Translation: Julie Summers

October is already here, and autumn will soon give way to snowy winter. The semester is in full swing, with assignment due dates just around the corner. During this busy time, it’s important to take a little break from studying and move your body (or at least sit and nod your head) to some amazing music at Iceland Airwaves. If you don’t want to buy a ticket, you can always check out some off-venue shows; concert venues (bars) all around the city join in on the fun by inviting musicians to take the stage.

Airwaves is one of the biggest events of the year, filling downtown Reykjavík with life every November. This year, the 21st annual festival will be held from Wednesday, November 6 to Saturday, November 9. As usual, Airwaves will feature a mix of Icelandic and international artists, big bands and small ones, household names and up-and-coming acts. The Student Paper has put together a list of 10 bands you definitely don’t want to miss this year. With over 130 artists from 20 countries in the lineup, it was incredibly difficult to narrow down the list to just a few acts, and this is just a tiny sampling of what the festival has to offer. For the second year in a row, Airwaves is participating in Keychange, an initiative that encourages equal gender representation at music festivals, and for the second year in a row, the gender ratio at Airwaves will be 50/50. There’s a new management team behind the festival this year, so it will be exciting to see how things go. Happy Airwaves, friends!

Between Mountains

In 2017, Between Mountains won Iceland’s annual Músíktilraunir music competition and received the “Brightest Hope” award at the Icelandic Music Awards. Since then, they’ve been performing at various festivals, and they’re currently hard at work on their first EP. The two band members are both from the Westfjords region, Katla Vigdís from Suðureyri and Ásrós Helga from Núpur in Dýrafjörður. Their music has been described as indie and dream pop. They play guitar, piano, accordion, xylophone, and I don’t even know what else. Expect good lyrics, beautiful vocals, and incredible stage presence.

I recommend the song “Into the Dark.” Be sure to check out the music video, which was nominated for Music Video of the Year at the 2018 Icelandic Music Awards.

Alexandra Stréliski

This is music for people who enjoy listening to calming piano tunes while they study. For those who like to curl up with a cup of tea and a good book in hand while the rain falls and the wind howls. For those that are into new classical music. Alexandra Stréliski grew up in Paris and Montréal. Her first album, Pianoscope, was released in 2010. Since then, her music has been featured in a number of films and TV shows, including Dallas Buyers Club (2013), Demolition (2016), and Big Little Lies (2017).

I recommend the song Plus tôt from Stréliski’s latest album, INSCAPE. Festivalgoers who want to hear more music in the same vein can also check out Gabríel Ólafs, for instance the song “Absent Minded.”

John Grant

John Grant released six albums with the band The Czars before taking a five-year break and then embarking upon a solo career in 2010. His first solo album, The Queen of Denmark, was named album of the year by music magazine Mojo. Grant first performed at Iceland Airwaves in 2011, establishing himself on the Icelandic music scene and in Icelandic society, and he now lives in Iceland. His music is a mix of soft rock ballads, synth pop, folk, and indie. If you go see his set this year, expect to have an amazing time. He’s playing at Fríkirkjan, a small church by the pond downtown, so it’ll be a more intimate show than many of his previous appearances at Airwaves.

I recommend the song “Black Belt” from the album Pale Green Ghosts.

Whitney

Chicago-based Whitney has been around since 2015. Max Kakacek and Julien Ehrlich started the project after the breakup of their former band, Smith Westerns. Since then, other musicians have joined the band. Their debut album, Light Upon the Lake, was released in 2016, followed by their sophomore effort last August. Whitney’s blend of soft indie rock and dream pop has been likened to Bon Iver with a hint of country.

I recommend the song “No Woman” from the album Light Upon the Lake.

Æ MAK

Æ MAK is the stage name of Dublin musician Aoife McCann. Besides her, the band features producer Daniel McIntyre and drummer/percussionist Peter Kelly. The three met while in music school in Dublin and formed the band when they graduated in 2015. Their synthy and sometimes jungly alt-pop songs feature emotional lyrics and are perfect for dancing.

I recommend the song “Dancing Bug” from the album of the same name, which is a collaboration with the electro-indie-house-pop duo Le Boom.

Cautious Clay

Cleveland native Joshua Karpeh, now a resident of Brooklyn, performs under the name Cautious Clay. He learned to play the flute at seven years old, and there was no turning back; he was on the path toward a music career. He fell in love with blues and jazz and started writing music, singing, and learning to play more instruments. After working in real estate for two years and later in advertising for one year, he decided to focus on music. Rolling Stone named Cautious Clay the best artist at the SXSW festival in Austin. His music could be described as R&B and hip-hop with a bit of Frank Ocean thrown in the mix.

I recommend the song “Cold War” from his debut album, Blood Type.

Madame Gandhi

Madame Gandhi is the stage name of electronic musician, drummer, rapper, and activist Kiran Gandhi. She grew up in New York and Mumbai, India and has drummed for many well-known musicians, like M.I.A., Kehlani, and Thievery Corporation. She also made the news in 2015, when she ran the London Marathon while free-bleeding on her period. Madame Gandhi makes feminist electronic music that celebrates and elevates women.

I recommend the song “The Future is Female” from the EP Voices.

The Howl & The Hum

When Sam Griffiths moved to York, he regularly attended open mic nights. That’s where he met bass player Bradley Blackwell, drummer Jack Williams, and guitarist Conor Hirons. The four musicians went on to form The Howl & The Hum, with Griffiths as songwriter and lead singer. They name Leonard Cohen, Phoebe Bridgers, Lizzo, and Kendrick Lamar as inspirations, and their music reminds me of a mix of Dikta, Alt-J, and The Killers.

I recommend the songs “Godmanchester Chinese Bridge” and “Portrait I.”

Mammút

Mammút was founded back in 2003, when its members were 13 to 15 years old. Just two months after getting together, the band won the Músíktilraun music competition. Their eponymous debut album, released in 2006, was well received. The band has won a number of awards, including Album of the Year at the Icelandic Music Awards, not once, but twice: first in 2013 for Komdu til Mín Svarta Systir and then in 2017 for Kinder Versions. The band consists of singer Katrína Mogensen, guitarists Alexandra Baldursdóttir and Arnar Pétursson, bassist Vilborg Ása Dýradóttir, and drummer Valgeir Skorri Vernharðsson.

I recommend the song “Salt” from Komdu til Mín Svarta Systir.

Georgia

Georgia Barnes is a singer, songwriter, and producer from London. When she was eight years old, she was discovered as a soccer star. She played soccer for Queens Park Rangers F.C. and later Arsenal Ladies before quitting to focus on music, following in the footsteps of her father, Neil Barnes, one half of the electric duo Leftfield. Georgia began her music career as a drummer, working with Kate Tempest, Kwes, and Micachu, among others. Her debut album, Come In, was released in 2014 and established her on the music scene. She plays extremely danceable electro-pop and has described her music as post-punk hip-hop soul music. She’s been compared to Missy Elliot and M.I.A., but there might also be a hint of Madonna or Robyn in there.

I recommend the song “About Work The Dancefloor” from the album of the same name.

10 Artists You Don’t Want to Miss at Airwaves