Poems, the collaborative debut DG album from Icelandic composer, conductor and producer Viktor Orri Árnason, is released worldwide on 10 November – on CD, on vinyl and digitally. The album was conceived and co-written with soprano and visual artist Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir. Its ten exquisite tracks draw on the pair’s shared cultural heritage, setting poems by Icelandic poets past and present, including lyrics by Árnason and Guðmundsdóttir themselves. Viktor adds piano accompaniment to Álfheiður’s hushed, floating vocals throughout, at times playing violin and viola as well, with some tracks featuring additional strings (members of the Reykjavík Orkestra) and/or subtle electronic elements. 

The duo found inspiration in the work of Ólöf Sigurðardóttir frá Hlöðum (1857-1933), Hulda (1881-1946), Guðfinna Jónsdóttir frá Hömrum (1899-1946), Sigurður Pálsson (1948-2017) andArndís Lóa Magnúsdóttir (b.1994). Drawn to poetry that speaks of vulnerability and solitude, change and renewal, the beauty of the natural world, and the power of words to express our dreams and innermost selves, they were also inspired to write their own poems, each contributing one new text to the album. Árnason hopes Poems will encourage listeners to be mindful: “Poems is in many ways about the joys and struggles in life and how being present can help you through.”

credits

released November 10th, 2023

All music written by Viktor Orri Árnason and Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir. All tracks recorded, produced and mixed by Viktor Orri Árnason. All tracks mastered by Zino Mikorey. All vocals, electronics and piano recorded at VOÁ Studio in Berlin in June 2020 except Til kvæðagyðjunnar: vocals recorded at Reykjavík Orkestra studios, Harpa, Iceland  and piano recorded at Ólafur Arnalds studio, Reykjavík, Iceland in April 2022.

Reykjavík Orkestra Setup 1: 1st violin - Guðbjartur Hákonarson, 2nd violin - Pétur Björnsson, viola - Viktor Orri Árnason, cello - Hrafnhildur Marta Guðmundsdóttir, double bass - Hávarður Tryggvason. Reykjavík Orkestra Setup 2: 1st violin, 2nd violin and viola - Rannveig Marta Sarc and Karl James Pestka, cello - Ragnar Jónsson. 

All strings arranged and conducted by Viktor Orri Árnason. Reykjavík Orkestra Setup 1 string recordings recorded at Reykjavík Orkestra studios in Kaldalón hall, Harpa, Iceland by Bergur Þórisson in April 2022. Reykjavík Orkestra Setup 2 recordings in VOÁ Studio and in Norðurljós hall, Harpa by Viktor Orri Árnason in September 2022. Additional solo string recordings by Viktor Orri Árnason at VOÁ Studio in 2022.

Poems by Sigurður Pálsson published by Forlagið and poems by Arndís Lóa Magnúsdóttir published by Una útgáfuhús. All poems used with kind permission. Poem translations by Viktor Orri Árnason, Árni Harðarson and Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir. 

Photos by Ólafur Baldvin Jónsson, Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir and Viktor Orri Árnason. Artwork design by Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir. Management for Viktor Orri Árnason by Antonio Cárdenas at Heartfelt Management.