Political Podcaster and activist Edda Falak, MBL
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Issue 2 | 2022 | www.gpv.is
The Personal Is
Political Podcaster and activist Edda Falak,
on misogyny, sexual violence, and
the failures of government
Kælan Mikla Hvíla Sprungur Third Timer Ice Cave
Music: The coolest goths are Dance: Photograper inspires Books: Hallgrímur Helgason Travel: We visit the newfound
back and colder than ever choreographers breaks a literature record ice cave in Langjökull
COVER ART:
Photo: Ari Magg
Photo assistant: Stephan
Adam
Stylist: Auður Karítas
Ásgeirsdóttir
Make Up: Helena
Jónsdóttir
First
11: Personality Cracks 18: Hugar's Quiet Mind 26: Breaking Books
12: The Coldest Goths 19: Techno Nature 28: Restaurants In The
07: Lenya Rún's Perfect 22: Verðbúðin Tackles Time Of Pandemic
Day The Fishing System 31: Nice Cave-ing
The Power of
Listening
EDITORIAL What is the definition of a revolution? It’s a All of this has led to a more just society. A better world.
concept we throw around haphazardly without There is no one who doubts it except, perhaps, the old fash-
much thought about what it actually means. The meaning of a ioned conservatives. (Dare I say, fascists?)
revolution in the 20th century was simple when armed insur- Edda has few, if any, connections with the official feminist
gents took power with violence. Or, if we want to be technical movement or political parties. She stood up because she saw
about it, a revolution is a forcible overthrow of a government injustice and decided to give other women—failed by the
or social order in favour of a new system. media, politicians and the justice system,—a voice through
We often use this word when talking about the #MeToo her podcast, Eigin Konur.
movement; perhaps as a means of qualifying it in our minds The result has been impressive, to put it lightly.
and better grasp it somehow. Edda Falak, who features on Edda says in her interview that politics are personal. This
the cover of this issue, has put a lot of thought into people’s is a more meaningful sentence than one might think. A new
readiness to call #MeToo a revolution: “We're always talking generation is not settling for the technocracy of politics; they
about a new 'revolution', that now there's 'another revolution’, understand that politics involve everything from your basic
but what I'm trying to point out is that this is a continuous human rights to how the police investigate sex crimes. And it
movement, going on week after week, all year long.” takes more than a singular revolution to change everything.
And she is dead right. Fighting for feminism, for a more Edda has shown the strength of one voice. But also, the
equal society, is not a revolution, but an endless process. The strength in listening. Perhaps that’s the biggest lesson we can
only comparison I can conjure is the hippie generation fighting take from her. For once, just listen.
against the oppression of the conservative generation that was
in power. They did this through culture and with emphasis on Valur Grettisson
peace, much like the #MeToo movement. Editor-in-chief
John Pearson, the Art Bicnick, the Pollý is a hard-work- Josie Anne Gaitens Helgi Harðarson is Catharine Fulton is a Shuruthi Basappa is Andie Sophia Fontaine Valur Grettisson is
Grapevine's culture Grapevine's video ing journalist by day is an arts worker, well known as the writer who has been one of Iceland's most has lived in Iceland an award-winning
editor, is a Reykjavík magician and pho- and an enthusiastic musician and writer brains and heart involved with the knowledgeable food- since 1999 and has journalist, author
resident with profes- tographer, is himself ball-catcher by from the Scottish behind Grapevine’s Grapevine for many ies. She's covered been reporting since and playwright. He
sional backgrounds unphotographable. night. A five-year-old Highlands. She was online store and years—possibly too local restaurants for 2003. They were the has been writing for
in live music events, This is due to the dachshund mix with once erroneously newsletter. Fewer are many—serving as years and has also first foreign-born Icelandic media since
broadcasting, scuba fact that he consists an IQ of a five-year- referred to as the aware that Helgi used journalist, food edi- been involved in vari- member of the 2005. He was also a
diving, journalism, en- mainly of stardust; a old human, Pollý is Queen of Scotland to moonlight as a tor and news editor ous food competi- Icelandic Parliament, theatre critic and
gineering and under- handy characteristic Chief Morale Officer by a Malaysian model in his younger before settling on tions in Iceland, such an experience they one of the hosts of
water photography. that enables him to at the Grapevine, and newspaper and has years. Today he uses copy editor. When not as Food & Fun and recommend for the cultural program,
We suspect that he float smoothly across a regular contribu- been falsely using his charm to write wielding her red pen more. By day, she anyone who wants 'Djöflaeyjan' on RÚV.
just likes to collect job rocky volcanic ter- tor to the Grapevine that title ever since. quizzes for our news- she's often found works as an architect to experience a Valur is not to be
titles. He is a big fan of rain, and through Newscast on You- In addition to her letter and find worthy opining on Canadian at Sei Studio. workplace where confused with the
puns, alliteration and apparently solid Tube. Woof! Grapevine duties, she stuff for our shop. He politics (profession- colleagues work tire- dreadful football club
lists that have three objects. is currently on a mis- also occasionally sells ally), and bitching lessly to undermine that bears the same
things in them. sion to have a pint in ads. Sorry girls, he’s about Icelandic each other. name.
every bar in 101. taken. politics (for fun).
