the...
. This was followed by their first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Seoul
Seoul (song)
"Seoul" is the second release from the Icelandic quartet Amiina. It is also the first single from their first album, Kurr. It was self-released on 6 November 2006 in Europe and released by The Worker's Institute on 7 November 2006 in the USA...
". Their first full-length album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Kurr
Kurr
Kurr is the debut album by the Icelandic quartet amiina. It was released on March 21, 2007 by their own label, Bláskjár Records, after being preceded by the single "Seoul" in late 2006. The album was partly recorded in Sigur Rós' Sundlaugin studio...
, was released March 21, 2007, through the band's own label, Bláskjár. It was re-released by Ever Records in June 2007.
When Sigur Rós ceased touring in July 2006, Amiina followed with their first solo tours of Europe and America in October and November. Following the release of Kurr
Kurr
Kurr is the debut album by the Icelandic quartet amiina. It was released on March 21, 2007 by their own label, Bláskjár Records, after being preceded by the single "Seoul" in late 2006. The album was partly recorded in Sigur Rós' Sundlaugin studio...
, they toured North America in March and April and Europe in May.
The song "Hilli
Hilli (At The Top Of The World)
"Hilli " is the second single from the album Kurr released by Icelandic band Amiina. The song features American musician Lee Hazlewood in his last recording and collaboration...
" was released on December 10, 2007 as the second single from the album Kurr. It is a collaboration between Amiina and Lee Hazelwood whose vocals (the last recording before his death) are mixed with a reworked version of the original song.
Amiina appeared in the Icelandic movie Brúðguminn
White Night Wedding
White Night Wedding is a 2008 Icelandic film directed by Baltasar Kormákur. The bittersweet comedy, about the never-ending search for love and happiness, takes place in Flatey, Breiðafjörður, western Iceland. The film is loosely based on the play Ivanov by Anton Chekhov.-Plot:The film opens with...
, (White Night Wedding) released early 2008.
Prior to their 2009 release of Re Minore
Re Minore
Re Minore is an EP from the Icelandic string quartet Amiina that was released during their 2009 tour. The title is Italian for D minor.Amiina have previously worked with Kippi Kaninus who also accompany the band on the EP together with Kjartan Sveinsson....
Amiina toured with a drummer named Magnús Trygvason Eliassen (usually referred to as Maggi) who, together with Kippi Kaninus, joined the band on the EP. Both participated in the recording of Amiina's second studio album Puzzle
Puzzle (Amiina album)
Puzzle is the second album by the Icelandic band amiina. It was released on September 27, 2010. This album has references to the bands EP Re Minore as the tracks "Ásinn", "Púsl" and "Sicsak" are re-worked versions of the songs "Ásinn", "Þristurinn" and "Tvisturinn" from that release...
during spring or summer of 2010, released on Sept 27, 2010.
Instruments
ElectronicElectronic musical instrument
An electronic musical instrument is a musical instrument that produces its sounds using electronics. Such an instrument sounds by outputting an electrical audio signal that ultimately drives a loudspeaker....
- Compact synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
- Digital pianoDigital pianoA digital piano is a modern electronic musical instrument, different from the electronic keyboard, designed to serve primarily as an alternative to a traditional piano, both in the way it feels to play and in the sound produced. It is meant to provide an accurate simulation of a real piano. Some...
Guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s
- BaroqueBaroque guitarThe Baroque guitar is a guitar from the baroque era , an ancestor of the modern classical guitar. The term is also used for modern instruments made in the same style....
- Solid-body electricElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
Harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
s
- Celtic
Reeds
Reed (instrument)
A reed is a thin strip of material which vibrates to produce a sound on a musical instrument. The reeds of most Woodwind instruments are made from Arundo donax or synthetic material; tuned reeds are made of metal or synthetics.-Single reeds:Single reeds are used on the mouthpieces of clarinets...
- HarmoniumHarmoniumA harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
- MelodicaMelodicaThe melodica, also known as the "blow-organ" or "key-flute", is a free-reed instrument similar to the melodeon and harmonica. It has a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. Pressing a key opens a hole,...
Metallophones
- CelestaCelestaThe celesta or celeste is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. Its appearance is similar to that of an upright piano or of a large wooden music box . The keys are connected to hammers which strike a graduated set of metal plates suspended over wooden resonators...
- GlockenspielGlockenspielA glockenspiel is a percussion instrument composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano. In this way, it is similar to the xylophone; however, the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal plates or tubes, and making it a metallophone...
(which they sometimes bowBow (music)In music, a bow is moved across some part of a musical instrument, causing vibration which the instrument emits as sound. The vast majority of bows are used with string instruments, although some bows are used with musical saws and other bowed idiophones....
)
Viols
- Cello
- Viola
- Violin
Zither
Zither
The zither is a musical string instrument, most commonly found in Slovenia, Austria, Hungary citera, northwestern Croatia, the southern regions of Germany, alpine Europe and East Asian cultures, including China...
s
- Gideon harp (external description; also called a "table harp")
Other
- Call bells (also called "office" or "reception" bells)
- Glass harpGlass harpA glass harp is an instrument made of upright wine glasses....
- Kalimba
- MandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
- Musical sawMusical sawA musical saw, also called a singing saw, is the application of a hand saw as a musical instrument. The sound creates an ethereal tone, very similar to the theremin...
Singles
- "SeoulSeoul (song)"Seoul" is the second release from the Icelandic quartet Amiina. It is also the first single from their first album, Kurr. It was self-released on 6 November 2006 in Europe and released by The Worker's Institute on 7 November 2006 in the USA...
" (November 6, 2006) - "Hilli (At The Top Of The World)Hilli (At The Top Of The World)"Hilli " is the second single from the album Kurr released by Icelandic band Amiina. The song features American musician Lee Hazlewood in his last recording and collaboration...
" (December 17, 2007) - "Over & AgainOver & Again"Over & Again" is the first single from the album, Puzzle, released by Icelandic band Amiina in May 2010. It is not sold through the store at the band's website but is available at their concerts....
" (2010) [Limited to 500 copies] - "What are we waiting for?" (September 2010)
Compilation inclusions
- Screaming MasterpieceScreaming MasterpieceScreaming Masterpiece is a 2005 documentary film directed and written by Ari Alexander Ergis Magnússon about the music scene in Iceland...
(2005) - Kitchen Motors Family Album/Fjölskyldualbúm TilraunaeldhússinsKitchen Motors Family Album/Fjölskyldualbúm TilraunaeldhússinsKitchen Motors Family Album a compilation album released in 2006. It came into being two years after the celebration of Kitchen Motors' 5 year anniversary at May 1st 2004. The album features mostly previously unreleased songs by the artists and bands who have worked with Kitchen Motors since it...
(Spring 2006) - Nightmare RevisitedNightmare Revisited- Personnel :1. "Overture"2. "Opening"3. "This Is Halloween"4. "Jack's Lament"- Personnel :1. "Overture": Produced by DeVotchKa: Mixed by Greg Macrae2. "Opening": Produced by Danny Elfman: Narration recorded and mixed by Noah Snyder...
("Doctor Finkelstein/In the Forest") (2008)