We’re just a couple weeks away from the award-winning artist, composer and producer Ólafur Arnalds at the Hult Center. He’s currently on a monumental world wide album tour for his latest release, ‘some kind of peace’. We asked Ólafur what he has been listening to lately and he was kind enough to take some time from his busy schedule to tell us a little bit about what albums he is currently loving and why.
The following compilation of songs and notes were curated/written by Ólafur Arnalds.
Adrianne Lenker – Songs
I’m a huge fan of Big Thief and Adrianne’s Songs is my favourite album of 2020. I still listen to it all the time. She is one the of the most interesting guitar players around today and her voice is just incredible, tender and terrifying at the same time. I haven’t listened to the new Big Thief album as much as I would want to yet but what I’ve heard so far is great.
Magnús Jóhann & Skúli Sverrisson – Án tillits
Two of my favourite jazz players together on an album. Magnús Jóhann is a young up-and-coming pianist who plays with almost everybody in the local scene. Skúli’s expressive and detailed bass playing has long ago made him a legend, having played with everybody from Blonde Redhead to Ryuichi Sakamoto. This is a perfect album for early mornings and late nights.
Josin – In The Blank Space
One of my absolute favourite records in recent years. My electronic project Kiasmos did a remix for her a couple of years ago and we got to know each other. Since then we’ve written together a few times and have become good friends. She records and produces everything herself and makes the most beautiful, layered sad songs.
Hania Rani – Venice – Infinitely Avantgarde
Hania is a dear friend of mine and one of the most gifted pianists of her generation. This is a soundtrack to a film I haven’t actually seen but the flow and dynamic of the music is just so good. The album is also recorded and mixed brilliantly by another friend of mine, Viktor Orri.
JFDR – New Dreams
Jófríður, or JFDR, is someone I have worked with quite a lot in recent years and admired for much longer. Her music is so delicate, open and vulnerable but yet extremely powerful and experimental. Listen to a song like ‘Taking A Part Of Me’ , I don’t think anybody could come up with a song like that except for her.
We hope you discovered something new to enjoy on this list and we’ll see you at the show on June 11.