Say Hello to Iceland Music at WOMEX
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Iceland Music will have a presence at this year’s WOMEX music festival, which will be held in Manchester, England, from October 23-27.
WOMEX is both a music festival and a conference dedicated to music from all corners of the world. It is the largest of its kind in Europe, with over 2,600 attendees from more than 90 countries participating in the conference alone.
Alongside other Nordic countries, Iceland Music will have a booth in the Nordic area, staffed by Icelandic musicians who will be there to present their projects and seek business connections.
The Icelandic delegation this year includes:
Jóhann Ingi Benediktsson, Harpa Þorvaldsdóttir, Sigmar Þór Matthíasson, and Guðmundur Atli Pétursson representing the band Brek; Alexandra Kjeld and Arngerður María Árnadóttir representing the music group Umbra; solo artist Svavar Knútur Kristinsson; and Sigtryggur Baldursson representing Iceland Music.
The delegation will showcase Iceland Music’s playlists available on streaming platforms and the Record in Iceland refund system, which provides refunds for sound recordings made in Iceland.
Come say hi to Iceland Music at booth Y21
Those interested in attending this festival and conference can still register and participate, as it is open to everyone with an interest in the sector. For more information, contact Sigtryggur Baldursson at sigtryggur@icelandmusic.is.
Meet the delegation:
Sigtryggur Baldursson

Sigtryggur Baldursson has a long and distinguished career in music, both artistically and professionally. As a renowned drummer and pioneer in music export, he played a significant role in shaping Iceland's music industry, serving as the Managing Director of ÚTÓN, which established among other things, the Icelandic Music Export Fund and the Record in Iceland programme during his tenure.
Svavar Knútur

With sincerity and minimalism as his tools, Svavar Knútur has managed to carve out a niche for himself, both for his original songs and his interpretation of classic Icelandic tunes. He is known for blending humor with serious topics, guiding his audience through fits of laughter and valleys of tears, with hope and joy as the final destination. Svavar has described himself as the "broccoli of music," not necessarily to everyone's immediate taste, but undeniably wholesome and surprisingly good when baked with melted cheese.
Umbra

Icelandic ensemble Umbra was formed in 2014 by four female professional musicians bound together by a passion for early and new music.
From the beginning their vision has been to craft their own musical world with a distinct sound and unique delivery in performing early, traditional and new music. The ensemble's repertoire features sacred and secular medieval tunes from Iceland and continental Europe, as well as traditional songs, performed to the ensemble's original arrangements. In addition to that they have been performing Icelandic contemporary music by some of the country's most prominent composers.
Alexandra Kjeld and Arngerður María Árnadóttir will be at Womex representing Umbra
Brek

Brek skillfully weaves together diverse influences from various styles of folk and popular music into original compositions. With an emphasis on creating an engaging yet accessible atmosphere, their pieces invite listeners to explore the rich textures of sound while offering moments of challenge.
Central to Brek's music is a focus on the multifaceted use of the Icelandic language. By blending traditional Icelandic folk heritage with elements from other folk traditions, they aim to break down genre barriers and cultivate a distinctive soundscape.
Brek has garnered recognition in the Icelandic music scene, earning nominations for the Icelandic Music Awards in the folk category for two consecutive years. In 2022, their debut album received the Icelandic Music Award for Album of the Year in folk and world music. With each performance, Brek aims to leave a meaningful impression in the world of folk music.