It’s not often a person of so few words can ignite so many questions. Yet the softly-spoken Ásgeir manages to convey a thousand sentiments in his poignant outlook on music and life.
While his new album, ‘Afterglow’, has surpassed first release sales of fellow Icelandic superstars Bjork and Sigur Ros, Ásgeir is as down to earth and profound as one might except from someone who grew up in a town of 40 people. “[After the first album ‘In The Silence’], I felt a lot of pressure… to do something," he says.
“I didn’t know what it should be… I ended up taking a break from it all and tried to get back into my old self of how I used to write, why I used to write. So while I knew people wanted more music, in the end I couldn’t do it for them. I did it for myself.”
With ‘Afterglow’ hitting the charts, Ásgeir is looking forward to his Splendour In The Grass side shows. “We started the tour for the new album a few weeks ago. We’ve changed the show quite a bit… changed a lot of the technical stuff on stage.
“We’ve got lights this time, which I think is a big step up. It’s bigger and more for the audience. I’m not the type to make jokes on stage or interact with people too much… We also have a piano player who plays most of the main parts.”
As a child growing up in a musical family it’s no surprise ‘Afterglow’ has all the markings of a confident, yet genuinely sincere artist. “I worked with my father on most of the lyrics on the first album and with [‘Afterglow’] he worked on a few. I worked with my older brother to transcribe the lyrics. He added his own input as it all came together.
“I also worked with other lyricists. If I write a song, I send it to lyricists I’m working with and they work with me… My passion is not writing the words; it’s always been music. I respect [the lyricists], because they have such a passion for words like music is for me.
“Honestly, I’ve heard people say after listening to [the new album] they feel hopeful or sad,” he adds. “I’ve heard people say different things about it. But there isn’t one message I’m trying to get across. I was trying to make myself excited about music again.”
Ásgeir attributes his success to his commitment to his music and his own, introverted ingenuity. “I like to paint and do creative things in different ways. Every day... I go to the gym or go for a run. I spend a lot of time hanging out with old friends when I get the time to be in Iceland. Sometimes I go back to my family, where I grew up, far away from where I live now.”
His creative, yet reticent lifestyle has paid off with critics praising ‘Afterglow’ for its raw, emotional honesty and boundary-pushing musical style. “I go through different periods of writing… so my music is always evolving. I think I will always be looking to do something different each time around.”
Asgeir Shows
Fri 21 Jul - Enmore Theatre (Sydney)Sat 22 Jul - Splendour In The Grass (Byron Bay)
Mon 24 Jul - Forum Theatre (Melbourne)
Tue 25 Jul - Astor Theatre (Perth)