EXPLORE UNSEEN ICELAND
ON THE ULTIMATE FLYING RIDE
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First The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 02— 2022
4
Imagine a million of these
What Are Icelanders dance capacity. These loosened
regulations are apparently not
Talking About? loose enough for some people, as
there have been regular outbreaks
of small contingencies of anti-
Headlines and bylines making waves vax, anti-mask and frankly
THE HOME
anti-science folks showing up in
groups to complain about unspeci-
Words: Andie Sophia Fontaine Photos: Art Bicnick & Anna Andersen
fied oppression and tyranny. The
OF ICELANDIC
most cringe example of this was
NEWS Iceland’s history as a ened off by fireworks on January during the last weekend in Janu-
Danish colony is back in 6th. Her owners were beside them- ary, when about a dozen people
the news, primarily because Pirate selves with worry–that is, until dressed in black and wearing V
SEAFOOD
Party MP Björn Levi Gunnars- the 26th, when someone believed for Vendetta masks showed up at
son submitted a parliamentary they saw Píla far up on a moun- Kringlan. Police promptly ushered
proposal in late January calling tain ridge. The rescue squad was them out of the building, the irony
AND LAMB
for the Danish crown and royal deployed and brought Píla back to of wearing masks to protests
insignia to be removed from the her owners, safe and sound and no masks apparently lost on these
roof of Parliament. This would worse for wear, despite her expo- folks.
seem like a reasonable enough ask– sure to winter weather and gale-
Iceland has been an independent force winds. Finally, Íslandsbanki is forecasting
APOTEK Kitchen+Bar is a casual-smart republic since 1944, and its legisla- that about a million tourists will
ture prominently bearing the mark Pandemic restrictions were visit Iceland in 2022. A lot of this
restaurant located in one of Reykjavíks of a former colonial overlord is relaxed again. We’re now at the will depend on vaccination and
most historical buildings. probably not in keeping with a 21st point where masks are required, Omicron rates in other countries,
century nation. However, this has there is some social distanc- but as things stand now, the next
We specialize in fresh seafood created a backlash of sorts, with ing, quarantine has been mostly few years should see tourism make
and local ingredients the Cultural Heritage Agency of replaced with “if you think you got a comeback as Iceland’s primary
Iceland criticising the proposal on in contact with the virus, be careful financial engine.
prepared with a modern twist. the grounds that it “erases history”, around others” and public events
evoking such slippery slope argu- are open with expanded atten-
ments as fears that other Danish-
related landmarks will be removed
from town and chucked into the
APOTEK KITCHEN+BAR Austurstræti 16 101 Reykjavík apotek.is harbour. These fears are probably
unfounded; Icelanders are keenly
aware of the colonial era, and
most Icelandic children are taught
Danish in school to this day.
In less controversial news, the
story of a dog rescued from a
mountainside after being miss-
ing for 20 days has proven to be
just the antidote for the torrent
of bad news about the pandemic.
Píla, the dog in question, went
missing in the northwest town of
Bolungarvík after she was fright-
Monarchists DNI
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Catharine Fulton
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First 6 The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 02— 2022
ASK AN
Expert
started sex work specifically to fund
her drug addiction at the time, and
would later become a client of SÁÁ.
When she raised the issue with lead-
ership at SÁÁ, where Einar was at the Q: How Are Ice Caves
time a member of the board, no action
was taken.
Formed?
Stundin also reports that the Directo-
Words: Josie Anne / Joaquín M.C.
rate of Health was made aware of the Belart
matter in 2020. The Directorate, in Photo: Guðni Hannesson
response to questions from Vísir, said
that they had no prior knowledge of
this case, and were not contacted about
it, neither formally nor informally.
“A case of immorality”
Women’s welfare association The Root
released a statement on the matter
yesterday, in which they condemned
Einar’s behaviour.
“Einar’s violation against the woman
One of SÁÁ's locations is a gross abuse of power from the
director of a social organisation that
Shake-Up At Addiction Centre the government has trusted for about
40 years to attend to the bulk of health
Following Scandal
care services for people with addic-
tions,” the statement reads in part. “In
this group are many of the country’s
The old director is out, a new director is coming in marginalised people, and it is a case of
immorality that has certainly affected
Ice caves are a popular winter tourist
attraction here in Iceland, with visi-
Einar’s work as chairman, despite his tors travelling from far a wide to wit-
Words: The now-former director of the a sex worker, but had engaged in the statement to the contrary. In few jobs ness the other-worldy beauty of these
Andie Sophia National Center of Addiction Medicine practice through a dating site that do ethics have more value than in jobs incredible natural structures. Grape-
Fontaine (SÁÁ), Einar Hermannsson, resigned anonymises users. Einar apparently for people with substance abuse prob- vine journalists even had a chance to
from his position late January after learned of her through word of mouth, lems and marginalised people.” visit one themselves for this issue. But
Photo: admitting he had responded to an and contacted her through a page she For their part, the board of SÁÁ how are ice caves actually formed?
ja.is ad and paid for the services of a sex created on Facebook. has condemned Einar’s behaviour. We reached out to Joaquín Belart, a
postdoctoral glaciology researcher
worker. Þóra Kristín Ásgeirsdóttir, currently
and Coordinator at the National Land
However, the sex worker in ques- Whether the Directorate of the spokesperson for deCODE, is
Survey of Iceland, to explain all.
tion reached out to Stundin to dispute Health knew campaigning for the SÁÁ directorship.
Einar’s story. Sharing screenshots of
Glaciers contain networks of subgla-
her message history with Einar, she Most damning of all is that the woman
cial rivers that merge and unify into
stated that she did not advertise being in question told reporters she had a main river when exiting the glacier.
