From the country of poetry, we bring you the top three Icelandic bands! With Iceland's rich history of poetry and writing, it is not surprising to anyone that Iceland's music scene is on the rise. With some fantastic bands that are already hitting the international billboards we thought it would be a great idea to list a few of our favorite Icelandic bands.
Kaleo - a moody and magnificent Icelandic band
Unmistakably one of the most famous bands in all of Iceland, Kaleo, is the ever-rising rock band that holds a tune AND a Grammy nomination. Kaleo's lead singer Jökull (JJ) Júlíusson, started the band in 2012 with some friends. Just a few years later, they topped the charts in the U.S, Canada, and Great Britain with their single Way down we go. If you want some real rock, we recommend listening to No Good, or if you want to hear a more mellow song, their cover of Vor í Vaglaskógi is fantastic.
Sigur Rós - Probably one of the most well known Icelandic bands
Probably the topmost Icelandic band is Sigur Rós. They have been in the spotlight for 26 years and are still going strong. Sigur Rós's music is hard to describe as they often use their own language, Hopelandic. Hopelandic is a language meant not to mean anything but to focus on sound and feeling. Their songs like Sæglópur and Dauðalogn have appeared in Aquaman, Sense 8, and The Vampire diaries. We recommend listening to their top songs Hoppípolla and Svefn-g-englar. However, most of Sigur Rós's discography is worth a listen. The dream-like music may not be to everyone’s taste but give it a shot and you just might get goosebumps when the beautiful strings hit you right in the heart.
Of Monsters and Men - an Icelandic band with a unique sound
Of Monsters and Men is an Icelandic band that has been on the charts worldwide with their songs like Little Talks and Dirty Paws. The band gained some audience in Iceland when they won the yearly music competition Músíktilraunir in 2010. They are known for their indie music and folk-rock style that we would describe as somewhat unique. The band has been featured in many movies and TV shows like the Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and Game of Thrones.
Don’t forget: Due to Covid, the famous Iceland Airwaves music festival will be live this year! It’s on November 13/14th so make sure you tune in. In 2020 there will be a lot of great bands featured and Of Monsters and Men is one of them!
If you like you know more about Iceland take a look at our blog collection about Icelandic culture. There you can also find practical tips about traveling in Iceland.
While you are here. Remember to book a rental car from Blue Car Rental before visiting Iceland.
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