Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Guðrið Hansdóttir

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

I remember always wanting to be a singer since I was a child, and I was constantly singing in my room. When we got the music channel MTV around the age of eight, I became fascinated by the pop stars and bands I saw on TV.

At about ten years old, I started playing the clarinet and recorder, focusing on classical music. Later, as a teenager, my father taught me a few chords on the guitar. I immediately began writing my own songs and developed a strong desire to pursue a career in music.

How did your passion for creating music begin?

In my teens, I became curious about songwriting and making music. I formed a band with some friends and began writing songs together. During that time, I discovered how much joy I found in creating music, and my main goal became going into a studio to record and release an album.

What’s the story behind your current music project?

My new album Sýrublað was released on April 10th. The project began because I wanted to create an album with a live feel—something rough and playful. I was also eager to experiment with a new sound, and I set myself a rule: I would only work with people I hadn’t collaborated with before.

So, I reached out to musician, songwriter, producer, and artist Høgni Lisberg and asked him to be part of the project. He ended up playing most of the instruments on the album, as well as recording, mixing, and mastering it. The author and poet Beinir Bergson wrote the lyrics, which explore themes of earth, nature and relationships.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music

before?

Catchy Faroese folk pop

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

I’ve discovered that there are melodies in words—when I read a poem or lyrics, I often immediately hear melodies and notes. I find that really fascinating.

Another thing I’ve learned is not to rely on demos and then try to recreate them in a real studio. Instead, I prefer to start recording ideas right away and develop those recordings into the final version.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

I have a pretty simple set up: guitar, midi keyboard and logic and paper and pen

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

I recently discovered Aldous Harding. I absolutely love her music, her versatility, and her wonderfully strange performances.

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

My personal experiences have shaped my music in a very direct way. I started out as a kid just singing in my room, then became fascinated by pop music, and later moved into classical training with instruments like the clarinet. That mix of influences still shows up in what I do today.

As I got older, songwriting became a way for me to process things and express ideas I couldn’t always put into plain words. I’ve always been drawn to the musicality of language—how melodies can exist within lyrics or poetry—and that really influences how I write.

I’m also interested in creating music that feels honest and alive. For example, with my recent album, I wanted a more raw and playful sound, and I challenged myself to work with new people to push myself out of my comfort zone. That experience changed how I approach recording and collaboration.

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

I hope listeners experience joy, healing, and a sense of understanding through my music, and that it can support them in whatever they’re going through.

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

I think the biggest lesson is to be honest to yourself and others. When something feels real, people can hear it.

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

I always wanted to play at Roskilde festival in Denmark and the Apollo in London 

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

I would love to do a duet with Jeff Buckley. Jeff Buckley has always inspired me because of his emotional intensity and the way he could make music feel so vulnerable and powerful at the same time. His voice and songwriting feel very authentic, and I think a duet with him would be something deeply emotional and meaningful.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)

Spotify

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical

journey?

I want to play more concerts, explore new areas I haven’t been to before, make more albums, and collaborate with more talented musicians and producers.

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

I hope listeners discover that I live and breathe music, and that I’m truly devoted to it. I try to stay genuine and honest in everything I do, and to be true to the art rather than chasing anything superficial