Ólafur Arnalds
Encyclopedia
Ólafur Arnalds is a multi-instrumentalist and producer from Mosfellsbær
, Iceland
. Ólafur Arnalds mixes strings and piano with loops and edgy beats crossing-over from classical to pop.
Arnalds was a drummer of hardcore
/metal
bands Fighting Shit and Celestine, as well as others.
In 2004, Arnalds composed and recorded the intro and two outros for tracks on the album Antigone
by German
metal band Heaven Shall Burn
.
On 12 October 2007, Arnalds' first solo album Eulogy for Evolution
was released. It was followed by the EP Variations of Static in 2008. In the same year, Arnalds toured with Sigur Rós
. He is also reported to have sold out The Barbican Hall in London.
In April 2009, Arnalds composed and released a track daily for seven days, instantly making each track available within 24 hours from foundsongs.erasedtapes.com. The collection of tracks was entitled Found Songs. The first track was released on 13 April.
In October 2009, the ballet Dyad 1909 premiered with a score composed by Arnalds. Choreographed by Wayne McGregor
and performed by Wayne McGregor Random Dance, the ballet was inspired by Ernest Shackleton’s Nimrod expedition to the South Pole in 1909.
In April 2010, Ólafur released a new album entitled ...And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness.
On October 3rd 2011, Arnalds started another seven-day composition project similar to Found Songs, this one entitled Living Room Songs. The tracks are made available at livingroomsongs.olafurarnalds.com/ each day throughout the week. The project is set to be released as an album on December 23rd, 2011.
Ólafur Arnalds has been involved with various other projects and has his music appear in many films, television shows and advertisements. His song Brotsjór was featured on So You Think You Can Dance Season 8.
Ólafur's cousin Ólöf Arnalds
is also a well known singer/songwriter.
Mosfellsbær
Mosfellsbær is a town in south-west Iceland, situated some east of the country's capital, Reykjavík. It has a total area of and its population as of September, 2011 was 8,886....
, 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...
. Ólafur Arnalds mixes strings and piano with loops and edgy beats crossing-over from classical to pop.
Arnalds was a drummer of hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
/metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
bands Fighting Shit and Celestine, as well as others.
In 2004, Arnalds composed and recorded the intro and two outros for tracks on the album Antigone
Antigone (album)
Antigone is the third full-length album of the German Metalcore band Heaven Shall Burn. The title was inspired by the female character of the play Antigone by Sophocles. The play is about a passionate young woman, that does what she knows is right, even though it is against the law. She makes sure...
by German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
metal band Heaven Shall Burn
Heaven Shall Burn
Heaven Shall Burn is a German heavy metal band from Saalfeld, formed in 1996. They combine an aggressive metal sound with lyrics that show a militant support of anti-racism and fighting social injustice. All members of the band are vegan.-Biography:...
.
On 12 October 2007, Arnalds' first solo album Eulogy for Evolution
Eulogy for Evolution
Eulogy for Evolution is Icelandic producer Ólafur Arnalds' first studio album. With it, Ólafur set out to document the journey of life, from birth to death.-Track listing:...
was released. It was followed by the EP Variations of Static in 2008. In the same year, Arnalds toured 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...
. He is also reported to have sold out The Barbican Hall in London.
In April 2009, Arnalds composed and released a track daily for seven days, instantly making each track available within 24 hours from foundsongs.erasedtapes.com. The collection of tracks was entitled Found Songs. The first track was released on 13 April.
In October 2009, the ballet Dyad 1909 premiered with a score composed by Arnalds. Choreographed by Wayne McGregor
Wayne McGregor
Wayne McGregor CBE is a British choreographer of contemporary modern dance. His work is highly distinctive in its vocabulary of movement, for its integration of dance with film and visual art, and for his active interest and incorporation of computer technology and biological science...
and performed by Wayne McGregor Random Dance, the ballet was inspired by Ernest Shackleton’s Nimrod expedition to the South Pole in 1909.
In April 2010, Ólafur released a new album entitled ...And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness.
On October 3rd 2011, Arnalds started another seven-day composition project similar to Found Songs, this one entitled Living Room Songs. The tracks are made available at livingroomsongs.olafurarnalds.com/ each day throughout the week. The project is set to be released as an album on December 23rd, 2011.
Ólafur Arnalds has been involved with various other projects and has his music appear in many films, television shows and advertisements. His song Brotsjór was featured on So You Think You Can Dance Season 8.
Ólafur's cousin Ólöf Arnalds
Ólöf Arnalds
Ólöf Arnalds is an Icelandic singer/songwriter and indie musician who has been active within the Icelandic music scene for quite some time. Apart from her own music and being a touring member of Múm since 2003, she has cooperated with bands and artists such as Stórsveit Nix Noltes, Mugison,...
is also a well known singer/songwriter.
Discography
- 2007: Eulogy for EvolutionEulogy for EvolutionEulogy for Evolution is Icelandic producer Ólafur Arnalds' first studio album. With it, Ólafur set out to document the journey of life, from birth to death.-Track listing:...
- 2008: Variations of Static (EP)
- 2009: Found Songs (EP)
- 2009: Dyad 1909 (EP)
- 2010: ...And They Have Escaped the Weight of Darkness
- 2011: Living Room Songs