ARSTIDIR On the Making Of ‘BLIK’
What was the creative process like for this particular 'BLIK?'
Similar to when Radiohead did OK Computer, or when the Beatles did Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. We went into the studio with no rules or limitations and just said “Ok, let’s just try everything and see what we end up with!”
We wrote some great catchy songs and then we spent months experimenting with different sounds, instruments, and arrangements. No idea was deemed too crazy or weird, we just ran with it and had fun in the process!
This all took place during the COVID lockdowns of 2020, so we literally had nothing else to do but to hang in the studio and pass the time, which also helped give ‘BLIK’ a focus and freedom that none of our previous albums have had. And then we spent the past two years perfecting the mix and production. We’re pretty damn happy with the result!
How does 'BLIK' fit into your overall artistic?
Usually, we sing in both Icelandic and English on our albums, roughly 50/50. ‘BLIK’ however is the first album that we composed entirely in English
It’s also the most upbeat album we’ve ever made, with some real dance-floor bangers on there.
What did you enjoy most about making 'BLIK?'
The fun!
Are there any specific themes or messages that you aim to convey through your music?
Honesty. This is perhaps the band’s greatest asset. We always play and sing and compose music exactly the way we hear it. We never rely on a script and we’re never trying to prove anything. Both in the studio and on stage there are no charades. The music we play reflects who we are as individuals, and our fans really appreciate this honesty!
What has been the most memorable experience or achievement in your music career so far?
After 13 years as a touring band we’ve ticked quite some memorable boxes: Flying with a helicopter to our show in Svalbard in the middle of the polar night; our tour bus breaking down in a corn field in Iowa in the hottest month of July during a 6 week US tour and hitchhiking to Kansas City with our instruments; playing with symphonic orchestras in Siberia… these are just some of the things that stand out.
We also taught the world to love Iceland’s oldest hymn (Heyr himna smiður from 1208), when we got drunk in a train station in Germany and felt like singing. The video of our performance went viral and in the years after we’ve heard the song pop up in Hollywood movies, Netflix series, and the like. Each time we hear the hymn appear like this we give ourselves a pat on the back. We’re the ones who made this one famous outside Iceland!