Ice caves are most commonly formed
LOST IN GOOGLE TRANSLATION at the edge of the glacier, where the
subglacial rivers melt the ice as they
Famous Swamp Dwellers
carve their way out. Other ice caves
can be formed as vertical tunnels (also
called “moulins”) near the glacier mar-
gin. Moulins are created when a river
runs over the surface of the glacier,
Iceland has had its fair share of celebrity of this raises a number of questions. Is the and eventually sculpts its way into the
visitors over the years; Justin Bieber got his swamp sentient? Can it indeed be fought? glacier, creating a series of galleries.
kit off in a glacial lagoon, Kim K ate a hot dog Have we somehow witnessed a bizarre ex- The glacier rivers reduce their flow
at Bæjarins Beztu and Ed Sheeran played a traterrestrial interaction and are about to drastically during the winter, leaving
concert that a staggering 14% of the popu- be neuralyzed by one of Agent J’s Men In these caves nearly empty of water
lation attended. But of all of the superstar Black colleagues any sec– and making them easier to access.
tourists that Iceland can boast of, there’s The colder temperatures also make
only one who we seem to have driven to the I, Translation Robot the ice stiffer, which makes the ice
brink of absolute madness. Well, perhaps not. It turns out that this caves more stable and safer to visit
is less a case of alien invasion, and more during the winter.
Gettin' Jiggy Wit It some harmless robots messing up menial
Enter Will Smith, or more accurately, this tasks for humans. Google translate took Ice caves in Iceland often have a
headline about him on the website of Ice- one look at the word ‘mý,’ and decided that unique feature: they contain tephra,
landic newspaper Morgunblaðið. The article it was meant to say ‘mýri,’ which translates or volcanic ash layers visible within the
seems to claim that ‘Big Willy’ was so frus- to swamp. In reality ‘mý’ is short for ‘mýflu- ice. These are the result of the coun-
trated while filming his documentary ‘Wel- gur –the annoying midge-like flies that are try’s various volcanic eruptions, and
come To Earth’ in Iceland that he went a bit growing in numbers all over the country. mark the date that the ash originally
feral, and ended up in an ‘Icelandic swamp’. While they do indeed congregate in marshy fell on top of the glacier. So if you see
To make matters even more confusing, fur- areas, it’s good to know that Will was just a black line running along the wall of
ther into the column it’s claimed that Mr. trying to fight them, and not an entire wet- an ice cave, you are looking directly at
Smith actually published a video of himself land. JG a piece of volcanic history. °
‘fighting’ the aforementioned swamp. All
SMASHED BURGERS
AND NASHVILLE-STYLE
HOT CHICKEN IN
DOWNTOWN
REYKJAVÍK
HAFNARSTRÆTI
101 REYKJAVÍK
First 7 The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 02— 2022
GODS OF ICELAND
live) was to pay her off, and one of her
payouts was her choice of husband
NEW MUSIC PICKS
from among the Æsir. But, the gods
being prickly little bastards, said that
she could only choose her husband by
looking at their feet.
Nice feet? Think again!
Skaði, for some reason, agreed to these
weird terms and got busy examining
the gods’ feet. One pair was particu-
larly clean and nice, and Skaði assumed
these must be the feet of the hottest
god out there, Baldur. But, to her disap- Árný Margrét
pointment, the feet belong to Njörður. “Akureyri”
Of all of the goddamn gods!? Acoustic guitar, voice, and the faintest
of piano are the ingredients in this
fragile number about the unravelling
Screaming seagulls and of love. Árný Margrét makes the bold
howling wolves
Njörður, The Husband With
choice of writing a song the chorus of
which is almost indistinguishable from
As you might expect, the marriage was the verses, but the result is a poem
The Nice Feet
extremely stormy, as Skaði couldn’t set to the sparsest of music. It’s no
sleep in Njörður’s home, Nótatún, on surprise that the buzz around her is
account of the maddening noise from growing. ASF
the ocean and the screaming seagulls,
which the god of the ocean could not,
What’s the point of ruling the ocean if you can’t silence for some reason, silence. Njörður then
the seagulls?
agreed to move to Þrymheimur, but
he couldn’t sleep there because of the
howling wolves in the mountains. They
Words: As odd as it may sound, unlike Greek The god of dullness finally agreed to split their time at each
Valur Grettisson mythology, Nordic mythology doesn’t place. They would spend nine nights
have one single god representing the There aren't many stories about at Nótatún and nine at Þrymheimur.
Image: ocean. Rather, four figures are said to Njörður. Truthfully, he seems to have Finally, Skaði was fed up with this fine-
Wikimedia be gods or rulers of the ocean: Mímir, been a remarkably dull character. That footed loser. She demanded a divorce
Commons Ægir, Njörður and Nanna. is, until the unbelievably cool Jötunn and ended up marrying a man fitting
Although Icelanders usually refer Skaði enters the scene. She lived in the to her badass legend, the all-seeing god,
to Ægir when talking about the ocean, mountains of Þrymheimur, the home Óðinn. Salóme Katrín
then he is not technically a god, but a of Jötnar. She travelled on skis and “The Other Side”
giant. The only one that is actually a hunted animals with her bow. But then After an initial minute of plaintive
god/Æsir is Njörður (Nanna is also a tragedy hit. Superpowers: guitar and fragile vocals, this track
goddess). Njörður is the god of wind Controls the wind, has really drops into a heavy rock explosion of
and is responsible for one of the oldest Prickly bastards nice feet. joy, creating a juxtaposition that is
liberating rather than jarring. This was
sayings in Icelandic, “sá er galli á gjöf
Weaknesses: apparently the intended effect, since
Njarðar” (the problem with Njörður’s Skaði’s father, Þjassi, was killed by the Can’t sleep around howling Salóme Katrín describes the song as
gift). Nobody knows exactly what this gods after Loki’s infamous heist of wolves, can’t silence the seagulls “a bedroom party, jumping on the bed
means, but the best guess is it’s fish Iðunn, and Skaði was hell-bent on kill- singing into your hairbrush”. ASF
related because Njörður is also the god ing every last one of those pompous Modern Analogy:
The depressing film, Marriage
of wind. So, the problem with his gift f$%&ers of Æsir. When she marched
Story
is wind, and Icelanders hate the f#$% into Valhalla, the Æsir saw that the
wind. only way to make peace with her (and
JUST SAYINGS
Does the guy hitting on you have grass
Grass In Shoes?
in his shoes? Odd, right? Rest assured,
though, that he’s not utterly insane, but
rather into you in a very old fashioned
He's In Love
way.
