Melancholic, poetic sounds fill this Icelandic artist’s debut album

Born in a town of 800 people, Eydís Evensen’s Icelandic roots have had a long-lasting impact on her music. She is a classically trained pianist and a post-classical composer who graduated from Reykjavik’s Hamrahlíð College, where she sang in the world-renowned choir that has previously been home to graduates including Björk and members of Sigur Rós. Evensen composed her first piece of music on the piano at age seven, inspired by a storm raging outside. The natural world that surrounded her in Iceland continues to be at the heart of her music to this day.

Bylur is Evensen’s debut album, and previously she released singles ‘Wandering II’ and ‘Brotin’ in 2021 and ‘Næturdögg’ in 2020, all of which feature on the new album. She will be performing at the upcoming Iceland Airwaves in 2021 and was signed by XXIM Records this year—Sony Masterworks’ new imprint for innovative progressive music.

 Evensen considers the calming, contemporary piano sound of Bylur to be a diary of her life. The album takes the name from the Icelandic word meaning ‘snowstorm’—an echo back to the themes of her very first music composition as a child. Inspired not only by Iceland, but also by artists such as Philip Glass and Thom Yorke, Evensen creates mournful, sophisticated, melancholic arrangements that have a notable beauty and are driven by her emotions. She represents moments of her life through the music: much like a snowstorm, there are ups and downs, chaos and calm. Her tender and enchanting sound also takes poetic inspiration from the volcanic eruption in Iceland this year, and visuals of that natural phenomenon are present in the music video for her song ‘Bylur.’

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American born Rob SImonsen, who has contributed his music towards some prestigious films such as ‘The Life of Pi’ and ‘(500) Days of Summer’, joins the Sony Masterworks label with a piece he has written and directed - “Coeur”.

The Los Angeles based musician has been in touch with music ever since childhood, his home was musically oriented and so he began acquiring the piano by ear at a young age and eventually became a ‘bedroom producer’, experimenting on his Macintosh with synthesis and MIDI programs. Since then he has studied Jazz piano in Universities across The United States, played in a live Drum and Bass band as well as produced various kinds of musical pieces and graphic art. Rob developed a keen sense towards soundtracks and scoring which has led to him being a well-known name in the film industry, and today his scores can be found in various projects and commercials.

When you listen to Coeur, a clear objective of Rob’s art presents itself through polarizing emotions created by rhythm and note combination - you can sense his intention to ‘harness beauty in the natural world’, representing not only one aspect to the world, but many in correlation to one another. This sense is highlighted throughout Coeur with various elements working independently to create a cohesive story, with stretched pads, gliding pitch, soft percussion and a rhythmical piano progression, Rob utilizes his well established experience. Coeur is a story of its own, with sudden changes in rhythm, melody and mood, it offers to harness the versatility of our world into a work of art.

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