Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with ICELANDIA
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I grew up in a very small town in the far north and I have a distinct memory of hearing a juke box playing Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”. It’s the first time I remember attaching a visceral emotion to music. What a voice!
How did your passion for creating music begin?
In my early teen years the music scene in my town was wild. Hundreds of kids would attend these hardcore shows and I was hooked. All I wanted was to be one of those guys playing music on stage.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
While I was playing in an indie-rock band called Nuuka, I became deeply interested in synthesizers and retro pop music. A few of us from Nuuka recorded ‘Magic’ with our producer Andrew Judah and decided it was time for a new name; ICELANDIA was born.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Dreamy synthpop with catchy melodies.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
The quote “inspiration finds you working”. This essentially demystifies the songwriting process and emphasizes just putting in the time. When I realized I didn’t have to be bestowed a holy gift from “the muse” at 3 am to write a good song it made me feel more in control of my art.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Honestly all of the Soundtoys plugins have become indispensable.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
An amazing indie artist called Windmills is putting out such great music right now. Currently he’s releasing a concept album called Pilot Episode and I just can’t get enough.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I spent a portion of my childhood living in a remote village in Greenland. When we moved back to Canada I realized what a unique experience that was, and how it shaped the person I became.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I really relate to people who feel like outsiders. It’s not always intentional, but I find myself writing for people who don’t feel like they fit it. Those are the people that I find interesting.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
This sounds kind of woo woo, but music genuinely has the power to heal. We live our lives through an emotional lens, and music has the power to alter our emotions.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
This is kind of on the nose but Iceland Airwaves
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
My all time favourite artist is Sufjan Stevens. The depth and scope of his songwriting, his ability to jump genres, to be sad, silly, joyful… it’s just mind blowing. He’s a deeply interesting person.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
IG: @icelandiagram
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1yzsj3y6dbpXYqk3DPPl63?si=Wr32ScnSRAyF2py1iTxASw
Website: www.icelandiaband.com
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
I’d love to partner with a visual effects company to create an insane live show!
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
My biggest hope is that listeners feel a sense of comfort and escape while listening to our music, if only for a few minutes.
