The ruggedly stunning island nation of Iceland has been home to a number of electronic music deities over the years. Perhaps one the most well known acts is Bjork with GusGus coming a close second, there is however a whole new generation of artists looking to make similar waves in the electronic music industry. This may be a tenuous link to our guest on our next AlphaTheta Free Download edition, but the impact that Thorgerdur is set to have on our corner of the music sphere could be just as important. For one, her undoubted talents have reached the ears of many discerning figures including our own. This resulted in her being called upon to showcase her talents at our recent event in Oslo and the Norwegian crowd is one that is very well known to her given the capital being her second for much of her life.
Although Thorgerdur has spent a lot of time in Oslo over the years she is very much Icelandic and we begin our journey through her musical life at the very start where we discuss her local scene, “I am struggling to define “local music scene”, having been mainly raised in a small town up in the north of Iceland called Dalvík, this is where I studied classical piano for many years and musical theory as well. I then moved to Reykjavík when I was 16, which is the city where I first got to know underground music through frequent visits to Kaffibarinn, one of my favourite venues in the world.”
It is clear from this early exchange that Thorgerdur’s early surroundings were rural and perhaps did not benefit from the musical outlets that are now enjoyed, “The first memory I have of my “local” music scene was at home with my mother giving me cassettes containing Norwegian children’s songs, some of which I loved so much that I remember playing them on repeat at home! As I am raised in such a small town up north (after living my first two years in Oslo while my mother was in university), I don’t really remember being so exposed to the local music scene beyond the local music school that I attended since I was 8 years old. This was also more acoustic music with local artists playing mainly rock or folk music, and concerts at the local horse competitions, where I heard various musicians playing.”
Continuing to unearth gems from Thorgerdur’s past, she unveils more and more about her as an artist, “Another memory is me at home recording radio shows on a cassette when tracks that I loved were being played in the radio. I remember Andrea Jónsdóttir and her radio show and recording some of the tracks on my cassette, so that I would be able to listen back to the tracks that I loved that I heard whenever I wanted to. So this urge to have and be able to play the tracks that I love has been with me for a very long time or from my childhood. It wasn’t until after I moved to Reykjavík that I really got exposed to, and fell for electronic music.” She continues to unravel more layers, “At my core I am a music lover into different tracks regardless of genre, with a background as a classical pianist and singer-songwriter. I even used to organise concerts for singer-songwriters before moving to Oslo, and so I know a lot of different amazing musicians from Iceland who aren’t necessarily in the electronic music scene.”
With most budding ravers looking to take their first tentative steps into the wonderful world of electronic music, nightclubs are often the jumping off point. While Iceland and indeed much of the Nordics now enjoy a wealth of clubbing options, back then there was less options, but Thorgerdur soon found her favourite haunts, “Shortly after I moved to Reykjavík when I was 16 years old, I started to attend local venues, with places like Kaffibarinn and Faktorý (which unfortunately doesn’t exist anymore) playing a key role in shaping my musical taste, influences, and inspirations. Those places, together with epic events organised at NASA (another venue which also was closed down), where I saw GusGus for their incredible release party back in 2011, the radio show Partyzone and certain shows on Iceland Airwaves really inspired me musically. I don’t know how many track IDs I have asked for from various artists at Kaffibarinn, long before I even started to DJ myself. I did however have my Youtube playlists that I maintained for years before I took a step into DJing after moving to Oslo.”
We continue down the road that contains Thorgerdur’s musical upbringing, and even at this age there was a real sense of diversity, “Around the time was when I got exposed to quality electronic music. I was working out in the gym all the time when I was not in school or at swimming practices, and I remember having an important iPod. It contained many tracks from Justice and artists like Todd Terje, as well as other timeless tracks such as ‘Time’ by Pachanga Boys and ‘Something Special’ by Miguel Campbell, which I first heard at Kaffibarinn. At some point someone gave me this CD from GusGus with a compilation of their tracks from the dancefloor at Kaffibarinn, I think it was the 10 years anniversary or something, and that CD also really influenced me, together with my friends who were already DJing at the time, which really inspired me to start playing.”
