Bjarki is the recording name of Bjarki Runar Sigurdarson, an Icelandic DJ and producer. He works in techno and related electronic styles, including ambient techno, IDM, industrial techno, minimal techno and electronic music more broadly.

Background

Bjarki grows up in northern Iceland and begins making music after moving in with his father at the age of 12. A friend’s older brother shows him how to use a software sequencer and build basic beats on a home computer, with early ideas shaped by hard trance as well as artists such as The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy and Autechre. He later moves back to Reykjavik, where he meets fellow producer Exos at the age of 15.

He later relocates to Copenhagen, where a chance meeting leads to his signing to Nina Kraviz’s label Tрᴎπ (TRIP Records) when she is playing at Culture Box club. He is also associated with Hellcat Industries.

Music and releases

His production style is described as experimental and rooted in abrasive minimal techno, IDM and trance. He is known for appearing on compilations with other label artists. Before using his own name more widely, he records under the Kid Mistik alias.

His debut 12-inch, Arthur and Intergalactic Whales, includes the single “I Wanna Go Bang”, which receives a positive response. In 2016 he releases a trilogy of albums drawn from a large archive of unreleased material: Б, Lefhanded Fuqs and Æ.