Seabear
Encyclopedia
Seabear is a Icelandic
seven piece indie-folk band from Reykjavik
, Iceland
. Although hailing from Iceland, they sing primarily in English
. They are signed to the Morr Music
record label.
Seabear started as a one-man project of Sindri Már Sigfússon in 2003. Performing for some time as a trio from 2005, the Seabear outfit eventually ended up as a seven piece in 2006. Other members of Seabear are Halldór (Dóri) Ragnarsson, Örn Ingi, Sóley Stefánsdóttir, Kjartan Bragi Bjarnason, Guðbjörg Hlín and Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir. In 2008 Ingibjörg stopped playing live with the band to follow up her art.
In 2007 Seabear released their debut album The Ghost That Carried Us Away
on Morr Music
. Their second LP, We Built A Fire
was released in March 2010. The band is currently (as of July 2011) working on their third LP.
Seabear's most renowned song is "I Sing I Swim" - the music video for the song was viewed more than 1,050,000 times on YouTube
as of July 2011.
Seabear's music has been described as "Sufjan Stevens meets an unplugged Arcade Fire" by Clash
. Sindri Már Sigfússon has been called the "Icelandic Beck" by Rolling Stone
.
All members of Seabear have other music/art projects as well. In 2008, Sindri released his solo album Clangour under the name Sin Fang Bous and in 2011 he released his second solo album, Summer Echoes, and shortened his moniker to Sin Fang. Sóley is working on her solo project as well and is signed on Morr Music. Kjartan is in a band called Kimono
that released three albums on Smekkleysa Records, a label that was founded by the The Sugarcubes
. Dóri is a former member of Kimono from 2001–2007 and released two albums with the band. He is also a member of Mr. Silla, that has members from Kimono, Múm
and Amiina
included. Örn Ingi plays in the band Skakkamanage.
Inga, Dóri and Sindri also do art and have had numerous exhibitions (solo/group), both in Iceland and abroad.
The song "Cat Piano", from The Ghost That Carried Us Away, was featured in a BBC
advert for Finding Neverland
as well as in Season 2, Episode 2 of Gossip Girl
. The song "Cold Summer", from We Built A Fire, was used in the closing scene of Episode 617 of Grey's Anatomy
.
Seabear have toured Europe and the U.S. over the years and have played numerous festivals.
Seabear's name comes from the polar bear's
latin name Ursus Maritimus
Icelander
Icelander can refer to:*A person from the country of Iceland, see Icelanders.*Icelander , by Dustin Long, published in 2006 by McSweeney's.*Íslendingur , a replica viking ship whose name means Icelander...
seven piece indie-folk band from Reykjavik
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
, 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...
. Although hailing from Iceland, they sing primarily in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. They are signed to the Morr Music
Morr Music
Morr Music is an independent record label based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 1999 by Thomas Morr. Most artists on the label fall into the categories of intelligent dance music, electronica and dreampop, but all reflect Thomas Morr's personal taste...
record label.
Seabear started as a one-man project of Sindri Már Sigfússon in 2003. Performing for some time as a trio from 2005, the Seabear outfit eventually ended up as a seven piece in 2006. Other members of Seabear are Halldór (Dóri) Ragnarsson, Örn Ingi, Sóley Stefánsdóttir, Kjartan Bragi Bjarnason, Guðbjörg Hlín and Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir. In 2008 Ingibjörg stopped playing live with the band to follow up her art.
In 2007 Seabear released their debut album The Ghost That Carried Us Away
The Ghost That Carried Us Away
The Ghost That Carried Us Away is the first full-length album by the Icelandic band Seabear, released in 2007.- Track listing :# Good Morning Scarecrow # Cat Piano # Libraries # Hospital Bed # Hands Remember...
on Morr Music
Morr Music
Morr Music is an independent record label based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 1999 by Thomas Morr. Most artists on the label fall into the categories of intelligent dance music, electronica and dreampop, but all reflect Thomas Morr's personal taste...
. Their second LP, We Built A Fire
We Built a Fire
We Built a Fire is the second full-length album from Icelandic band Seabear.-Track listing:# Lion Face Boy# Fire Dies Down# I'll Build You a Fire# Cold Summer# Wooden Teeth# Leafmask# Softship# We Fell Of The Roof# Warm Blood# In Winter's Eyes...
was released in March 2010. The band is currently (as of July 2011) working on their third LP.