The saying ‘Að ganga á eftir einhverjum
með grasið í skónum’ literally means,
With You
to walk after someone with your shoes
filled with grass. And it means that
Hugar
the one that has the grass in its shoes “Ævi”
is begging something of you or trying There’s no ‘new year, new me’ rhetoric
to win your heart. Now, it’s an unoffi- from Hugar in this track from their
cial secret that people actually did this latest album, ‘Rift’. Instead we
some centuries ago, although no scholar gratefully receive five-and-a-half
really knows why. Some theories are minutes of moody, atmospheric
that it was just a fashion at the time. post-rock greatness. Lose yourself
in the waves of sound, fantasising
Our theory is that it was to kill the smell
that you’re riding across the brutal
of the sweaty feet. It doesn't have to be Icelandic landscape on horseback. Or,
complicated. Though describing ritu- in my case, imagining that I look super
als of the olden days, this saying is very cool while doing my silly little yoga
common in modern Icelandic. VG routine. JG
Catcher in the rye
watch GRAPEVINE ON YOUTUBE
/TheReykjavikGrapevine
8 The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 02— 2022
Words: Andie Sophia Fontaine
Photos: Ari Magg
A Time To
Listen Podcaster and activist, Edda Falak,
has given her platform to the voice-
less, but she points out that the
responsibility to chance society
falls on the powerful; not survivors
of sexual violence. Will politicians
act?
9 The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 12— 2021
lem. It shouldn't have to be some kind Add to this being young. There's this
“I don't want to put forward a
of revolution. There are some people outlook among young women that no
saying 'this isn't political' but it most one will believe you, you won't dare to
certainly is political. Because we need talk about what happened to you, and if
one-sided opinion. I want to bring
social changes to go into effect more you do, no one will believe you. It's as if
than the discussions about the need you don't matter as much.”
for these changes. That's something
certain subjects to the surface, else I'm trying to draw attention to.”
Fighting back, for her, must involve The courts
and the cops
numerous sectors of society, from the
for society to talk about.” private to the public.
“We need to see changes such as
large companies taking a public stance, Edda is encouraged to see the grass-
such as what happened with Ísey,” she roots organising, making their voices
Long-time readers of the Grapevine
may have noticed a series of stories The back- says, referring to how shortly after an
interview she did with Vítalía Laza-
heard and having an impact on private
companies.
over the past few years on prominent,
often powerful, Icelandic men being lash, followed reva, who recounted harrowing details
of being sexually abused by a group of
“We're seeing more and more that
women are standing together,” she
revealed to have crossed boundaries
of consent with women, in particular,
by listening men, Ísey’s CEO, Ari Edwald, was fired
swfitly. “Ari was fired in the wake of the
says. “If there's a group of people
standing together, it's a lot more diffi-
women who are younger and often of The beginnings of Eigin Konur were interview. It's also a social change for cult to oppose them. You're seeing the
foreign origin. Each time this happens, marked by a storm of responses–many these companies to publicly condemn younger generation isn’t letting the
the stories grab headlines for some of them positive, some of them nega- violence, but at the same time, we do older generation get away with their
days or weeks, sometimes prompt- tive, but all of them engaging with the need political changes. shit. People aren't as afraid. If someone
ing other survivors to come forward, content. “We really need to improve how says you're lying, you know there will
either about the men in question or “I sort of jumped into the deep end sexual assault cases are handled. We be people who stand with you, which
about other men and their transgres- talking about things that were causing know it's illegal to sexually assault matters a lot. There are people encour-
sions. a real buzz in society, like porn, Only- someone, but there will always be aging others not to do business with a
Each time this happens, numer- Fans, fatphobia and other things that people who do it anyway. Education particular company or other because
ous media outlets, (and the Grape- people had strong opinions about and needs to be prioritised—education in they're not taking a stand, which exerts
vine is, admittedly, not an exception found uncomfortable to listen to,” Edda schools. The courts system isn't good financial pressure on these compa-
here), frame this as “another” wave of says. “So the first responses were very enough, and we don't have recourse nies.”
the #MeToo movement. The problem negative, but everyone was listening, for survivors. The government isn't At the same time, she also believes
with this is it treats a systemic, ongo- everyone was watching, and everyone subsidising psychiatric services for that there needs to be fundamental,
ing problem of sexual violence–more had an opinion. I worked on the things survivors. We're lacking funding in sweeping changes made to Iceland’s
often than not perpetrated by power- that I wanted to; I don't want to put recourse, both regarding perpetrators courts and police.
ful men against younger, marginalised forward a one-sided opinion. I want to and survivors.” “The problems with the court system
women–as an anomaly. The sad truth bring certain subjects to the surface, are all built on top of this prejudice
is, these events are not the exception; for society to talk about. So while the which exists within the system,” she
they are the norm. response was at first negative, that Trans women says. “It's often as if the court system
and foreign
One person who knows this all too changed rather quickly.” is primarily dominated by white men
well is Edda Falak, an Icelandic woman Edda makes no claims to being an who have maybe already made up their
who has found herself at the forefront
of what is a continuous movement of
objective reporter on the subjects she
covers, but at the same time, hearing women minds, and have already decided not to
believe survivors. You can have a case
marginalised people pushing back from many different sides of an issue that has texts, screenshots, witnesses,
against patriarchal violence. She is the is deeply important to her. Edda is also, thankfully, very much all that, but the case is still dropped.
