Every year, at the beginning of November, downtown Reykjavík (Iceland) hosts the best of Icelandic and international music. Discover the first artists announced for its 25th edition taking place from November 7th to 9th, 2024. Credits: Shygirl by Antonius Cramer. The lineup for Iceland Airwaves 2024. Iceland Airwaves: the Icelandic festival reveals the lineup for its 2024 edition. The music festival Iceland Airwaves has just announced the first names for its 25th edition, happening from November 7th to 9th, 2024 in downtown Reykjavik. At the same time, organizers have released special “ticket and travel” packages available now. “We are incredibly proud to celebrate not only the 25 years of Iceland Airwaves, but also 25 years of key participation in the careers of some of the world’s most talented artists,” recently stated Ísleifur Þórhallsson, the festival director. “Over the years, we have witnessed the fantastic emergence of some artists and it is an honor to continue to invite new talents to Reykjavik while sharing our beloved Icelandic community with the world.” This 2024 edition will feature the South London singer and producer Shygirl, who has collaborated with Arca, Fka twigs, and SOPHIE. Nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2023, Shygirl had ultimately lost to the band Ezra Collective. Also announced in Iceland are the duo of Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul, as well as the London-based lo-fi rock trio Bar Italia, whose two albums – Quarrell (2020) and Bedhead (2021) – were released via the label World Music run by Dean Blunt. Numéro looks back on six musical gems from the 2023 edition. Laufey – From The Start (2023) Laufey, the young jazz prodigy breaking records. After the crowning of Samara Joy in February 2023, jazz may once again be in the spotlight at the 66th Grammy Awards… At 24 years old, the Icelandic musician Laufey Lín Jónsdóttir was thrilled to see Bewitched, her second album released in early September, nominated for “Best Traditional Pop Album.” Her track From The Start, recently applauded on Jimmy Kimmel’s show in the United States, is currently the most played jazz song worldwide. Born in 1999 in Reykjavík, this jazz prodigy, a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, gained notoriety through two TV programs: Iceland’s Got Talent in 2014 and The Voice Iceland a year later. Heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, she is currently promoting a new track, Better Than Snow, featuring Norah Jones. Bewitched by Laufey, available. Kusk and Oviti A concert in an Icelandic living room to discover some musical gems. In Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, press officer and musician Arni Arnason hosts a “small cocktail party” in the city center, alongside the Iceland Airwaves festival, which he handles communications for. The invitations sent via WhatsApp mention a rule that must be followed: not to be too critical about the wine. Upon arrival, one might initially think there was a mistake… A hundred pairs of shoes were left outside an apartment door. In Iceland, it’s customary to remove shoes before entering someone’s home. It turns out that the “small cocktail party” is actually a concert with a hundred guests, akin to NPR’s Tiny Desk sessions. In his own living room, Arni Arnason has invited Icelandic artists he admires and wants to promote to journalists. In turn, the musicians perform some pieces before a barefoot audience, sometimes seated cross-legged on the floor. Thanks to him, Numéro has discovered a few and adds them to its other Icelandic gems. Kusk x Óviti – Morgun (2022) Kusk x Óviti, the irresistible indie pop duo. In Reykjavik, alongside the Iceland Airwaves festival, Kolbrún Óskarsdóttir – known as KUSK – performs in the living room of a press officer, accompanied by a pianist (Óviti) and a bassist. This kind of performance does not leave anyone indifferent and immediately piques the curiosity of the audience… Not yet 20 years old, but her compositions are already worthy of an established artist. Kusk offers indie pop with electronic beats, and her silvery voice occasionally echoes that of the British artist Arlo Parks. In 2022, this bedroom producer at heart became the first solo winner of Iceland’s music competition Músíktilraunir. Her first album Skvaldur immerses listeners in a universe of outrageous reverb, like confessions of a choir in a frozen church. A must-listen: the track Útsynid, which demonstrates her perfect mastery of contrasts and their relevance within a piece. Skvaldur by Kusk, available. Birnir – Slæmir Ávanar (2021) Birnir, one of Iceland’s most promising rappers. The rapper Birnir was not part of the lineup for the Iceland Airwaves festival… but Numéro nonetheless discovered his track Slæmir Ávanar (Evil Angels) on the sidelines of the event, during a DJ set in a trendy bar in the capital. It was later revealed that the track was a hit, especially among the country’s youth. Released in October 2021, his second fifteen-track album, Bushido, oscillates between raw trap and lo-fi hip-hop that sometimes leans towards jazz rap… Bushido by Birnir, available. Gugusar – Röddin í Klettunum (2021) Gugusar, the volcanic performance of an artistic skater. Interestingly, Gugusar’s live performances are significantly more explosive than her studio albums suggest. Wearing a fluorescent green XLL wig and a look borrowed from Leeloo in Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element (1997), the 19-year-old musician, also an artistic skater, enraptures the audience at the Gamla bíó, an old cinema that remains one of Reykjavik’s most famous buildings. Expect fiery dances and sticky electro akin to Stromae, drawing inspiration not only from dance but also drum and bass. Released in July, her track Vonin complements 12:48, a ten-track album from 2022. Vonin and 12:48 by Gugusar, available. Eydis Evensen – Dawn is Near (2022) Eydis Evensen, the pianist who narrates Iceland, love, and grief. “I believe my music opens a door to a dream space where images collide. A space of freedom that pushes you to ask questions you never considered before…” In 2021, on her debut album Bylur (“snowstorm”), pianist Eydis Evensen translated into music the harsh winters and sudden storms of her native Iceland. It’s as if each note takes the form of a crystalline drop of water ready to trigger a torrential downpour. The press immediately fell in love with her ethereal and comforting compositions that benefit from the elegance of the former model. Despite her undeniable technique, Eydis Evensen no longer seeks to show off or prove, but rather to unite around intoxicating ostinatos. The Lights, her second twelve-track album released in May, reveals her classical and timeless repertoire. In arpeggios, she evokes grief, love, and the outside world, like a soundtrack of the island where rocks converse with icy springs. The Lights by Eydis Evensen, available..