Seabear's most renowned song is "I Sing I Swim" - the music video for the song was viewed more than 1,050,000 times on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
as of July 2011.
Seabear's music has been described as "Sufjan Stevens meets an unplugged Arcade Fire" by Clash
Clash (magazine)
Clash is a popular music and fashion magazine based in the United Kingdom. Its magazine title is published 12 times a year. It has a circulation of around 40,000....
. Sindri Már Sigfússon has been called the "Icelandic Beck" by Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
.
All members of Seabear have other music/art projects as well. In 2008, Sindri released his solo album Clangour under the name Sin Fang Bous and in 2011 he released his second solo album, Summer Echoes, and shortened his moniker to Sin Fang. Sóley is working on her solo project as well and is signed on Morr Music. Kjartan is in a band called Kimono
Kimono (band)
kimono is an Icelandic-Canadian math rock band composed of singer-guitarist Alex MacNeil, guitarist-bassist Gylfi Blöndal and drummer Kjartan Bragi Bjarnason. Their third studio album, Easy Music for Difficult People, was released by Kimi Records on December 4, 2009...
that released three albums on Smekkleysa Records, a label that was founded by the The Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes were an Icelandic alternative rock band formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. They received critical and popular acclaim internationally.-History:...
. Dóri is a former member of Kimono from 2001–2007 and released two albums with the band. He is also a member of Mr. Silla, that has members from Kimono, Múm
Múm
múm are an experimental Icelandic musical group whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch beats and effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments.- History :...
and Amiina
Amiina
Amiina is an Icelandic band composed of Hildur Ársælsdóttir , Edda Rún Ólafsdóttir , Maria Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir , and Sólrún Sumarliðadóttir . They frequently perform live and in the studio along with Sigur Rós...
included. Örn Ingi plays in the band Skakkamanage.
Inga, Dóri and Sindri also do art and have had numerous exhibitions (solo/group), both in Iceland and abroad.
The song "Cat Piano", from The Ghost That Carried Us Away, was featured in a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
advert for Finding Neverland
Finding Neverland
Finding Neverland is a 2004 semi-biographical film about playwright J. M. Barrie and his relationship with a family who inspired him to create Peter Pan, directed by Marc Forster. The screenplay by David Magee is based on the play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee...
as well as in Season 2, Episode 2 of Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl (TV series)
Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...
. The song "Cold Summer", from We Built A Fire, was used in the closing scene of Episode 617 of Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
.
Seabear have toured Europe and the U.S. over the years and have played numerous festivals.
Seabear's name comes from the polar bear's
Polar Bear
The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size...
latin name Ursus Maritimus
Discography
- I'm Me on SundaysI'm Me on SundaysI'm Me On Sundays is the unofficial debut release from Icelandic band Seabear. It was written and recorded by Sindri Már Sigfússon when Seabear was a one-man project...
- Self-released - Singing Arc EPSinging Arc EPSinging Arc EP is the debut release by Icelandic indie folk band Seabear. The extended play was the solo work of Sindri Sigfússon from Reykjavik, Iceland, and was self-recorded and released...
- Self-released - The Ghost That Carried Us AwayThe Ghost That Carried Us AwayThe Ghost That Carried Us Away is the first full-length album by the Icelandic band Seabear, released in 2007.- Track listing :# Good Morning Scarecrow # Cat Piano # Libraries # Hospital Bed # Hands Remember...
- 2007 Morr MusicMorr MusicMorr Music is an independent record label based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 1999 by Thomas Morr. Most artists on the label fall into the categories of intelligent dance music, electronica and dreampop, but all reflect Thomas Morr's personal taste... - Lion Face Boy / Cold Summer 7" - 2009 A Number Of Small Things
- We Built a FireWe Built a FireWe Built a Fire is the second full-length album from Icelandic band Seabear.-Track listing:# Lion Face Boy# Fire Dies Down# I'll Build You a Fire# Cold Summer# Wooden Teeth# Leafmask# Softship# We Fell Of The Roof# Warm Blood# In Winter's Eyes...
- 2010 Morr Music - While the Fire Dies EP - 2010