Beauty And Release, Pressure And Tension - Helgi Hrafn Jónsson

Helgi Hrafn Jónsson, Bedroom Community collaborator and all round excellent person, has released Big Spring, a solo album bursting with an intriguing and eclectic mix of moods and sounds. After returning home from a successful tour promoting the album, he found the time to have a chat with IMX, and we're jolly glad he did. Helgi, the spotlight is yours...

Hi Helgi! Tell us a bit about what inspired this new release?

I believe the time was right for me to make an album like this one. One that is both tangible, yet incalculable at the same time. One that carries both beauty and release, pressure and tension.

It's a strong follow-up to your album For The Rest Of My Childhood - how did the process of making Big Spring differ?

The process was somewhat longer. At first I wanted to make Big Spring in 2010, but found myself not ready and not capable of doing it the way I wanted. After trying for months to get the ball rolling I decided to make an entirely different album, so I did the 7 song EP "Blindfolded", and released it quietly on tour in the autumn of 2010. I believe that making this, more experimental album, enabled me to go full force to work for "Big Spring". I knew I wanted to have a little more thought behind the album as a whole than I had for the "Childhood" record.

The single, 'Darkest Part Of Town', is rather beautiful. Where IS the darkest part of town? And should we avoid it, or is it dark in all the best possible ways?

The darkest part of town is a lot of things combined, I guess. It can be the amount of alcohol you consume, the amount of decibels your ears are exposed to in a shady dance bar, amount of random sex you have with strangers.. basically any dark whole a broken hearted person call fall into believing that's the place to be. Going on the town is a lot of fun. Living on the town is another matter.

We know what you mean. Speaking of the dark, we'd imagine the hefty amounts of darkness one must experience through the long Icelandic winters must prove to be a challenge or a motivating force for creativity. Or indeed both. What are your musings on this?

I know for my self that the huge contrast in light over here have a big influence on my creativity, through my body and soul. Both summer and winter. As much as I love the Icelandic landscapes, I think the weather and light have a much bigger influence on us.

Big Spring features a beautiful duet, Careful People, with the Danish singer Tina Dico. Is this the first time you've worked together?

Tina and I have played over 300 concerts together in the last 4 years.

Aha! Who else would you love to collaborate with, if you could choose absolutely anyone?

I'm currently collaborating with my dad, building my recording studio.. on the musical front I would love to work with Björk Guðmundsdóttir someday in the future. Who wouldn't?

Indeed! You've just finished a tour - how was it, and what is the general touring experience a la Helgi like?

It was a marvelous experience. I had such fine men with me on the road, both on stage and in the crew. I couldn't be happier. Touring experience with Helgi is: Good weather, wine and women. Also some music.

You've been working with the splendid Bedroom Community - and were a part of the Whale Watching Tour which took Europe by storm last year - what are you working on next with the collective, or are you mainly concentrating on solo work at the moment?

I repeatedly work with Valgeir Sigurðsson on productions of his, be it for Bedroom Community or other things he produces. I know of some exciting work with Ben Frost coming up, that's always refreshing. For the upcoming months I will also be producing Tina Dico's next album, scheduled for fall 2012.

You performed at the glittering Harpa for Airwaves last month - what do you think of the new concert hall?

I'm very proud of Harpa. I love this building.

Quite right too. Finally... what / who are you listening to at the moment?

Adele. The builders at my house crank up the station FM957; it's kinda hooky.

Adele is rather good, we must admit! Thank you Helgi.