Samaris is an electronic music group from Iceland which formed in January 2011 and consists of Áslaug Rún Magnúsdóttir (clarinet), Þórður Kári Steinþórsson (electronics) and Jófríður Ákadóttir (vocals).[1][2]

Samaris
Samaris performing in 2011
Background information
OriginIceland
Genres
Years active2011–present
Labels
Members
Websitesamaris.is
Samaris at Aarhus Festival 2015

History edit

After forming in January 2011, Samaris entered and won the 2011 Icelandic Músíktilraunir competition.[3] Steinþórsson also won the Keyboard/Programmer prize.[4] Following this, the group self-released their Hljóma Þú (2011) EP, which won the band an Icelandic Kraumur award.[5] In August 2011, Samaris took part in a Stage Europe Network event in The Netherlands which brought together acts from Norway, The Netherlands, Poland, France, Germany and Iceland.[6] In October 2011, Samaris performed at the Iceland Airwaves festival.[7]

A further self-released EP, Stofnar falla, followed in 2012 before the group signed with One Little Indian Records.[8] The band performed at the 2012 Iceland Airwaves festival.[9]

Samaris's self-titled debut album was released in July 2013, which combined the tracks from their two previous EPs along with four remixes,[10] to generally favourable reviews.[11] The album combined their music with lyrics taken from 19th-century Icelandic poems.[10][12]

The follow-up album Black Lights (2016), which had been recorded in Berlin the year prior, marks their switch to making music in English. It was headed up by the release of the lead-single "Wanted 2 Say" in April, 2016.[13]

In 2017, lead singer Jófríõur Ákadóttir was featured on Low Roar's single, "Bones", from their upcoming album Once In A Long, Long While.

Discography edit

Studio albums edit

  • Samaris (2013), One Little Indian
  • Silkidrangar (2014), One Little Indian
  • Silkidrangar Sessions (2015), One Little Indian
  • Black Lights (2016), One Little Indian[14]

Extended plays edit

  • Hljóma Þú (2011), self-released
  • Stofnar falla (2012), self-released

Singles edit

  • "Góða tungl" (2013), One Little Indian
  • "Viltu vitrast" (2013), One Little Indian
  • "Ég vildi fegin verða" (2014), One Little Indian
  • "Brennur Stjarna" (2014), One Little Indian
  • "Wanted 2 Say" (2016), One Little Indian

References edit

  1. ^ "Samaris". One Little Indian Records. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  2. ^ "Samaris". Official website. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  3. ^ Schipani, Vanessa (26 May 2011). "Mad Scientist Samaris". The Reykjavík Grapevine (6–2011): 26. Archived from the original on 20 September 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Vinningshafar 2011". Músíktilrauna (in Icelandic). Archived from the original on 3 August 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Samaris". Electric Picnic. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  6. ^ Fontaine, Paul (19 August 2011). "Samaris on Tour to Europe". The Reykjavík Grapevine. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  7. ^ "KEXP at Iceland Airwaves, Wednesday: Samaris". KEXP-FM. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  8. ^ Barchi, Aly (25 April 2013). "Samaris sign to One Little Indian". Complete Music Update. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Iceland Airwaves 2012: Editors' Picks". The Line of Best Fit. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  10. ^ a b Bollason, Atli (29 July 2013). "Samaris: Samaris". The Reykjavík Grapevine (10–2013): 39. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  11. ^ "Samaris – Samaris". Metacritic. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  12. ^ Levine, Nick (8 August 2013). "Sugarcubes Selects Samaris". DazedDigital.com. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  13. ^ "Black Lights by Samaris". Bandcamp.com. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  14. ^ "Samaris: Black Lights review". The Irish Times.