Reykjavik Music Mess 2011

The Nordic House Nasa

Sunday April 17th

20:15 Hljómsveitin Ég20:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kippi Kaninus21:00 Mugison21:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sudden Weather Change21:45 Lára Rúnars22:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Skakkamanage22:30 Agent Fresco22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deerhunter

The Nordic House Sódóma Friday April 15th

20:15 Prinspóló20:30 21:00 Samaris21:15 21:45 Nive Nielsen22:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Miri dj se t22:30 Sóley22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nolo23:15 Stafrænn Hákon23:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FOSSILS00:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Swords of Chaos01:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Einar Örn + SWC01:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Æla02:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Miri dj sett

The Nordic House Nasa Saturday April 16th

20:15 AMFJ20:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FM Belfast dj set21:00 Hellvar21:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Miri21:45 Tomutonttu22:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Borko22:30 FOSSILS22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sin Fang23:15 Orphic Oxtra23:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lower Dens00:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .kimono01:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Reykjavík!+Lazyblood01:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

02:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Quadruplos

Reykjavik Music Mess is an independent music festival in downtown Reykjavik, with shows at Nasa, The Nordic House and Sódóma Reykjavík . It is held for the first time from the 15th to 17th of April . We have invited international acts such as Deerhunter (US), Lower Dens (US), Nive Nielsen & Deer Children (GL), FOSSILS (DK) and Tomutonttu (FI) and local heroes such as Mugison, Sin Fang, Reykjavík!, Agent Fresco and Skakkamanage .

Here you have the festival schedule in very handy format . Remove the spread from the paper . Fold it once and fold it again . But not for the third time (that would not make sense) . Enjoy the schedule and the music!

Nordic House

Nasa

Sunday

20:15 Hljómsveitin Ég

20:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kippi Kaninus

21:00 Mugison21:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sudden Weather Change

21:45 Lára Rúnars22:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Skakkamanage

22:30 Agent Fresco22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deerhunter

Nordic House

Sódóma

Friday20:15 Prinspóló20:30 21:00 Samaris21:15 21:45 Nive Nielsen22:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .miri dj sett

22:30 Sóley 22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nolo

23:15 Stafrænn Hákon

23:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fossils

00:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Swords of Chaos

01:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Einar Örn + SWC

01:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Æla

02:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .miri dj sett

Nordic House

Nasa

Saturday

20:15 AMFJ 20:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Quadruplos dj sett

21:00 Hellvar21:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Miri

21:45 Tomutonttu22:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Borko

22:30 Fossils 22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sin Fang

23:15 Orphic Oxtra23:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lower Dens

00:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .kimono

01:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Reykjavík!+Lazyblood

01:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

02:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Quadruplos

03:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .fm belfast dj sett

Reykjavík Music Mess is an independent

music festival in downtown Reykjavík, with

shows at NASA and the Nordic house . It is

held for the first time on 16th and 17th of

April . Bands from Iceland, USA, Finland and

Greenland will perform on this first edition of

the Mess .Reykjavík Music Mess is organized by KIMI

RECORDS .Kimi Records is an Icelandic independent

record label . It releases all kinds of music and

co-runs the records store / gallery Havarí .

Here you have the festivals full schedule . Re-

move the spread from the paper . Fold it once

and then fold it again . Enjoy!

Fold again!

