Dikta
Encyclopedia
Dikta is an indie rock
band from Iceland
. They have released four albums thus far.
in 2000 and were finalists. Dikta's four members have been friends since they were children. Last year they've played on festivals such as In The City in Manchester, the SPOT-festival in Denmark and Iceland Airwaves. Their powerful performance in front of a packed venue at Iceland Airwaves earned them a mention in Rolling Stone Magazine.
Dikta's first album, "Andartak", was released in late 2002. It was released in Iceland by the band members themselves under their own label called Mistak Records. One of its singles reached the top of the Icelandic charts. All three singles, "Taminóra," "Andartak," and "Engin orð," were played frequently on Iceland's largest rock station at the time, X-ið 977. The lyrics on "Andartak" are all in Icelandic.
Dikta released their second album, "Hunting for Happiness" in 2005 in Iceland. The album was produced by Ace from Skunk Anansie
and was released by the Sugarcubes-owned label, Smekkleysa SM (Bad Taste)
. The album artwork was made by Gabríela Friðriksdóttir
, who has previously collaborated extensively with Björk
.
"Hunting for Happiness" also had four successful singles, "Chloë", "Breaking the Waves", "Someone, Somewhere" and "Losing Every Day". All the singles got heavy airplay on Iceland's rock radio stations X-FM and X-ið 977 as well as Iceland's National Radio (Rás 2)
, except for "Chloë", which was not played on Rás 2
.
The lyrics on "Hunting for Happiness" are in English.
"Hunting for Happiness" was released by Smekkleysa in Denmark in 2006 and UK in 2007.
Their third album is called Get It Together (2009). Band members have said in interviews that the album would be a natural progression from their previous album, Hunting for Happiness. The lyrics are in English. The album will be released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland by Smarten-Up!, a German indie label from Düsseldorf
and distributed by Rough Trade, in March 2010.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from Iceland
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...
. They have released four albums thus far.
Biography
In its present incarnation, the group began in 1999. They played in the Icelandic band competition MúsíktilraunirMúsíktilraunir
Músíktilraunir is an annual music competition held in Reykjavík, Iceland.- Winners :* 1982 – Dron* 1983 – Dúkkulísurnar* 1984 – not held due to teachers' strike* 1985 – Gipsy* 1986 – Greifarnir...
in 2000 and were finalists. Dikta's four members have been friends since they were children. Last year they've played on festivals such as In The City in Manchester, the SPOT-festival in Denmark and Iceland Airwaves. Their powerful performance in front of a packed venue at Iceland Airwaves earned them a mention in Rolling Stone Magazine.
Dikta's first album, "Andartak", was released in late 2002. It was released in Iceland by the band members themselves under their own label called Mistak Records. One of its singles reached the top of the Icelandic charts. All three singles, "Taminóra," "Andartak," and "Engin orð," were played frequently on Iceland's largest rock station at the time, X-ið 977. The lyrics on "Andartak" are all in Icelandic.
Dikta released their second album, "Hunting for Happiness" in 2005 in Iceland. The album was produced by Ace from Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie is an English rock band whose members include Skin , Cass , Ace and Mark Richardson .Skunk Anansie formed in March 1994, disbanded in 2001 and reformed in 2009...
and was released by the Sugarcubes-owned label, Smekkleysa SM (Bad Taste)
Bad Taste (record label)
Bad Taste is one of Iceland’s most important record labels; located in Reykjavík and known worldwide for being home to The Sugarcubes, it also publishes poetry books, short films, greeting cards and Icelandic gifts...
. The album artwork was made by Gabríela Friðriksdóttir
Gabríela Friðriksdóttir
Gabríela Friðriksdóttir is an Icelandic artist and sculptor.Outside of her contributions in the art world, she is known for her collaboration with the Icelandic musician and superstar Björk. The two have collaborated on Björk's 2002 CD box set Family Tree and on the 2005 video for Björk's song...
, who has previously collaborated extensively with Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
.
"Hunting for Happiness" also had four successful singles, "Chloë", "Breaking the Waves", "Someone, Somewhere" and "Losing Every Day". All the singles got heavy airplay on Iceland's rock radio stations X-FM and X-ið 977 as well as Iceland's National Radio (Rás 2)
Rás 2
Rás 2 is an Icelandic radio station of RÚV, the National Icelandic Broadcasting Service. Rás 2 broadcasts primarily news, current affairs and pop and rock music programs. The station was launched in 1983. It is the highest rated radio station in Iceland. Rás 2 is broadcasted on frequencies 90.1...
, except for "Chloë", which was not played on Rás 2
Rás 2
Rás 2 is an Icelandic radio station of RÚV, the National Icelandic Broadcasting Service. Rás 2 broadcasts primarily news, current affairs and pop and rock music programs. The station was launched in 1983. It is the highest rated radio station in Iceland. Rás 2 is broadcasted on frequencies 90.1...
.
The lyrics on "Hunting for Happiness" are in English.
"Hunting for Happiness" was released by Smekkleysa in Denmark in 2006 and UK in 2007.
Their third album is called Get It Together (2009). Band members have said in interviews that the album would be a natural progression from their previous album, Hunting for Happiness. The lyrics are in English. The album will be released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland by Smarten-Up!, a German indie label from Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
and distributed by Rough Trade, in March 2010.
Band members
- Haukur Heiðar Hauksson - guitarGuitarThe 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...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Jón Bjarni Pétursson - guitarGuitarThe 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...
- Jón Þór Sigurðsson - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Skúli Gestsson - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
Discography
- Andartak (Mistak Records, 2002)
- Hunting for Happiness (Smekkleysa, 2005)
- Get It Together (2009)
- Trust Me (Kölski, 2011)