Arstidir

‘Even though many of the songs are in a language we don’t understand, the fragile beauty of their music and the harmony of it speaks to every soul.’
- Elena Savitskaya, IN ROCK, Russia

Árstíðir is a vocal-based acoustic band from Reykjavík with a sound unique to the Icelandic music scene. All six members are distinguished players known from various bands and genres in the Reykjavík soundscape. Over the mere two and a half years since Árstíðir’s formation the band has released two records praised by trendsetting music critics, had two number-one hits on Icelandic radio, made several TV appearances in Iceland and Sweden, and played sold out venues all over Iceland, Scandinavia, Germany and Russia.
Aside from their trademark vocal harmonies, it is Árstíðir’s instrumentation that set them apart, effusing a warm tide of resonant acoustic and baritone guitars, virtuosic piano, and melismatic strings. The result is an unusually wide sound spectrum, further emphasized by the impressive vocal range of all six members.

Consequently, Árstíðir’s music is a rare composition of the clear-cut and the complex. Their songs are easy to fall in love with yet mixed with diverse influences such as progressive rock, indie, classical music, country and Icelandic folk music.

Árstíðir is currently working on their next album. It is produced by Ólafur Arnalds, and will be released in October 2011.


BAND MEMBERS
Daníel Auðunsson - Guitar & vocals
Gunnar Már Jakobsson - Guitar & vocals
Ragnar Ólafsson - Baritone guitar & vocals
Hallgrímur Jónas Jensson - Cello & vocals
Jón Elísson - Piano & vocals
Karl Aldinsteinn Pestka - Violin & vocals


DISCOGRAPHY
Árstíðir (Nivalis, 2009 and Adore Music/Border, 2010)
Live at Fríkirkjan EP (Nivalis, 2008)


CONTACT INFORMATION

·     Record company: Nivalis Ltd., nivalis.ehf@gmail.com

·     General manager and worldwide booking agent: Maria Chelnokova, mountaintsar@gmail.com, +7 916 9227376

·     Central Europe booking agent: Solis Art, helenka@solisart.cz, +42 072 5610230

·     PR & media management: Linda Iliste, linda.iliste@gmail.com, +46 737249130

www.arstidir.com
www.myspace.com/arstidir


SELECTED VIDEOS

·     Sunday Morning – Live on Sweden’s largest morning news show, national channel TV4, Sweden 2010: http://bit.ly/h1HAdl

·     Touring the Icelandic Westfjords– Feature from episode #3 of web TV-series Sleepless in Reykjavík, 2010: http://bit.ly/goyqJy  

·    Látum okkur sjá – Live on the show Kastljósið,  national TV channel Rúv, Iceland 2009: http://bit.ly/hjJ3oi

Link to the official video of Brestir: http://bit.ly/bRaPLz
Link to the official live video of Ljóð í sand: http://bit.ly/fUSY3u


WHAT THE PRESS SAYS ABOUT ÁRSTÍÐIR

‘The delivery is mesmeric.’
Mark Muggeridge, Record of the Day, UK

‘Árstíðir’s debut album is full of refined acoustic folk pop with delightful singing. It’s beautiful and atmospheric, and every so often the arrangements are striking.’
Rolf Bernskiöld, LIRA, Sweden

‘A really beautiful album, and musically Árstíðir is a really good band.’
Andrea Jónsdóttir, Popland, Iceland

’Árstíðir’s sleek melodies sound just as dreamlike as Iceland’s gushing geysers, grinding glaciers and hot springs appear.’
Salad Days, Italy

‘Shit. I mean, wow. Where to begin? Can mere words even do justice to the emotion Árstíðir evoked during two too short hours at Fríkirkjan? I don’t know if it’s the church thing, but seriously – this evening may in fact be the closest I have ever come to worship.’
Louise Petersson, The Reykjavík Grapvine, Iceland

‘The crowd is rendered silent with astonishment the minute six strong voices start singing. Some even start crying. You can hear each breath the singers take and when the chords end Árstíðir are met with the kind of roaring cheer that usually only the ladies men of rock are granted.’
Sydsvenska Dagbladet, Sweden

‘Even though many of the songs are in a language we don’t understand, the fragile beauty of their music and the harmony of it speaks to every soul.’
Elena Savitskaya, IN ROCK, Russia

‘Each of their songs, whether it's a poignant ballad or the troubling Kill Us which sounds surprisingly brutal when performed live, penetrates the depths of the soul. Árstíðir’s music sends you on an amazing journey from which you return astonished and full of gratitude.’
Michael Lazutkin, Zvuki, Russia