Nordic House

Nasa

Sunday


20:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kippi Kaninus



22:30 Agent Fresco

22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deerhunter

Nordic House

Sódóma

Friday

20:15 Prinspóló20:30 21:00 Samaris 21:15 21:45 Nive Nielsen

22:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .miri dj sett

22:30 Sóley 22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nolo


23:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fossils

00:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Swords of Chaos

01:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Einar Örn + SWC

01:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Æla

02:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .miri dj sett

Nordic House

Nasa

Saturday


21:00 Hellvar 21:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Miri


22:30 Fossils 22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sin Fang


00:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .kimono


01:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

02:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Quadruplos















Nordic House

Nasa

Sunday


20:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kippi Kaninus

21:00 Mugison

21:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sudden Weather Change

21:45 Lára Rúnars

22:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Skakkamanage

22:30 Agent Fresco

22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deerhunter

Nordic House

Sódóma

Friday

20:15

Prinspóló

20:30 21:00

Samaris

21:15 21:45

Nive Nielsen

22:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .m

iri dj sett

22:30 Sóley

22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N

olo

23:15

Stafrænn Hákon

23:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F

ossils

00:15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Swords of C

haos

01:00

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Einar Ö

rn + SWC

01:45

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Æla

02:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .m

iri dj sett

Nordic House

Nasa

Saturday

20:15

AMFJ

20:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Q

uadruplos dj sett

21:00

Hellvar

21:15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Miri

21:45

Tomutonttu

22:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B

orko

22:30 Fossils

22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S

in Fang

23:15

Orphic Oxtra

23:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .L

ower Dens

00:15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .kim

ono

01:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .R

eykjavík!+Lazyblood

01:45

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

02:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Q

uadruplos

03:15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .fm belfa

st dj sett














Nordic House Nasa

Sunday

20:15 Hljómsveitin Ég20:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kippi Kaninus




Nordic House Sódóma Friday

20:15 Prinspóló20:30

21:00 Samaris21:15

21:45 Nive Nielsen22:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .miri dj sett

22:30 Sóley22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nolo

23:15 Stafrænn Hákon23:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fossils

00:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Swords of Chaos01:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Einar Örn + SWC

01:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Æla02:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .miri dj sett

Nordic House Nasa Saturday

20:15 AMFJ20:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Quadruplos dj sett

21:00 Hellvar21:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Miri


22:30 Fossils22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sin Fang


00:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .kimono01:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Reykjavík!+Lazyblood

01:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

02:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Quadruplos03:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .fm belfast dj sett

Reykjavík Music Mess is an independent music festival in downtown Reykjavík, with

shows at NASA and the Nordic house . It is held for the first time on 16th and 17th of

April . Bands from Iceland, USA, Finland and Greenland will perform on this first edition of

the Mess .

Reykjavík Music Mess is organized by KIMI RECORDS .

Kimi Records is an Icelandic independent record label . It releases all kinds of music and


Here you have the festivals full schedule . Re-move the spread from the paper . Fold it once


Fold!

Nordic House Nasa

Sunday

20:15 Hljómsveitin Ég20:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kippi Kaninus




Nordic House Sódóma Friday

20:15 Prinspóló20:30

21:00 Samaris21:15

21:45 Nive Nielsen22:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .miri dj sett

22:30 Sóley22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nolo

23:15 Stafrænn Hákon23:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fossils

00:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Swords of Chaos01:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Einar Örn + SWC

01:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Æla02:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .miri dj sett

Nordic House Nasa Saturday

20:15 AMFJ20:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Quadruplos dj sett

21:00 Hellvar21:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Miri


22:30 Fossils22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sin Fang


00:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .kimono01:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Reykjavík!+Lazyblood

01:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

02:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Quadruplos03:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .fm belfast dj sett

Reykjavík Music Mess is an independent music festival in downtown Reykjavík, with

shows at NASA and the Nordic house . It is held for the first time on 16th and 17th of

April . Bands from Iceland, USA, Finland and Greenland will perform on this first edition of

the Mess .

Reykjavík Music Mess is organized by KIMI RECORDS .

Kimi Records is an Icelandic independent record label . It releases all kinds of music and


Here you have the festivals full schedule . Re-move the spread from the paper . Fold it once


Nordic House

Nasa

Sunday


20:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kippi Kaninus




Nordic House

Sódóma

Friday20:15 Prinspóló20:30 21:00 Samaris21:15 21:45 Nive Nielsen22:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .miri dj sett

22:30 Sóley 22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nolo


23:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fossils

00:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Swords of Chaos

01:00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Einar Örn + SWC

01:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Æla

02:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .miri dj sett

Nordic House

Nasa

Saturday


21:00 Hellvar21:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Miri


22:30 Fossils 22:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sin Fang


00:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .kimono


01:45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

02:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Quadruplos















OK so there’s this ‘new’ music festival mak-ing the rounds in Reykjavík (you might have noticed—you are reading a special Grapevine supplement about it) . We think it’s exciting (this is why we are co-promoting the thing) . The month of April needs more music related stuff in it (sometimes, Aldrei fór ég suður happens in March) and the festival seems of the composition and spirit that other glorious local parties have been known for (the afore-mentioned AFÉS, early Innipúkinn and Ice-land Airwaves, for instance) and has maybe been lacking lately . Reading over the sched-ule, one can’t help but be impressed and, yes, excited!

