Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
Ólöf Arnalds (born 1980) is an Icelandic singer/songwriter and indie musician who has been active within the Icelandic music scene for quite some time. Apart from her own music and being a touring member of múm since 2003, she has cooperated with bands and artists such as Stórsveit Nix Noltes, Mugison, Slowblow and Skúli Sverrisson. Between 1988 and 2002 Ólöf studied violin and classical singing, and in 2002-2006 she studied composition and new media at Iceland Academy of the Arts.
In 2007, her debut album Við Og Við was released by 12 Tónar. The album features a set of songs performed mostly in a traditional troubadour style.
Ólöf's second album is Innundir skinni and was released in September 2010.
Ólöf's cousin Ólafur Arnalds is also a well known neo-classical composer.
Við og Við
Ólöf's debut album Við og Við was originally only released in Iceland in 2007 on 12 Tónar, however, it wasn't released until 2009 in the United Kingdom and the USA after she had signed to One Little Indian Records.
However, even before being released on both sides of the Atlantic, word of mouth – including Björk's patronage - earned Við og Við high profile plaudits in the U.S., ranking in Paste Magazine's Top 100 Albums of 2007 and eMusic's editor's Best Albums of 2008 list.
The success of Við og Við in the US led to Ólöf touring with Blonde Redhead, Jonathan Richman, Björk and The Dirty Projectors, Jeff Mangum and led to her being covered extensively in US publications ranging from Vanity Fair, New York Times, Village Voice and Time Out New York.
Innundir Skinni
Ólöf's second album Innundir Skinni was released in 2010 by One Little Indian Records. It marked a departure of her previous work by including three English sung songs, including the single 'Surrender' which features Björk’s distinctive vocal in the background.
The album was produced by Sigur Ros's Kjartan Sveinsson and Davíð Þór Jónsson, and featured contributions from Björk, Skúli Sverrisson (Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed), Shahzad Ismaily (Tom Waits, Plastic Ono Band, Bonnie "Prince" Billy), María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir (Amiina) and Ragnar.
