Ólöf Arnalds

Icelandic singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ólöf Arnalds has been developing an intimate songwriting approach since the mid-2000s at the intersection of acoustic folk, chamber pop and Nordic traditional influences. Trained in voice and composition in Reykjavík, she first attracted attention within the Icelandic experimental scene—notably alongside the group múm—before focusing on more personal work. Her debut album, “Við og við,” was released in Iceland in 2007 and later distributed internationally, establishing an aesthetic centered on voice, strings and spare arrangements. With “Innundir skinni” (2010) and “Sudden Elevation” (2013) she alternates between Icelandic and English lyrics, broadens her range toward more melodic pop and increases collaborative projects, including a duet with Björk and work with bassist-composer Skúli Sverrisson. The 2014 album “Palme” continues this exploration between folk ballads, carefully crafted vocal harmonies and more experimental touches. Active on European and North American stages, Ólöf Arnalds remains closely tied to Iceland’s independent music network while developing a singular body of work that sits between introspective songcraft and subtle sonic exploration.