Few artists can lay claim to being so directly influenced by their countries biggest electronic music artists, but this is exactly where the conversation soon turned to, “GusGus is the first name I think about in this regard. I went to their incredible release show at NASA for “Arabian Horse” back in the summer of 2011, and that record really impacted and inspired me. The show itself as well because the energy at their event was just so incredible, unlike anything I ever witnessed. Like wild an Icelandic freedom feeling full of joy, hard to describe. Getting to know some of them personally a bit later also made me feel seen and boosted my confidence while I was still just a singer-songwriter finding my ‘thing’.” As well as there being such high level influences from perhaps one of Iceland’s biggest dance music exports there is a also a special place in her heart for her local scene, “Out of other local artists, I would like to mention DJs like BenSol, Benni B-Ruff, DJ Margeir, Simon fknhndsm, Atli Kanill, DJ Yamaho and SisiEy as key influences and inspirations. I would say that they are all still inspirations and that they had a significant impact on me.”
With so many DJs and artists having already planted the seed within Thorgerdur, we soon turned our attention to her move from clubber to the more serious life of a DJ. For one reason or another this is not always something that happens overnight, far from it, “I would say that I gradually made the move after having felt the urge to take the step for quite a long time while I was still living in Iceland. A few years passed and I had friends coming up to me at Kaffibarinn commenting that I should become a DJ because of my Youtube playlists. As encouraging as that was, I didn’t really take the step properly until after I moved to Oslo and met my ex. I will always be grateful to him for teaching me the basics of how to play vinyl and for insisting that I would learn on turntables from the start.” With her growing selector skills blossoming she would soon take the plunge and begin the next chapter in her development as a DJ, “So, the first DJ gig that I played took place at a small and intimate venue called Da Vinci in the Mona Lisa building in Oslo. Located in the same street as Jaeger Oslo, at Grensen on the 10th of July 2015, it was my friend Gry Faia who invited me to play for her concept at the time, ‘Deep Fridays’. It was an afterwork Friday event in the middle of the summer.”
Thorgerdur continues to regale us with details of that first formative gig, “She’s an experienced DJ in Oslo who I met thanks to my ex husband, Asgeir. She knew that I had been learning to play vinyl serato at home and then only a few months after I had started to learn, she invited me to come play. I think it was because she knew how passionate I was (and still am) about the music, and because she knew that I had been learning to play at home and how much I loved it, that she invited me to come play. I remember I got the invite some time before the event took place and I was already looking forward to it for weeks before the event itself took place. I guess some things never change hahah. I was super excited and a bit nervous for it, but very much looking forward to it.” With this first gig memory still fresh in her mind she continues to recall the feelings that have not waned over the years, “I remember getting this thriller feeling in my stomach and a level of excitement and anticipation that I still get to this day. As the event took place at a venue where there were not turntables, I remember that I was actually quite nervous to play on CDJs for the first time out, because I had been learning to play vinyl at home as I started originally with vinyl serato before I could afford buying my own records. However, a few days before I had practised at Gry’s place once before where she taught me on the CDJs.”
Nerves are always a good way to focus the mind and this clearly paid dividends, “The gig itself went surprisingly well considering I was super nervous to play on CDJs as I had only tried it once before in my life before that I gig at Gry’s place a few days before. I played I think around 8pm, so early evening after work, and I had carefully put the tracks in a folder that I was most excited to maybe play. Some of my best friends made it for the gig which meant so much to me, I could really feel their love and support. I went from being super nervous right before and in the beginning of my set to enjoying myself so much and just having so much fun that I won’t be able to forget about it. I will forever be grateful to Gry for inviting me before I even knew I was ready to play out.” This support was not lost on Thorgerdur as she praises her nearest and dearest, “Having friends and people around you who are interested in, and notice what you are doing and who have faith in you because of their own talent, taste and good ear, is honestly worth so much that I will forever be grateful for those people and their precious support! I got a very nice feeling after the gig because of the things people said and this was very encouraging and motivating to me and only made me want to do it more often.”
With more and more gigs on the horizon it is always interesting to learn how a DJ’s music taste evolves over the years and it would seem that Thorgerdur’s tastes have always been of a certain calibre. This perhaps speaks to the circles and scenes that she moved, but the ear was already there, “At that point I had just been to Berlin for the first time ever and I had just bought some of my first records, one of them was from Mackim & Levi out on Apollonia and I still play it to this date. Another one was from TC80 out on Cabaret Recordings and the digital tracks that I played that night were mostly groovy minimalistic tracks but also driving minimal and breaky tracks and some classics, like this one track from Kenny Larkin. Also I think I played this track by Halo Varga called ‘Future’ if I remember correctly. I was playing more minimalistic, I would say in the beginning, but always groovy and a bit progressive. I was heavily influenced by the Oslo underground scene and the artists I got to see play there, but the international dimension within electronic music was way broader and versatile in Oslo than what I was used to while still living in Iceland.”
