Sigur Rós vocalist & composer Jónsi to release new album, First Light on August 30th via leading health & wellbeing music provider Myndstream, in collaboration with Lakeshore Records. Originally conceived as a musical exploration and score to a video game, the music evolved and transcended its initial purpose, blossoming into a profound exploration of peace, hope, and connection. Songs “Flicker” and “Cherry Blossom” are out today, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the immersive and transportative world of First Light.
“Writing this music at a time of manmade global turmoil and unrest for a video game,” Jónsi reflects, “I imagined First Light as a momentary fantastical, over-the-top, utopian world where everyone and everything lives together in everlasting peace and harmony. Choosing beauty over disorder, hope over fear, our universal divine angel guardians watching over us and connecting us all as one through love, melody, and music.
”EA President of Music, Steve Schnur praises Jónsi as “one of the most unique artistic voices of our time. What began as a collaboration on a video game score has evolved into First Light, an exceptional musical exploration of philosophical and spiritual themes that celebrate health, wellness and the beauty of our natural world.”
Known best for his work as lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for Iceland’s Sigur Rós, Jónsi has recorded acclaimed solo albums, composed scores and contributed music to a range of films – earning a Golden Globe nomination as co-writer of “Revelation” from the film Boy Erased. Throughout his career, Jónsi has collaborated with a diverse array of artists, including Elizabeth Fraser, Robyn, and Alex Somers. Jónsi’s artistic journey extends beyond music, encompassing collaborations with acclaimed visual artists like Doug Aitken and Olafur Eliasson, filmmakers like Cameron Crowe, and even founding his own perfume business Fischersund perfumery with his three sisters in Reykjavík, Iceland.
First Light is a testament to Jónsi’s artistic versatility and his ability to create music that resonates deeply with listeners. The stirring, birdsong-infused “Forest Trill” and atmospheric “Undercurrent” will be released in the coming weeks.
Since the 1990s, world-renowned interdisciplinary artist Jónsi has created ethereal sounds through a unique blend of minimal, classical, and progressive aesthetics. Initially gaining international acclaim as the lead vocalist of the Icelandic experimental rock band Sigur Rós, Jónsi is celebrated for his innovative songwriting, distinctive bowed guitar technique, and falsetto vocals that craft epic soundscapes. As a solo artist, Jónsi has released three albums and worked with musicians such as Elizabeth Fraser, Robyn, and Alex Somers, notably on the ambient album Riceboy Sleeps and the Sigur Rós ‘mixtape,’ Liminal – presented live at ambient sound-bath events held in art spaces worldwide. Jónsi has also composed film scores for Boy Erased, How to Train Your Dragon 2, We Bought a Zoo, and Vanilla Sky, earning critical acclaim and prestigious awards. As a visual artist, Jónsi’s work has been exhibited venues including the Tanya Bonakdar Gallery in Los Angeles and New York City, the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, the National Nordic Museum in Seattle, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Tasmania, and Reykjavík Art Museum Hafnarhús in Iceland. Since 2009, Jónsi has been an avid self-taught perfumer, founding Fischersund perfumery and art collective with his three sisters in Reykjavík, Iceland. His perfumes are integral to his visual art practice and “scented concerts” around the world. Born in Iceland, Jónsi currently works and resides in Los Angeles.
First Light Track Listing
1) Flicker
2) First Light
3) Green Meadow
4) Clearing
5) Cherry Blossom
6) In Plain View
7) Wishful Thinking
8) Forest Trill
9) Undercurrent
10) Willow
11) Stillness
12) Floweret
13) Over the Fence
14) Flutterby