host of a popular podcast called Eigin “I definitely don't want to put aware of how some women—namely We're talking about powerful people
Konur (a play on the Icelandic word for forward a one-sided opinion, and trans women, foreign women, and making decisions based on their own
“wives”, i.e. “eiginkonur”, which liter- be telling people what is 'right' and young women—are particularly prejudices.”
ally means “owned women”), and the 'wrong',” she emphasises. “It's built vulnerable, experiencing intersections Much the same issue is present
interviews she has conducted have on the idea to discuss these subjects of oppression that also make coming in the police, she says. “When one is
broken news, brought down CEOs, from the point of view of many differ- forward and recounting being abused questioned, the questions that are
and sparked a long-overdue discus- ent sides. That's the way it should all the more daunting. being asked; we need to examine that.
sion of why sexual violence persists in be. That said, with every subject that “Out of prejudice against trans What is being asked? Why aren't they
the “feminist paradise” of Iceland, and I'm reporting on, I am obviously not people, there's this pervasive attitude following up on these cases? What's in
what can be done to change it. neutral, rather I think these are things that trans people subjected to sexual the interests of the police that prompts
that matter to society. I also feel there violence deserve it somehow,” she says. them to not examine this case, or that
is a social responsibility to listen to “You see this kind of shame associated case? There's corruption and prejudice
Making use people who are speaking from their with being with a trans person, which within the system, and we need to kick
of a platform
lived experience. That's what I think can lead to this violence. And trans these people out.”
matters.” people are often scared to seek justice
in the wake of it. It's not talked about
“Before I started the podcast, I had very much here, but you see it abroad The state
newly finished coursework in Finance “Another that the numbers are remarkably high,
bears respon-
revolution”
and Strategic Management in Copen- and while those numbers might not be
hagen, and was competing in crossfit
at this time,” Edda recalls. “At the same
officially as high in Iceland, they are;
it's just kept quiet. There is clearly not sibility
time, I was very active on social media Edda has observed with some frustra- enough education going on in grade
on specific matters where I was talking tion how each revealed instance of school. This is a specific prejudice Particularly frustrating to Edda is to
about things, usually about how women powerful men abusing their positions against trans people.” see members of Parliament and Reyk-
and female bodies are hypersexualised, is framed as a new wave in what she She adds: “When it comes to women javík City Council—the very people
how violence is connected to that. I sees as a continuous, ongoing move- of foreign origin, Icelandic men see with the power to make the necessary
was sharing photos and comments ment. This movement, she says, has themselves as above these women. Prej- changes—not back up their rhetoric
on my Instagram story showing how material goals in mind. udice against women of foreign origin or the campaign promises with real
men usually talk to me, and how it is “We're always talking about a new is based on them not being Icelandic; action.
to be a woman in masculine worlds like 'revolution' [in the #MeToo move- they don't have as much respect for “It is incredibly frustrating to see all
finance and sports, talking about these ment], that now there's 'another revo- those women. These are women who these members of Parliament on social
things on social media. That ended up lution', but what I'm trying to point don't have as many connections in media saying 'we support survivors, go
transforming into the podcast.” out is that this is a continuous move- Icelandic society, don't know as many you',” she says. “But it isn't our prob-
Rather than centering her own ment, going on week after week, all people, that no one will believe them lem; it's their problem. So we clearly
opinions, from the very beginning year long,” she says. “This is a prob- because they're not Icelandic. All this. need to put the pressure on. It shows
Edda sought to pass the mic to those
whose voices often go unheard.
“It's often as if the court system is primarily
“I had built up a good group of
followers and a platform, and a lot of
people had opinions on these matters
dominated by white men who have maybe
and how they were covered, so I just
decided that instead of all this revolv-
ing around me all the time, to hear
already made up their minds, and have already
from others,” she says. "[Eigin Konur]
started in connection with people
who were working in production, and
wanted to do this properly. I wanted
to have a real influence in exacting
change. Today, there's an advertising
decided not to believe survivors”
office helping me with all the graphics,
video and sound and such.”
10 The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 02— 2022
who's really supporting survivors and
who isn't.
Stop voting She adds: “It's performative to see a
party that has [making these changes]
A matter
“I see, of course, that things are for these as part of its platform, yet they have of life and
people! death
happening, but we still need changes shown that they have no regard for
amongst these powerful people who minority groups. So why should this
are in government. These are people be on their platforms now?”
who could make real changes. You're The cynical opportunism of politicians These parties are so entrenched in At our interview’s close, Edda offers
seeing MPs saying things like 'Wow, go has used up all its charm, in Edda’s society that Edda is not especially opti- some thoughts for men reading this;
you, you're doing so well, we support mind. The time for talk and hashtags mistic that things will change any time what they could take away, and how
you' but this person maybe represents is over; the time for action is long over- soon, as that would require a large they can help make the changes much
a party that's in the government.” due. section of the population to actually needed in Icelandic society.