However, we have been excited and subsequently bru-tally let down by promising ‘annual festivals’ in the past (Reykjavík Music Festival, Reykjavík Round Up, any-one?), so we have grown wary and hesitant to let our

guard down to embrace new festivals . How can we trust they are not merely fly-by-night shindigs, as opposed to ongoing creative orgies that last for years upon years, building tradition and legacy? Getting all panicky, we called up one of RMM’s architects, Kimi Records founder and proprietor Baldvin Esra Einarsson, to interrogate him on his intentions . Reykjavík Music Mess is really built around the Deerhunter concert,” says Baldvin . “We managed to book them, after a long bout of trying, and subsequently thought: Why not make more of this? Let’s book some more bands and create an event!” What, Airwaves isn’t enough for you? No [laughs] . The problem for ‘alternative music’—for lack of better term—in Iceland is that it just isn’t enough to have one weekend a year where new and exciting stuff is one display . That isn’t enough to broaden local listeners’ horizons and keep them informed about what’s happen-ing in the music world . Local audiences and artists need more, and we are striving to provide that .

So you’re not in the lucrative ‘indie festival’ busi-ness for the money, eh? You’re not getting paid? Ehrm . Not a lot, anyway . We want to make a good festival, that’s our number one priority . No sane person enters the indie music business in Iceland to make a profit, that’s for sure . Maybe if the thing sells out we’ll get a little ex-tra pocket money, but we’re not counting on it . Our aim is creating a good festival, first and foremost . Exposing people to good and interesting music . That’s always been the aim .

Are you selling a lot of records under the Kimi and Brak imprints? Enough to get by? I love almost all of them, but they’re not exactly crushing Bubbi in the local charts or on the radio . . . I suppose we sell on average around a thousand copies of each release on Kimi . Brak releases usually sell out, but the releases are limited to 200 copies . This is enough to make ends meet, usually .”

Are Icelanders buying this music? Do Icelanders like ‘indie music’? I have no idea . What I quoted you are our average local sales numbers, what’s sold within Iceland . We also sell a lot of albums abroad, as we distribute internationally . But I do know that in Havarí, for instance, one of our big-gest groups of buyers were tourists and foreign visitors . A surprising number of tourists to Iceland come here be-cause of the music . You could even say they were our main clientele .

So back to RMM . Why? Well . Several reasons . Mainly to create a nice festival, as I’ve said . But also because us at Kimi Records are inter-ested in adding concert promotion to what we do . Our company goal is to bring music to the people on every level . And also bring music to us, get to know people that are making it and working in the field the world over . This is a nice way to do that .

Any more concerts scheduled?Yes, we’ve booked the legendary Low to play here this June! And there’s more to come . It’s all happening .

Will there be a Reykjavík Music Mess 2012? Sure, if the planet doesn’t melt like in that movie . It seems like a good concept and a worthy thing to keep going . This time of year, around spring, seems lacking in activi-ties . People are already excited for spring, but there’s not a lot folks can do to let off steam . So here we are .

Finally, are there any news of Havarí? When will you reopen? We are currently looking like crazy for a new location . We will open as soon as possible, I promise . Renting real estate in 101 is no picnic right now . It seems to be capital holders’ sincere will to completely kill downtown Reyk-javík .