Continuing to expand on her musical style she would soon progress to include a great many styles, Thorgerdur explains her selector ethos, “I would say that the music that I play has evolved in a certain way, hard to describe without demonstrating, while maintaining my signature identity which is just flow regardless of genres, because I really don’t like to limit myself to only some genres. As a DJ I find it to be a luxury gift to have the level of artistic freedom involved with the DJ gigs. I always like to tailor my DJ sets to the specific time and place where I play, and I put a lot of time and energy into packing the exact right records for the given time in question.”
She continues, “I never really know exactly what I will play when and where, but I often pack so that I have the records that I most likely will like to play and the records that I am the most excited about. I love to play groovy, cheeky and playful tracks that make people feel attractive and happy, but I also like to go into a more daring, dreamy or hypnotic mood, taking the audience on a journey where no genre rules apply but flow instead is the key. To be able to do that without having to overthink anything is a blessing that I thank my background as classically trained pianist for, as musical theory brought me musical understanding that I am not sure if I had if it wasn’t for the education I got when I did.”
“I find a bit hard to describe how my musical taste has evolved throughout the years. In one sense, I still love many of the same tracks that I used to play then, while I have outgrown maybe only a few of the tracks. I am very much into sexy breaks and electro, and also different kinds of house and techno and even IDM. I would say that my selections are as evolving as the effort that I put into digging, which is considerable.”
Conversation soon turned to production and seldom do artists begin their adventure with a fully equipped studio at their disposal. Often it is a case of making whatever budget is available work, but in some cases the results far outstrip the means, “My first studio setup was just a simple keyboard that included Ableton and small speakers at home, this is while I was still just a singer-songwriter before I got into DJing. This has changed quite a lot over the years, and I found it very difficult to give up my old studio that I was so looking forward to spending so much time in, before all the changes happening lately.” With a basic understanding of production and recording it wasn’t long before those first steps turned into her first releases, “I started to produce in 2017 I think it was. Slowly, but I started then, after having been a singer-songwriter before, writing my own more acoustic tracks, singing and playing the piano. So I did have some experience with Ableton from before and built on that and started to make beats and some projects when I had some free time. I then made the “Blossy” EP which was released back in 2018 together with my ex that winter 2017-2018. I wouldn’t say that there was any one artist that I wanted to emulate, but rather that I have and still get very inspired from the artists that I listen to and the music they make and play, and that all of it combined then serves as an influence for my own creativity.”
After years of honing her craft Thorgerdur is now enjoying the fruits of her labour and is in constant demand well outside of the Nordic states. With a touring schedule that is constantly being updated and expanded thanks to her connection to the Rings of Neptune booking agency, we find out where Thorgerdur has been on her travels recently, “I just played at and attended for the first time the amazing Monument Festival where artists like DJ Nobu also played. Even though my record bag didn’t even arrive I was able to keep the spirits high and not let it affect my set, but instead I meditated a lot before the gig and just focused on putting my heart into it regardless of any record bag arrival. I’m so glad that I was able to not let it get to me, because playing there that night was truly magical and an experience that I will not be able to forget. The crowd, the organisers, the hosts and all the staff I met, also the drivers, basically everyone that I met were so kind that the level of love there was simply something to remember for life. Also, the festival area and location itself is so magical, in the woods with all this amazing nature. With the perfect DJ booth, I really enjoyed playing my set.”
She continues to delve into her recent memory with details on a more recent event close to our hearts, “Another event was my first gig at Apollo Studios in New York, which took place last May. I got invited after meeting the organisers in Ibiza, when I went to play for tiNi and the gang last year. On that trip I met so many incredible fellow artists; music lovers and made the most amazing friends, and it’s thanks to two of them that I got invited to come play in New York last May, where I had the most incredible trip. I really enjoyed my time there. I have to say the same thing about my last time in Oslo. To play for the first time at a brand new venue Smelteverket in truly amazing company was such a pleasure and I had a really amazing time because of and during that trip. Thanks so much for the invite!”
