Dad Rocks!

The 12th of April 2010 marks the day for the very first release on Kanel Records. The artist behind this release is Icelandic Snævar Njáll Albertsson who is releasing his very first EP, Digital Age, under his solo moniker Dad Rocks!. Snævar also plays in Danish/Icelandic rock band Mimas.
Dad Rocks!, however, is quite different: The guitar here is acoustic and is accompanied by piano, trumpet, accordion, handclaps and more.

As Dad Rocks!, Snævar is inspired by acts such as Bill Callahan, Owen, Why?, Akron/Family and Do Make Say Think. This has led to a sound that is a unique mix of psych folk and lo-fi country with elements of hip hop and use of dubs as it’s also heard in Yoni Wolf’s musical universe.
However, 25-year-old Snævar Njáll Albertsson’s primary sources of inspiration are the relations closest to him. Most of all his little daughter who also inspired by name Dad Rocks!, which is of course also a pun on the ’dad rock’ genre. This use of pathos and irony is something that is explored throughout the release.

Lyrically, this is also a central aspect. The subjects are both big and small. Sometimes delivered almost cynically with words that are close to naïvism. Underneath this, the irony lurks at every corner, and even the title Digital Age explores the space between pathos and irony.

After the danish release of the EP the Oxford-label Big Scary Monsters Records discovered and fell in love with the sound of Dad Rocks! The label signed him and released 'Digital Age' on August 16th in the UK. The EP was well received and even NME posted the video for the single 'Nothing Keeps Up' on their website.