For one example, she refers again “We also see political parties using vote them out. “It matters a lot to listen to people
to her interview with Vítalía, who #MeToo and all that in their campaigns “People need to stop voting for parties who are talking,” she says. “It's sad to
had named famed media personality to get themselves voted into govern- that are focusing on all kinds of things say, but this could be your mother, your
Logi Bergmann amongst the men who other than the people in this coun- cousin, your sister, or whoever. This
crossed a line with her, and who later try,” she says. “We've never seen them is a matter of life and death for some
took to Facebook to deny the allega- people, to be listened to.”
tions against him. For survivors, she emphasised that
“At the same time, we see for no one is under any obligation to go
example Katrín Atladóttir, who is the public with some of the most trau-
Independence Party representative in
Reykjavík City Council, 'supports the
fight' but still standing by a Facebook
post from an alleged abuser,” she says.
matic events of their lives. As always,
since well before Eigin Konur was
“Meanwhile, Reykjavík City has a direct launched, Edda Falak wants them to
line to allocating resources in the fight know that she stands with them.
against sexual violence. So yeah, it's a “I want them to know that they are
bit annoying to see people cheerlead- believed,” she says. “There's a whole
ing 'good for you' but she's someone bunch of people out there who stand
who could actually make changes and ment, and promise to pay down psychi- together. It's not like it was. I so look
yet obviously supports an accused atric services and speed up processing up to people who are still with us today
abuser. of sexual assault cases in the judicial despite everything that's happened to
“This is worrying. So what does it system, and such,” she points out. “But putting any reforms into how sexual them. It's so admirable, and it's not a
mean to be cheerleading? They could when they're voted into government, assault cases are handled. That has given. I think it's also important to
actually do something, but they shift suddenly there's no money to pay never happened, we haven't seen it, emphasise that no one is obligated to
the responsibility onto us. I had to sit down psychiatric services, nothing is and that's why I don't have any hope change their experience into some kind
with Vítalía in an hour-long interview done. This is just performative. We're that this will ever change. We need to of 'empowering story' to help others.
where she describes these disgusting seeing judges who are in these parties see loads of parties talking about this Sometimes it's really just a matter of
events in painful detail before anything that have power, writing columns in daily; not just the week before election living, eating, sleeping, surviving. Not
was said. She had already talked about newspapers that say 'we don't always day.” everyone needs to go public. It can be
this before but no one listened. I have need to believe survivors'. These are really difficult. But it's important to
yet to see any changes that would be people who are still in government, me that they know that they, too, are
good for survivors.” and that's cause for worry.” believed.”Find today's events
in Iceland!
Download our free
listings app - APPENING
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CULTURE
NEWS
Sámi National Day Films
Film Screenings
February 6th - 16:00 to 20:00 - The
Nordic House - Free (sign up online)
The Nordic House is celebrating
Sámi National day on February 6th
by screening a selection of films in
collaboration with the International
Sámi Film Institute. The afternoon
will start with short films, followed
by a screening of ‘Eatnameamet—
Our Silent Struggle’, directed by
indigenous filmmaker Siv West.
The films shed light on the Sámi
people’s long fought battle against
assimilation, colonisation and
eradication. JG
Dancing Between The Cracks
The icy stage set is powerfully striking. "Some-
times when we have the glacier around us, we
feel really cold suddenly," Emilía observes. "And
often the people who are watching also feel
Hvíla Sprungur explores the crevasses in our cold!"
own personal glaciers
Old collaborators, new
Authentic Finnish Sauna Words: John Pearson Photos: RAX collaboration
Finnish Culture Day The project is an opportunity for old friends
Iceland's glaciers are a rich source of symbol- connections with the core ideas of the piece, Ásgeir and Emilía to work together again, for
February 27th - 13:00 to 16:00 - ism. We observe these majestic ice caps melt as Emilía explains: "Every single one of us has the first time in years, and to work with new
Breiðholtslaug - Free Entry and recede as a stark reminder of the climate been trying to dig into our own past a little bit friends.
crisis. At the same time, they are some of and find our own stories, so we've been going "It's great for us, the old ones, to be with the
Finns: we’re not sure how to feel the last areas of land largely untouched by through that as well. Sometimes the snow goes young ones," Emilía laughs, referring to fellow
about them. Do we trust these human encroachment, representing a truly over the crevasse, so you don't see it. And also dancers Erna Gunnarsdóttir and Sigurður
guys with their weird vowels and wild Iceland. And the glaciers can also act as with ourselves, maybe we have a problem that Andrean Sigurgeirsson. "They keep us on our
unnecessary amount of trees? But a broader metaphor for our existence, their we don't really show. But it's there." toes!"
there is one thing Finland definitely cracks and crevasses reminding us of the risks Ásgeir sees the timing of this project as The music for 'Hvíla Sprungur' is an evolving
gets right, and that’s sauna. of being human. particularly significant. "I think that COVID piece based on the composition 'Quadrantes' by
Luckily for us the Finnish Embassy 'Hvíla Sprungur' is a new performance by has become, for many people, a bit of a revela- Óttar Sæmundsen and Stephan Stephensen, a
is celebrating ‘Kalevala’ – Finnish the Iceland Dance Company that opens this tion that they are stuck in a crevasse of some former member of Gusgus. In fact, the project
National Culture Day – by inviting month at Reykjavík's Borgarleikhúsið. The title sort. You're forced to face your personal things is also a four-way reunion for Inga, Stephan,
us all to the pool to check out translates as 'Rest Cracks', but its given English because you can't really go on with life as usual." Ásgeir and Emilía, who all worked together on
authentic Finnish sauna traditions. title of 'Crevasses' points more accurately to the the project 'Journey', a collaboration between
Expect birch twigs. JG focus of choreographer Inga Maren Rúnarsdót- Chilling imagery Gusgus and the Iceland Dance Company back
tir's work. The set, designed by Júlíanna Lára in 2015.
Steingrímsdottir, and the dancers' costumes The set is based on glacial imagery from Emilía and Ásgeir are excited to bring 'Hvíla
comprise photos by celebrated Icelandic photographer RAX. The scenery is the same Sprungur' to the stage. "This piece is going to
wilderness photographer RAX, (Ragnar Axels- design as the dancers' costumes, which allows be very audience friendly. It's really dancey, and
son). the performers to hide on stage. it has beautiful music!" says Emilía.
Two of the four performers—Ásgeir Helgi "I think that comes from Inga's own child- So come and experience 'Hvíla Sprungur'.
