Gabríel Ólafsson and Klaudia Gawryluk recently earned the title of “Top 20 Under 30 - Nordic Music Biz”, a recognition that celebrates the brightest young talent in the Nordic music industry.

Now in its seventh year, the Nordic Music Biz Top 20 Under 30 initiative highlights the diversity across industry sectors and genres, reflecting the rich and varied music scene in the region. 

These young professionals play a crucial role behind the scenes in the rise of Nordic music and its global influence, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to an ever-evolving industry.

The 2024 winners were celebrated over lunch at the Nedre Foss Gård in Oslo, hosted by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Each winner received a diploma created by Norwegian artist Kristian Hammerstad in honour of their achievements, a representative from the ministry of Foreign Affairs also gave a few words on the occasion. This recognition underscores the importance of these young professionals in shaping the future of the Nordic music industry.

Photos taken by: Ousu Leigh

Icelandic Contributions to the Nordic Music Biz Top 20 Under 30

Gabríel Ólafsson and Klaudia Gawryluk bring the total number of Icelandic awardees to twelve. Previous Icelandic winners include:

• 2018: Sindri Ástmarsson
• 2019: Unnsteinn Manuel Stefánsson, Sigríður Ólafsdóttir, Anna Ásthildur Thorsteinsson
• 2020: Soffia Jónsdóttir
• 2021: Ægir Sindri Bjarnason, Bergþór Másson
• 2022: Björk Hrafnsdóttir, Árni Hrafn Kristmundsson
• 2023: Bjarni Daníel Þorvaldsson, Junia Lin Jónsdóttir, Sólveig Matthildur

Gabríel Ólafsson and Klaudia Gawryluk join this esteemed group of Icelandic innovators, recognized for their outstanding work in elevating the Icelandic music scene.

Meet the 2024 Winners

Gabríel Ólafsson: Innovator and Founder of Reykjavík Orkestra

Gabríel Ólafsson is a composer, producer, and founder of the specialized symphony orchestra Reykjavík Orkestra (formerly Reykjavík Recording Orchestra). He played a key role in establishing a state-of-the-art recording studio in Harpa, Iceland's premier concert hall, connecting it to three of Harpa’s main halls. The orchestra has recorded scores for major international clients such as Netflix, Apple TV, Blizzard, EA Games, Deutsche Grammophon, BBC, and Hans Zimmer. In addition to his production work, Gabríel's original compositions, released under Decca/Universal, have garnered over 300 million streams.

Klaudia Gawryluk: DJ, Promoter, and Founder of Radar

Klaudia Gawryluk is a DJ, promoter, and the founder of Radar, Iceland’s first electronic music club in 20 years. She is the driving force behind event series "Open Decks" and "Bi*ch Per Minute," which have cultivated a vibrant electronic music scene for young enthusiasts. Radar has become a central hub for Icelandic electronic music, drawing international attention and hosting world-renowned DJs like Marco Bailey and Nina Kraviz. Klaudia’s efforts have revitalised Reykjavik's electronic music scene, making it stronger than it has been in two decades.