Interview with Sóley Stefánsdóttir

Sóley Stefánsdóttir: Icelandic Sweetheart Hits First U.S. Tour

BY KRISTIN CHAMBERS
Issue #22

Self described as “piano with piano in it, and singing with singing in it,” Sóley Stefánsdóttir’s sound is as pretty and sweet as the Icelandic talent herself.
Also a member of 7-piece indie collective Seabear, Sóley debuted her solo EP “Theater Island” in 2010 followed by a full-length album “We Sink” in 2011.
Trained in piano from the age of eight in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, Sóley did not even consider her voice to be musically apt for solo performance until the CEO of her record company requested material five years ago. Somewhat dark lyrics accompany her wispy, childlike vocals – a lovely unexpected combination that draws emotion from the core of both dreams and nightmares. Piano is the backbone of the intricate compositions inlaid in her sound, hazy and crooked, an innocent confection that hides slivers of glass that will unknowingly cut as you enjoy.

How have you found it different playing in America verses playing in Iceland?
SS: “In Iceland when I play, we are not that many, so we are basically playing for the same people, same crowd all the time, and it’s more like we play for family and friends. I like it, I think the people are nice, at least when they’re not really drunk. Sometimes I get a little more nervous in Iceland because I know everyone there, because it’s my home.”

Are you still playing with Seabear?
SS: “We are on break now. We did an album in 2010, and we toured a lot with that album. I’m doing my project and the main guy is doing his solo project at the same time, and everyone is just like in their own corner now, so we will see what happens.”

When did you decide that you wanted to do your own solo project?
SS: “I didn’t really decide, the CEO of Morr Music emailed me and asked if I had some songs. I wasn’t planning on doing anything solo, but three or four months later my EP was put out, so it has kind of happened really fast. I’m glad he asked me, because I don’t think I would have done the solo stuff otherwise.”

Are you working on anything new following your 2010 album?
SS: “I’ve been really busy touring and doing music for a theatre and doing other side projects, but my dream is that the album will come out next fall, but we will see how fast I can make music.”

What were your influences growing up?
SS: “I was really into Icelandic music for a long time. I really loved Sigur Ros and Moon. I think in a way they were my inspiration. Not that I would do my music like they do, but when you see that people are doing stuff and are touring you know that it is possible. We are quite isolated here on this island, you always have to fly somewhere if you want to play a lot, you need good people with you and a good record company and people that are willing to help you.”

How did you get started in piano?
SS: “I think I started playing piano at the age of eight and was studying classical piano for a long, long time. It’s a different world from everything else. So I started studying jazz piano and went to the Iceland Academy and studying composition there. I’ve been studying my whole life.”

What else do you dabble in?
SS: “I play a little guitar, and I was in a brass band when I was young and played percussion there, so I can do a few things, but I am mostly trained at playing piano. But I like playing other instruments because I don’t really know what I’m doing, so your mind gets more open to the sound. That’s how I am with my piano, I know how to go to the next chord, but it’s a little different with guitar because you don’t know what the tactics sound like.”