Magnússon and Emilía Benedikta Gísladót- hood, and the memories that she was working Just bring a decent coat and some mittens.
tir—shared their thoughts and experiences with," Ásgeir explains. "A need for self-protec-
just before the premiere performance. tion. How can you blend into the background? Performances are at Borgarleikhúsið on February
"It's amazing to work with Inga Maren," says Like the ptarmigan in the winter, turning white 4th, 10th and 18th at 20:00. Tickets cost 4,450 ISK
Ásgeir, when asked how the show was develop- to blend in with the snow." and are available from tix.is
Hyperpop Galore! ing. "It's so good to have somebody orchestrat-
ing who really knows what they want, but is
Inspector Spacetime With Young open to suggestions."
Nazareth "It's been a really fun process," Emilía says,
"and so nice to be able to come to work during
February 5th - 20:00 - Prikið - Free this strange COVID time. So it's been a blessing
Entry to gather here, create something beautiful and
have fun."
Live music is back, baby! And who
better to celebrate its welcome Mind the gap
return with than dancepop darlings
(and Grapevine Music Award In this work, Inga Maren dives within herself
winners) Inspector Spacetime? to look at her personal weak points—her
The happy trio are basically party cracks and crevasses—and asks: what are
incarnate, and this concert is the the breaches in her own personal glacier into
ideal way to firmly shake off those which she falls? And considering wider society,
January blues. Come along to Prikið as it traverses the metaphorical glacier: how
on Saturday and we guarantee do we travel together in a way that enables us
you’ll dansa og bánsa with the best to pull each other up when we inevitably fall?
of them. Just make sure you get And how do we avoid falling in the first place?
down early because it’s going to be These questions take on physical expression in
rammed. JG 'Hvíla Sprungur'.
The dancers have also been making personal
A disappearing dancerCulture The Reykjavík Grapevine 12
Issue 02— 2022
happen in the universe of Kælan goes down, and it's like the songs
Mikla, under the cold northern are building a story that we are
lights.” performing.”
“When we talk about the spirit “And we become hypnotised. We
of Kælan Mikla, and the universe, get so connected on stage, and we
we're talking about the three of us feel like we are conjuring the spirit
together,” Margét says. “We always that is Kælan Mikla. We become
feel like we conjure this femme one unit when we are onstage,”
fatale spirit, like together we are concludes Laufey.
stronger. Together we have the
alter ego of this femme fatale ice Longing for a tour bus
queen.” bunk
“I think that this is the most
visual album we have ever Naturally, like many musicians, the
released,” says Laufey, “because band feel thwarted by the ongoing
a lot of it talks about the Kælan pandemic disruption.
Mikla universe and shows people “We have a release tour in
the environment that we imagine Europe,” says Margrét. “I think
our music to happen in.” it’s 29 shows or something that is
supposed to happen in April, but
The importance of now we’re just crossing fingers.
appearance When you release the album, you
want to perform it. You can’t just
A strong and deliberate visual put an album online and be like,
identity is a core part of Kælan ‘Hey, here's the album.’ You need to
Mikla, and music videos form an back it up; promote it, travel, meet
important part of their creative people and perform it.”
offering. Four tracks from ‘Undir “We did all those shitty base-
Köldum Norðurljósum’—almost ment shows for five people,”
half the tracks on the album—have Margrét continues, harking back to
had excellent videos created for the band’s early days. “And now we
them and, despite being made by play for like 2000 people!” inter-
four different directors, the band’s jects Laufey. “But we put in the
visual concept runs as a solid work,” Margrét says. “And now we
thread through them all. can’t do that work.”
Perhaps most notable is the
video for “Hvítir Sandar”, which Farewell in Berlin
was directed by Máni Sigfússon
and won Video Of The Year at The The band start recalling tales of
Grapevine’s 2022 Music Awards. their “shitty basement show”
Kælan Mikla had first worked with tours from back in the day, when
Máni in 2015, when band and direc- they would traverse Europe’s train
tor were paired up to make a promo network unaccompanied—carry-
video for the Iceland Airwaves ing their instruments in tote
festival. bags—to play bookings secured by
“We were trying to think of Sólveig in a bout of pushy teenaged
video artists, and then we remem- enthusiasm. Like the time Margrét
bered this thing that we made with stopped a man stealing her bass on
him,” says Laufey. “Yeah, because a railway platform, only to lose her
the lyrics in the song are a lot about breakfast croissant to him instead.
texture and feelings and how it is And the time a random lost Turk-
to touch things,” Sólveig chimes ish guy, who spoke no Icelandic
The Cold Light
in. “And opposites like black liquid or English, decided to join Kælan
and white sand. We just thought he Mikla as their bodyguard/porter in
would be perfect, and he was!” return for the band guiding him
to Berlin.
The importance of “And when we got out of the
Of Night
appearing train station, he just walked away,”
recalls Margrét. “After travelling
A n o t h er c r u c i a l e l em en t of with us for 24 hours, he just looked
Kælan Mikla is the live show. The at us like ‘Okay’, and walked away
band augment their sound with like he had done his job. And we
costume, stage theatrics, video and still think about him today!”
even incense to hit the senses. “I just want to hire him again!”
Kælan Mikla have a dark new universe to share “It is theatre; essentially Kælan
Mikla is a live band,” says Laufey.
says Sólveig. “And next time we
will pay him!” says Laufey.
Words: John Pearson Photo: Ása Dýradóttir Album cover: Førtifem / Merch Babe “The music is made to be live. It’s Cue the Kælan Mikla laughter
not meant to be on records, you again. Now that’s not very goth, is
know?” it?