- Haukur S . Magnússon- Photo by Billi

DARE WE BE ExCITED ABOuT REYKJAvíK MuSIC MESS? Sure, if the planet doesn't melt

FOR A LOvE OF MOISTuRISER AND DAvID BOWIE A conversation with who may or may not be Deerhunter's Bradford CoxIf you don't know much about Deerhunter's music, you probably should . However, this interview might not provide much in the way of information . Bradford Cox of Deerhunter doesn't like dissecting his music . He is far more interested in moisturiser, reversing the roles of interviewer and interviewee, and speaking in a rainbow of different voices, all of which may or may not be him . But a little philosophy of music did get in there . A little surrealism too . If you do want to get to know Deerhunter's music, you should just go see them live at RMM, which they are headlining . This is going to be their first visit to Iceland and they said if we play nice, they will too . Someone answers the phone, high-pitched voice, like a little girl: “Hi . Hi . Hi . [giggle] .”Who is this?Braaaaaaaad Cox .Then can I ask you a few questions, Brad?Okay [still little girl-like] .So Icelanders may not be familiar with Deerhunter .They aren't? [Talking to someone in the background]: she said they don't know who Deerhunter is in Iceland . Well, we don't know where Iceland is either .You don't know where it is on the globe?Yeah, we've never heard of them either [still high-pitched] .Tell us how you got into music and why you find mak-ing music important . [Voice gets lower] well, I can't really imagine not playing music . It's just a natural, instinctual desire for me .

ON PERFORMINGOur readers might want to know about your perfor-mances . From watching some of your live shows . . .Well I don't really like describing our performances, just because it's like if I asked you to describe how you write, it's sort of like, you know, you just do it . It's everybody else's job to review it, or discuss it, or analyse it . It's just my job to do what I do .I heard that you’ve come onstage wearing a dress or covered in fake blood .That was years and years and years ago . And it was just for a laugh . It was sort just like absurdist theatre . I was really into surrealism and absurdism . And bewilderment .What do you want people to get out of a live show?I want them to have a really good time and enjoy the music . My goals aren't that different than any musician's, really .Have you ever done the crowd surfing thing?Oh yeah, I jump into the crowd a lot . But I don't think: "To-night I'm going to jump into the crowd ." I just do whatever happens, you know . If people don't know who we are and they treat us like: "Who the fuck are these guys?" we'll probably treat them like: "Who the fuck are you?" We'll have as much fun playing for people as they have watching us . We can't force people to have a good time .

ON COMING TO ICELANDThis is your first visit to the country . What do you think you're going to do while here?I guess whatever it is that tourists do . I wanted to see that church and I wanted to go to that milky, blue bath . Do you expect the Icelandic audience is going to be any different than audiences in other places you've played?Well, I don't know, I'd have to see them . From the ones that I've met, Icelandic people seem really nice and cour-teous and thoughtful . I can only imagine that it would a very nice place to play, a place that has respect for the arts and culture . Do you listen to Icelandic music at all?I've been a huge Björk fan since I was a kid, obviously . But that's kind of like saying to an American that you're a fan of Bruce Springsteen .Yeah, kind of .I mean, I like múm too . I've listened to quite a few mixes they've made that included traditional Icelandic music and some stranger music from Iceland . I quite liked that .

ON COMPOSINGIn some of your interviews, you've mentioned a stream-of-consciousness composing style . . .Well, it's interesting that you should bring that up, because today I went to the original Cabaret Voltaire here in Zu-rich, which is the birthplace of Dadaism, the precursor to surrealism . It's a literary and arts movement . When I was growing up I was very attracted to these movements . They related a lot to stream-of-consciousness writing and ex-ploring the unknown regions of the brain . With stream-of-consciousness composing, how do you pick out what's good from what's bad? Do you edit at all?I use everything I write, mostly . So no, I don't really edit very much .

ON GETTING OLDERIn a Pitchfork interview from 2007 you mentioned that you were tired of people looking at you and not listening to your music . Is that something that you care about anymore?No I don't really care . I was a lot younger then . How have things changed with age then?Oh I don't know, in lots of ways, you just get used to it . We're just a better group . We're tighter and more ma-ture, more muscular, thicker, harder, stronger, and hairier . Hair in different places . I mean during this conversation, my voice has changed . It's gradually getting deeper and deeper, I don't know if you've noticed that at all . By the time we end this, I'm going to be elderly . And it will be an article about the life of the late Bradford Cox, whose legacy lives on in this article . Let's talk about Josh for a little while .

ON MOISTuRISEROkay, so how is it working with Josh (the bassist) then?Josh has just been a little distant lately .

