Samaris

Icelandic trio Samaris came together in Reykjavik during 2011 and developed atmospheric, electronic-tinged music built around percussive beats and the haunting vocals of singer Jófrídur Ákadóttir. Áslaug Rún Magnúsdóttir supplied the clarinet while Þórður Kári Steinþórsson contributed rich, textured arrangements that completed their sound. Lyrics drawn from 19th-century Icelandic poems shaped the band’s otherworldly aesthetic and prompted Jófrídur to craft mesmerizing, chant-like melodies. Early Reykjavik performances featured costumes chosen to help secure bookings, yet audiences responded primarily to the music itself, a fact confirmed when the group claimed victory at the 2011 Icelandic Músíktilraunir competition. They soon entered the studio, issuing the EPs Hljóma Þú in 2011 and, the following year, Stofnar Falla, the latter captured at Sigur Rós’ Sundlaugin studio alongside Gunnar Tynes of múm. One Little Indian took notice in 2013, signed the trio, and combined the two EPs into an eponymous debut album that earned widespread acclaim. That same year the band embarked on numerous European concerts and festival appearances, among them Sonar, Berlin Music Week, and Reykjavik’s Iceland Airwaves. After an intensive touring period, they paused briefly when Áslaug embarked on a previously arranged journey around the world, only to reconvene in the new year for a performance at the Sydney Festival. Their first proper full-length and second overall release, Silkidrangar, was slated for 2014.