Ólöf Sings! And Talks Covers, Originals… And Airwaves

Ólöf Arnalds’ idiosyncratic creative approach has been enchanting and intriguing fans for years – an ethereal voice earthed by quirky humour and a confident live presence, she has an unpindownable quality described by Ólöf’s sometime collaborator Björk as being “somewhere between a child and an old woman”. Icelandmusic.is talks to Ólöf on the cusp of the release of her hotly anticipated mini-album: Ólöf Sings!

Congratulations on Ólöf Sings! One of the most gratifying things about recording cover versions, we would imagine, is the opportunity to make those songs very much your own. Which of the covers you have recorded for this album do you feel most attached to, and why?

I think With Tomorrow / I´m On Fire is a favorite, because the two of them used to be tied in a three song medley, where I started with my song Englar og Dárar. It was something that developed very organically over many, many concerts and became a number that would surprise and amuse my audience.

You mentioned that the cover of 'She Belongs To Me' is a song you associate with Adda Ingolfsdottir, who I gather also has an album forthcoming. Tell us a bit more about how you met, and why that song is particular to her?

Adda and I first met when rehearsing a children's opera. She was 14, I was 12. To me it was absolutely thrilling when she entered the rehearsal studio like a whirlwind of good ideas, so determined and great with the coolest homemade necklace I´d ever seen, talking casually to the composer about books and poets like his equal. With luck we later became friends in high school, and her family´s home became a second home to me. The first time I sung She Belongs To Me was for her on her birthday, where I was singing about her being the artist that "don't look back".

'Maria Bethania' revolves, you have mentioned, around your favourite chord relationship which is 'typical of the dorian scale'. Can you explain a bit more about this?

Even though I was in music school for 20 years I found it very difficult to understand notes and therefore music theory was not really at my fingertips. I did have my inner understanding of chords and chord relationships. I was for some reason always particularly drawn to a lot of songs that were all or partly in this scale. It was not until later that a friend of mine cracked this for me during our conversation about Fela Kuti and put the term in context for me.

Are there any songs that you would still like to cover?

I think it will always be a part of what I do, so as I hear more songs, I hear more songs that I´d like to have a go at.

You've collaborated with some fantastic artists, not least Bjork on 'Surrender' and Ragnar Kjartansson on 'Crazy Car'. If you were to record an album of duets, who else would be on there, if you could choose absolutely anyone?

I prefer my collaborations to be born out of inspiration and friendship, so I now very rarely participate in projects or ask anyone to work with me unless we have a connection and history of exchanging ideas. So I can´t really get my head around choosing someone like that and would not necessarily see it as a dream situation for me as an artist.

The Icelandic music scene is obviously quite close-knit and interconnected, you've worked with Mugison, Stórsveit Nix Noltes, Múm of course, Kjartan Sveinsson... is it like a bit of a family or are there unspoken rivalries simmering away beneath the surface?

I think everyone is very respectful and helpful to each other. If there are any unspoken rivalries I hope they stay that way.

We're rather excited that you also have a new album of original material coming out in 2012. You've been super busy, that's for sure. What can we expect from the forthcoming release? Any surprises? (Don't worry, we won't tell anyone).

It will be an all English record of diverse songs. Some with little arrangements, some bigger. The instruments are all played by myself and Skúli Sverrisson. This time around there will be some voice overdubs, which I´ve never tried out before.

We are looking forward to seeing you at Airwaves, we think it's going to be a stonking year... but never mind what WE think, who are YOU looking forward to seeing?

Beach House, Tune Yards, Björk, Adda and Sinead O´Connor.

Ólöf will play Iceland Airwaves on Friday October 14th. She also will perform a special London date at St Pancras Old Church on November 24th. Ólöf Sings! is released next month on One Little Indian.

Photo by Vera Pálsdóttir.