Why do you think that is?Well he is using a different moisturiser . And you think that could have an impact on some-one's personality?I think moisturiser has everything to do with someone's personality . What if someone doesn't use moisturiser?Well if they don't use moisturiser, then they don't have a personality . And if they use the wrong kind of moisturiser, then they have the wrong personality?No, if they use the wrong type of moisturiser, they are doing everything right . They're playing David Bowie on the PA really loud and I want to go stand in front of the speakers . I'll just hand the phone to Martin [Deerhunter's manager] until the David Bowie song is over, is that okay?Yeah, that's fine .Martin: Sorry about that . If David Bowie comes onto the radio, Brad sort of has to drop everything he's doing and go and listen . It's sort of this bizarre thing that happens . Okay here he is again .

ON WHO THE HELL KNOWS[Deep voice, definitely not Brad Cox] So, next question . Shoot . Is this Brad?Yeah this is Brad . But maybe it's not . Maybe it's Josh . Or it could be Moses [the drummer] . Thou shalt not wonder .Okay then . . . so what do you think of Halcyon Digest compared to your older albums?I think the new album is pretty good . I think it's a lot more accessible than the old albums . You know, you could hear it on the radio, people like to get doooown to it . I think you know what I mean .So are you going to tell me who I'm talking to or no?This is Brad Cox of Atlanta, Georgia [definitely not] . My social security number is 5129837587213 .

That's an awful lot of numbers for a social security number . I have more need for security than most people . I mean, you know, I've got to talk to a lot of people and shake a lot of hands .

ON LIFE OuTSIDE OF MuSIC (AND DAvID BOWIE, AGAIN)What do you guys do when you're not playing music?We concentrate on other things . Moses has kids and so he concentrates on being a father . Lockett also concentrates on his kids . And Martin concentrates on David Bowie . He also manages David Bowie [not true] . David Bowie takes up a lot of one's time, but we have an agreement, me and David . But then again, David sent this guy to follow us around play his songs on the stereo where ever we are . You know, just to let us know who's boss [sighs] .So David Bowie's the boss, not Martin?No, Martin is the boss . And he tells you what to do?Yeah, we all basically walked into a Burger King in 1998 and we thought we were getting regular jobs .Then you ended up becoming musicians that tour the world?Exactly . I thought I'd just make enough money to buy my girlfriend an Old Navy gift card for Christmas .So was it kind of like stepping into an alternate uni-verse?No, it was like stepping into an alternate Burger King . At the end of the day it's all just rags and potatoes .

- vanessa Schipani- Photo by Matt Tuttle

READ THIS! FANCY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: To celebrate the Reykjavík Mu-sic Mess, your friends at the Grapevine are throwing a special edition of 'GRAPE-VINE GOT LEGS' . Yes, show up at 12 Tónar on Skólavörðustígur on RMM Saturday (April 16) at 2PM and join GV legend BOB CLUNESS along with Reykjavík!/Prin-spóló drummer-slash-human music encyclopaedia Kriss Rokk for a music themed guided walking tour of 101 Reykjavík! Drinks! Music! Fun! Frenzy! Bob Cluness!

Léttöl

YOuR FANCY RMM vENuES

THE NORDIC HOuSEThough not traditionally a concert venue, The Nordic House has long celebrated culture in all its various forms .

SÓDÓMA REYKJAvíKWith its cramped quarters, excellent sound system and central location, Sódóma is the quintessential Icelandic music venue .

NASAInarguably the classiest of Reykjavík’s venues, NASA’s slick décor and plush carpets belie the wild partying that goes on at the dance-floor .

YOuR FANCY RMM ARTISTSPRINSPÓLÓPrinspóló is lovely indie lo-fi from the heart of Iceland . A one-man operation in the studio, it takes to the stage with endearing wit and charm as a full band .

NIvE NIELSENGreenland-born Nive Nielsen brings simple, country-themed folk into its own with a hazy, narcotic production that is as endearing as it is intriguing .

SÓLEYDreamy and ethereal, Sóley’s piano-driven ballads recall Cat Power and Joanna Newsom at their most assured and elusive .

STAFRÆNN HÁKONRanging from minute, intimate guitar twinkling and mini-mal pitter-patter drum patterns to massive, apocalyptic noise crescendos, Stafrænn Hákon’s music seems to span the entire bracket of alternative music .

SAMARISWith slow, minimal programming accompanying husky vocals and a sombre clarinet, recent Músíktilraunir win-ners Samaris might just be the next big thing in Icelandic techno .

