Biography
Islandica took its title from the Latin rendering of “Icelandic” and surfaced out of Reykjavik during the 1990s among a fresh cohort of traditional and folk ensembles that restored critical esteem to Scandinavian music. The group’s vocalist and bassist Hardis Hallvarosdottir later explained the decision: “Three of us were in a loose grouping before Islandica, but a few years ago we decided to push into a market we’d identified for folk music.” The four musicians forged a hybrid that merged folk-rock reminiscent of Steeleye Span with longstanding melodies and “quints,” pieces in which two voices proceed side by side, one carrying the principal line while the second interlaces beneath it. Their first album was captured inside a Reykjavik church amid a thunderstorm and incorporated centuries-old cultural verses alongside ballads and Nordic drinking songs. Its widespread appeal prompted three members to release solo projects that likewise achieved strong sales across Iceland, while the quartet itself embarked on extensive tours underwritten by Icelandic air lines and the National Tourist Board.
Albums