Casting her mind back further Thorgerdur recalls a gig that has left a seriously lasting impression on her, “The Kune Festival from last year, the memories I have from that set are simply magical, with a double rainbow appearing during my set. Also, my last time playing at Kaffibarinn I think qualifies as my best set in Iceland to date. Very excited to be back there on September 13th together with my dear friend Buhler, who I have invited to come play with me at Kaffibarinn. I am also very excited to be back to play for Bliss in Copenhagen on the 28th of September, and to be playing at Tithorea, which will take place at a truly magical place in Iceland on the 26th of September in top company. Really feels like a dream come true to be invited to participate in such events at home in Iceland, but I will move my base there for some time this autumn at least.”
As well as her demanding touring schedule, there has also been time to put the finishing touches to several other productions that will raise funds for those in need, “The one for Sonic Weapons of Love is called ‘The Ride’ and I made it while my father was winning his battle against cancer while in Iceland. Inspired by Iceland and my time riding on our amazing Icelandic horses, my family has a horse rental up north in Iceland and I love spending my time there when I can at home. The other one is the first solo electronic track that I finished on my own, called ‘Kindness the Key’ out on Girlzwithgoodtaste compiled by Monique alongside some really amazing fellow artists to collect funds for those in Gaza in urgent need. Then, I have been going to the studio with some really interesting fellow DJs and producers and have been getting some very exciting studio invites that I am so curious to try out.”
“In other news, I am in the process of building my own studio at home in Iceland ❤️ it’s a dream of mine to be able to host fellow artists and producers from home and abroad in Iceland whenever it feels right! So I am starting to take small but secure steps into that direction. I am very excited for that as I already have my own full DJ turntable with a xone92 mixer at home, so I am excited to be finally reunited with my own DJ setup and to be able to record some much anticipated and very exciting podcasts and even radio shows at home in Iceland.”
With our conversation drawing to a close, we discuss Thorgerdur’s offering to our Free Download series, and with the beginnings of the project taking shape a few years prior, we hear the full story of its inception, “My track for the Free Download series is a track that I started already some years ago, or back in August 2020. I started the project in August when I was back home in Norway in my old studio in Oslo a few weeks after I had attended one of the most magical events I had been to – M8insv8in. This took place in the south of Iceland, organised by the bbbbbb crew at the time, out in nature in this amazing land in the countryside.” She continues to set the scene of her track, “I remember the misty air and the magic that took place with all those electronic music lovers based in Iceland coming together for it, and how inspired I got from simply being surrounded with so many like minded souls and individuals passionate about the music.”
Coming at a difficult time for electronic music there is a real sense of emotion in her words, “The event was in July and took place during the first lockdown of covid back in 2020, a time where I was able spend many hours in the studio without distractions, and ‘Íslensk og elska Það’ which means ‘Icelandic and love It’ and refers to the heartwarming feeling I got from the sense of belonging somewhere, which was the real feeling I got that night. It was recorded in part in Oslo and in part during my travels in Iceland, Norway, Amsterdam and Berlin recently. You don’t know how many unfinished Ableton projects I have lying in my folders, and to share this track as my free download for Trommel was the best motivation imaginable. It’s time for me to finish more tracks, this is just the beginning.”
Moving on to the intricacies of her track, Thorgerdur used some of her favourite plugins in her track, “I used a DIVA plugin, the Zebralette one, as well as the LUSH, which has delicious sounds that I love playing around with. I have also slowly but steadily been working my way out of my vocal shyness after getting feedback from so many different friends on my voice, so figured it’s time to use my voice, even if only as an audio effect, especially when I feel it adds personality and affects the mood of the track in the way I desire it to.” With her track for our Free Download series in the bag Thorgerdur signed off by giving credit to the talented artists that help bring her sonic vision to life, “I have been extremely busy the last year, but I am so glad I found the time to prioritise this free download track. I am endlessly grateful to my dear friend Addi Stefánsson, fellow Icelandic amazing DJ and producer who I first met thanks to the amazing set he played in the rabbit hole at Nutopia festival back in 2022. He played so well that I went and shamelessly asked him for the track ID of one of the tracks that he played, which happened to be a track by himself. I really do recommend checking out his productions. He did the mixing and the mastering in Innsbruck and I hope you will enjoy listening. Thanks so much for having me!”
You can download for free Thorgerdur’s “íslensk og elska Það” via our Soundcloud page.
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