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The Icelandic music scene is world famous. This is no wonder. Iceland punches far above its weight when it comes to music. And the Icelandic music scene continues to be extremely dynamic. This was evident at the 2019 Iceland music awards which were held on the 13th of March at the Harpa Concert and Conference Center in Reykjavik which is just a superb venue. The awards had 37 categories and I think that says it all about the vitality of the Icelandic music scene. I have listed all the winners below and linked to them, their albums and song on Spotify to make it easier for you to discover new Icelandic music.
Related: Check out this Spotify playlist with Iceland music
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Congratulations to my wife – the best classical singer in Iceland
Of course, the main thing for me was that lovely wife Hallveig Rúnarsdóttir was chosen as the the female classical singer of the year. This is well deserved as you can hear from her Spotify channel. She got the same award back in 2013.
Hallveig blew Iceland away when she performed Ave Maria by composer Sigvalda Kaldalóns on TV.
GDRN is the young and upcoming star of Icelandic music
GDRN is another female singer who had a good night at the Iceland Music Awards. Her real name is Guðrún Ýr Eyfjörð Jóhannesdóttir and I totally get that she wanted to simplify things a bit! Especially for her inevitable rise to international stardom.
GDRN took home the following awards in the pop category:
Additionally, the video of for the song ‘Lætur mig’ was chosen as the music video of the year. I am certainly excited to follow this young and incredibly talented artist.
Víkingur Heiðar the piano virtuoso makes his mark
Another artist which certainly deserves a mention is the piano virtuoso Víkingur Heiðar. He has won international renown and his new album where plays Bach is just superb. Unsurprisingly Víkingur Heiðar won the award for the best performer of the year for classical music and the best classical album. I have never been to one of his concerts but I am told that they are just incredible.
Shaking up Eurovision
The Icelandic band and performance artists Hatari won the award for best performer for pop music. The group is making waves with their participation in the Eurovision song contest.
It is safe to say that they are controversial but I suppose the song contest can use a cold slap like Hatari delivers.
Overview of the 2019 Iceland Music Awards Winners
Open Category / folk music / film and theater music
Davíð Þór Jónsson – Woman Goes to War (Kona fer í stríð)
Record of the year – Open Category
Gyða Valtýsdóttir – Evolution
Record of the year – Folk Music
Song of the year – open category / folk music / film and theater and theater music
Record cover of the year
Jónas Sig. – Milda hjartað
Design: Ámundi Sigurðsson
Photos: Jónatan Grétarsson
Producer of the year
Ómar Guðjónsson for Milda hjartað – Jónas Sig
Rock, pop, electronic music, rap and hip hop – 2019 Iceland Music Awards
Record of the year
Pop: GDRN – Hvað ef
Record of the year – Rock
Valdimar – Sitt sýnist hverjum
Record of the year – Rap/Hip hop
Record of the year – electronic music
Song of the year – Pop
Song of the year – Rock
Benny Crespo’s Gang – Another Little Storm
Song of the year – Rap / Hip hopp
JóiPé & Króli – Í átt að tunglinu
Songwriter of the year
Auðunn Lúthersson (Auður)
Lyric writer of the year
Svavar Pétur Eysteinsson (Prins Póló)
Singer of the year
Guðrún Ýr Eyfjörð Jóhannesdóttir (GDRN)
Singer of the year
Music event of the year
Aldrei fór ég suður in Ísafjörður town
Performer of the year
Brightest hope – chosen by the radio station Rás 2 and the Icelandic Awards Bjartasta von
Music video of the year 2018 – chosen by Albumm.is and the Icelandic Music Awards (see it above)
Director: Ágúst Elí
Classical Music – 2019 Iceland Music Awards
Record of the year – classical music
Johann Sebastian Bach – Víkingur Heiðar Ólafsson
Composition of the year – classical music
Performer of the year – classical music
Performer of the year – classical music (groups)
Strokkvartettinn Siggi
Male classical singer of the year
Female classical singer of the year
Hallveig Rúnarsdóttir (yay!)
Music event of the year – classical music
Brothers by Daníel Bjarnason – The Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, singers and the choir of the Icelandic Opera.
Music event of the year – classical music
Opera days in Reykjavík
Brightest hope – classical music
Jazz and Blues – 2019 Iceland Music Awards
Record of the year – Jazz and Blues
Karl Olgeirsson – Mitt bláa hjarta
Composition of the year – Jazz and Blues
Songwriter of the year – Jazz and Blues
Performer of the year – Individual : Jazz and Blues
Music composer of the year – groups: Jazz and Blues
Stórsveit Reykjavíkur (Reykjavik Big Band)
Music event of the year – Jazz and Blues
Concert series of the Múlinn Jazz Club
Brightest hope – Jazz and Blues
Daníel Helgason
Honorary award by Samtónn and the Icelandic Music Awards
The composer Jón Ásgeirsson
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