Sigur Rós

Sigur Rós

Sigur Rós is an Icelandic band from Reykjavík, active since 1994, known for a style that combines post-rock with ambient, ambient pop, art pop, art rock, dream pop and dance elements. The group forms part of the Reykjavík music scene alongside acts such as múm and Amiina. Its core line-up includes Jónsi, Georg Hólm, Ágúst Ævar Gunnarsson, Kjartan Sveinsson and Orri Páll Dýrason.

Formation and early releases

Jón Þór Birgisson, known as Jónsi, Georg Hólm and Ágúst Ævar Gunnarsson form the band in Reykjavík in August 1994. They soon sign to the local label Smekkleysa, also known as Bad Taste. Their name comes from Jónsi’s younger sister, Sigurrós.

The band’s first album, Von, appears in 1997, followed by the remix release Von brigði in 1998. The latter title is based on Icelandic wordplay: vonbrigði means “disappointment,” while von brigði suggests “hope alteration.” The album is also sometimes known as Recycle Bin.

Breakthrough and vocal style

International attention grows with Ágætis Byrjun in 1999, after Kjartan Sveinsson joins the group. The record’s reputation spreads gradually and later brings widespread critical praise. The band also begins to perform with Radiohead and other major acts. After the recording of Ágætis Byrjun, Ágúst leaves and Orri Páll Dýrason takes over on drums.

Sigur Rós becomes closely associated with Jónsi’s guitar technique, in which he plays with a cello bow and heavy reverb to create a broad, fluid sound. The band’s lyrics on ( ) are sung in vonlenska, a nonsensical vocal style that resembles Icelandic and leaves listeners to interpret their own meaning. The songs on the album are initially untitled, with names later published on the band’s website.

Collaborations, film and later work

In early 2001, the band records songs in its new Álafoss swimming pool studio with Steindór Andersen, a fisherman, chairman of the Icelandic poetry society Iðunn, and a chanter of traditional rímur. This collaboration leads to the EP Rímur, which is limited to 1,000 copies and sold during the spring tour of 2001.

In October 2003, Sigur Rós works with Radiohead on music for Merce Cunningham’s dance piece Split Sides. The resulting tracks, “Ba Ba,” “Ti Ki” and “Di Do,” are released as the EP Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do in 2004, with the three pieces intended to be played together as one composition.

The band’s music continues to appear on later releases including Takk... in 2005, Sæglópur EP and the accompanying single releases, the double album Hvarf/Heim in 2007, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust in 2008, Valtari in 2012 and Kveikur in 2013. Hvarf/Heim accompanies the film Heima, a documentary built from footage of the group’s tour of Iceland, with live performances and interviews. The band also makes its first foray into filmmaking with Heima. In 2011, a project called Inni is revealed as a live album and DVD.

Line-up changes and other work

In January 2013, Kjartan Sveinsson leaves the band and is not replaced. In 2014, Sigur Rós appears in the HBO series Game of Thrones, performing “The Rains of Castamere” in the second episode of the fourth season.

The group sells over 2.5 million albums worldwide.