The mercurial Kælan Mikla truthfully, when people ask what for example, the album’s tender Sólveig nods in agreement:
defy description in many ways. kind of music we make, I have no closing track “Saman” is written “It’s such a journey. When we go Pre-order the Exquisite Deluxe
Although it might appear that idea.” in waltz time rather than a more on stage, we always plan the intro. Edition of 'Undir Köldum Norðurljó-
many of the band’s motifs and “I think that our genre is Kælan common “rock” time signature. We plan how it builds up and sum' on blue vinyl: shop.grapevine.is
themes could be huddled together Mikla!” concludes Laufey. And generally, the band’s refined
under the big black umbrella of production focus on this album
“goth”, that just seems too simplis- Cold northern lights shines through in enhanced sonic
tic. Not to mention somewhat sophistication. The sound of
reductive. Their most recent album, ‘Undir ‘Undir Köldum Norðurljósum’ is
Besides, when we talk, Kælan Köldum Norðurljósum’ (‘Under The a seductive whisper rather than a
Mikla—that is, Sólveig, Margrét Cold Northern Lights’), continues strident shout; its feel is expansive,
and Laufey—laugh. In fact, they Kælan Mikla’s tradition of evolving not oppressive.
laugh quite a lot. Now that’s not that genre through each musical
very goth, is it?. project. For this one—produced by The Kælan Mikla
Barði Jóhannsson—the band spent universe
Pigeonholes are for 18 months in Barði’s studio, as
pigeons opposed to recording in a garage as The band are named after the
they did for the preceding record. beautiful but deadly snow queen
“We have never put a label on “We were working with Barði for in Tove Jansson’s Moomin books,
ourselves,” says vocalist Laufey. one and a half years, really trying an idea around which the band
“And we think it's really difficult to make every sound perfect,” says have created their own universe;
to do, because all of our albums are Sólveig. “And it was really nice to a fantasy version of Iceland where
different and we never know what try that out.” ‘Undir Köldum Norðurljósum’
we're going to do next.” “It was the first time that we takes place.
“Then when you release a differ- worked with a producer like that. Laufey explains: “It is made up
ent album, people are like, ‘What? And he was pushing us a lot to go of stories that are kind of based
This is not what I signed up for!’” all the way and you know, try every- on Icelandic folklore and nature.
laughs bassist Margrét. “We always thing,” says Laufey. They’re these little fairy tales that
have the same essence even though That spirit of growth and we made ourselves, and what they
we're using different genres. And experimentation shines through; all have in common is that theyOUR STORES IN REYKJAVÍK: FARMERS & FRIENDS
Best of Reykjavík The Reykjavík Grapevine 14
Issue 02— 2022
A LITERARY
TOUR
AROUND
ICELAND
Ligeglad - it's bracing stuff
Best of
Icelandic TV
Shows Verbúðin
What to do in a storm and a This show is, as I write this, showing
pandemic? Watch the TV, you fool! on RÚV and it’s already being called
one of the best TV shows ever made
in Iceland. The reason is compli-
Words: Valur Grettisson Photos: Stills from the shows cated. First, it’s about the Icelandic
fishing quota system. Sounds excit-
It’s that time of the year when we hide under the blanket, eat candy and ing, right? And second, it’s set in the
binge TV while listening to the wind shaking the foundation of our homes. 80s. To explain the first element, the
Add a pandemic to this annual winter hibernation and you have the perfect quota system is a highly explosive
environment for discovering some new Icelandic TV shows. So, here goes... political topic in Iceland going back
decades. But don’t worry, you don’t
need to understand the system to
enjoy the show. It’s a story about
people, their emotional lives, fuck-
ing and fighting and, in the end, how
the hell Icelanders became so rich!
Well, some of them, at least. The
80s throwback is also incredibly well
executed, and Icelanders connect
deeply with many of the cultural
references in the show, making it
worth watching for everyone seek-
ing a better understanding of the
Icelandic soul.
Næturvaktin
Storytelling is probably the most Many Icelanders believe that this is the best comedy of all time. And I tend
important cultural tradition in to agree, although new shows are giving it a run for its money. Næturvaktin
was directed by the great Ragnar Bragason and stars Jón Gnarr, who later
Iceland and a lot of its places became the punk mayor of Reykjavík. At the show’s core is the complicated
have enthralling tales to tell. and violent relationship between a gas station manager and his employees.
The show has been remade in Norway, as Nattskiftet, but the original Nætur-
vaktin (‘The Night Shift’, in English) has been shown across Europe.
This book is a round trip around
the country, with thirty stops at
such places along the way. Venjulegt Fólk
Venjulegt Fólk is greatly underval-
ued, in our opinion. The show is
one of few that made it to a fourth
season and it has a surprisingly
good combination of drama and
comedy. It also has a stellar ensem-
ble of actors to elevate it from being
a bland melodrama. The series is,
more or less, about regular people
Ligeglad dealing with happiness, conflict
and stress in modern times. Like
This might be a controversial pick, on reality; for example, the charac- that explains anything. It took me a
but it is one of the best comedies ters have the actor's name and Helgi moment to get on board, but when I
Icelanders have produced—I Björnsson, the famous Icelandic pop finally got there, I just couldn’t stop
stand on that hill and I will die on star and actor, plays himself at the watching these characters.
it. Although the show is set not in end of his career. (In fact, Helgi’s
ICELAND’S LARGEST BOOKSTORE Iceland but Denmark, the creators career has only blossomed during
grasp the odd humour of Icelanders the pandemic.) These shows are
Forlagið bookstore | Fiskislóð 39 | www.forlagid.is
and the well-known concept of the a small gem in the TV history of
Open weekdays 10–18 | Saturdays 11–16 Icelandic loser. The show borders Iceland.You can also read
