Illuminine Gives You Iceland Inspired Soundscapes

Looking for immersion? A way to relax? To feel inspired? The music of the Flemish composer Kevin Imbrechts, who is at the helm of the band Illuminine, creates a unique soundscape that I find myself retreating into more and more.

Iceland and Illuminine

I was curious to learn that Kevin and Illuminine have an Icelandic connection. When Kevin was recording songs for the first album, he sent his recording to Sigur Rós. A day later, he got an invitation to finish the album at Sigur Rós´studio at Sundlaugin in Mosfellsbær in Iceland. The second album, #2, was also produced at Sundlaugin studio.

The Third Album by Illuminine is Coming

Kevin and Illuminine are preparing the band´s third album, simply titled #3, for release in November. The first single is out, and it is called ´Dear, Utopia.´ It is accompanied by a beautiful video created here in Iceland and is directed by Francesco Fabri – please see below.

Hello Kevin, and thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. Can you tell me more about the new album from Illuminine and the accompanying film?

3 is a trip, a journey through space and time. The whole album is a sound diary, it’s the result of the journey of the last two years, a darker chapter in my life where I was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder (GAS) and Asperger’s syndrome. It’s a reminder of who I was and who I am now. When I’m listening to the songs, I can feel the emotions and anxieties of that given moment. Now I can look back at it; at the time of writing and recording the songs, I couldn’t, I was in the middle of my journey. I’m happy that these dark times are behind me, that I can start a new chapter in my life. I became a different person because of the album

Nature plays the main role

The film accompanying the whole album represents a day; it starts and ends at dawn. The main character is not a person, but nature. I love nature, the only place where I can find some rest and think about life in a healthy way. The movie is directed by Francesco Fabris, a visual and sound artist from Italy who currently works at the Bedroom Community / Greenhouse Studio in Reykjavik.

I am curious to hear more about your work at the Sigur Rós studio. Must it have been pretty gratifying to be invited to work there?

Indeed, it’s an honor to work in the Sundlaugin Studio. It’s a magical place, a twenty-minute drive from Reykjavik and next to the Álafoss waterfall. It’s an old swimming pool, converted in a studio. Back in 2015, when I was looking for a mixing engineer for the very first Illuminine album, I decided to compile my all-time top-5 records and check who produced them. It turned out Birgir Jón Birgisson worked on three of them. He’s the co-owner of the studio and Sigur Rós’ sound engineer. I really like working in the Sundlaugin. It has a cozy atmosphere, and its history is mindblowing. A lot of my favorite records are produced there.

Are there any places here in Iceland that you have found to most positively affect you or to be especially inspiring?

Yes of course, last trip I visited Grundarfjörður. The town is located next to Kirkjufell, one of the most famous mountains in Iceland. It’s a peaceful place surrounded by beautiful mountains and the sea. Also, there’s one particular place in Reykjavik that was really inspiring, Seltjarnarnesbær and its Grotta lighthouse. If you’re lucky, you can sit in the small hot pot and enjoy sunrise or sunset. You also have a magnificent view of Reykjavik Bay and the Snæfellsjökull glacier.

What are your favorite Icelandic Musicians?

There are so many artists I can name here, to name a few, besides Sigur Rós, I’m a great fan of Jófríður Ákadóttir and all her projects, such as JFDR, Samaris, and Gangly. I once saw a band called ‘asdfgh.’ in the harbour of Reykjavik, I really liked that. I also remember a gig of ‘Muck’, an Icelandic hardcore/punk band, in a very small room above a pita bar in the center of Reykjavik, awesome. I don’t know if they still exist. I’m also a fan of AYia, deep cold electronics, really looking forward to hearing their first album. They’re signed to the Bedroom Community label. My favorite Icelandic record label.

What advice would you give to someone visiting Iceland for the first time? 

I always recommend first spending a few days in Reykjavik to acclimatize to the Iceland culture and habits. After that, you can rent a car and explore the magnificent Icelandic nature. Try to forget all your daily life worries and become one with the landscape and the peacefulness it radiates. I also recommend visiting the South coast. While driving Route One, you’ll see a very diverse landscape: lava fields, waterfalls, flatlands, the sea, and mountains.

Great advice! Thank you, Kevin!