NOLOTough, genre-driven soundscaping experimentation and outstanding pop hooks make Nolo one of Iceland’s most interesting bands since… well, ever .

FOSSILSRaging, intense and malicious rock, Fossils make the kind of music that gets you thinking about switching to a meat-only diet and endorsing cannibalism .

EINAR ÖRN + SWCEinar Örn and Sudden Weather Change mark two dispa-rate generations of Icelandic alternative guitar music, and will combine at the Music Mess to produce gloriously mis-understood results .

ÆLASkewed, off-kilter and maddeningly obscure, Æla’s proto-punk veers calamitously from song to song with little time or patience for explanation .

AGENT FRESCOAgent Fresco have been all but crowned the princes of Icelandic stadium rock, with their soaring operatic vocals, snaking chugga-chugga guitar riffs and hard-battered drums .

AMFJA one-man death march of genocidal sound destruction, AMFJ would never do anything he’s told, so we won’t even bother to predict what he’ll be like at the Music Mess .

BORKOFruity synth and sample fiddling accompanied by melodi-ous acoustic guitar, Borko’s music has been described as being ‘like tiptoeing through a field of daisies while having a bath of champagne .’

DEERHuNTERAn energetic, adventurous pop-rock band from the Amer-ican heartland, Deerhunter have never been too indie to throw some sloppy rock awesomeness into their music over their ten-year career .

HELLvARThis noise team smashes together emotion-laden synth-pop and snarling guitar hooks to make an invigorating soup of sound .

ÉGWholesome folk-rock goodness from one of Iceland’s most underrated satirists, Ég have recently emerged from hiatus to remind people what music was like when it was still music .

KIMONOKimono has, of late, been redrawing the battle plans for Icelandic indie with their epic post-rock compositions .

KIPPI KANINuSRoomy, atmospheric musical experimentation defines Kippi Kaninus, whose contributions to the Icelandic ex-perimental scene over the years have been invaluable .

LÁRA RÚNARSThe energetic pop stylings of Lára Rúnars seldom fail to amuse and delight, with their carefully laden indie instru-mentation and catchy singalongs .

LAZYBLOOD + REYKJAvíK!Premiering their ‘TICKLING DEATH MACHINE’ show that will run at the Kunstenfestivaldesarts in Belgium this May, rockist noisemongers Reykjavík! and their sister band, electro-rockist noisemongers Lazyblood will be sure to surprise at RMM .

LOWER DENSSmoky, laid-back guitar hooks and hollow vocals abound in the music of Baltimore four-piece Lower Dens, and they look to be a band worth watching .

MIRIYoung alt-rock heroes from east Iceland, Miri have made a name for themselves in recent years as an innovative, inventive and altogether fascinating live act .

MuGISONBlazing a trail that’s led him from skittish experimentation to atmospheric movie soundtracks to full-blown angst-ridden cock-rock, Mugison has long been considered one of Iceland’s finest indie heroes .

ORPHIC OxTRAOrphic Extra’s lively, Balkan-style folk pop is nothing short of onstage insanity, with its organized chaos flying all over the place .

QuADRuPLOSSlick dubstep infused with all the verve and vigour of Ice-land’s flourishing techno scene, Quadruplos will most as-suredly get loud at Music Mess .

SIN FANGThe euphoric product of one of the Icelandic indie scene’s favourite sons, Sin Fang continues to enthral with its care-fully crafted pop symphonies .

SKAKKAMANAGEThis rough, homegrown indie band infuses some fun into the often-drab realities of existence in Iceland, with its tell-it-like-it-is lyrics and DIY production style .

SuDDEN WEATHER CHANGEThe introverted teen anthems of Sudden Weather Change find a boisterous outlet in their charismatic live shows .

SWORDS OF CHAOSWith beats and riffs carefully designed for maximum-efficiency head-banging and moshing, the brutal battery of hardcore punk that is Swords Of Chaos has become something of a local legend .

TOMuTNOTTuHypnotic ambient from Iceland’s closest cultural relatives, the Finns, Tomutnottu is as utterly incomprehensible and yet irresistibly entertaining as the nation that spawned the one-man act .

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Reykjavik Music Mess 2011