Júníus Meyvant

Júníus Meyvant serves as the stage name for Icelandic singer and songwriter Unnar Gísli Sigurmundsson, whose cinematic indie folk weaves in strings, horns, and synthesizers. Anchored by his raspy and soulful voice, the material frequently channels the soft rock and blues-rock sounds of the 1970s. His debut full-length, Floating Harmonies, appeared in 2016 and earned widespread praise within Iceland.

Sigurmundsson grew up on Heimaey in the Westman Islands along Iceland’s southern coast. He attended music school briefly during childhood yet ceased instrumental study after expulsion. In his early twenties he discovered an old guitar at his parents’ residence and soon began composing songs with it. Initial attempts to write material for a band gave way to his decision to perform under the Júníus Meyvant alias himself.

Record Records signed him for the 2014 single “Color Decay,” which later appeared on a self-titled EP in 2015. That same year brought Icelandic Music Awards honors for Best Single and Newcomer of the Year, along with tours across Europe and the United States. Floating Harmonies followed in 2016 and received the Pop Album of the Year trophy at the 2017 Icelandic Music Awards.

Engineer Guðmundur Kristinn Jónsson, whose credits include Erlend Øye and Ásgeir, joined him for sessions that produced the second album, Across the Borders. Glassnote Records issued the project worldwide in 2019.