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Stories   >   Eydis Evensen's 'Dreaming Of Light' Is endlessly beautiful / CLASH'

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Eydis Evensen's 'Dreaming Of Light' Is endlessly beautiful / CLASH'

Posted: May 25, 2023

Icelandic pianist and composer, Eydís Evensen will release her much anticipated second album ‘The Light’ on 26th May via XXIM Records.  Following on from her successful 2021 debut ‘Bylur’, which put her firmly on the map as one of neo-classical’s leading artists and which has amassed over 40 million audio streams to date and her subsequent 2022 EP ‘Frost’, ‘The Light’ further expands on this young artist’s scope for talent and expression, presenting her not only as a pianist, arranger and lyricist but also for the first time as a vocalist.  

Evensen cites two underlying themes to the ‘The Light’: it is both a deep reflection on the rough and rugged landscapes of Iceland and how they have shaped her personality, as it is a personal expression of a sense of hope and brighter times following hardship.  Both are represented by the theme of light – the inner light that guides us and the natural light, so rare in the dark Icelandic winters.  Written from personal experience at a time of relief and closure in her own life, Evensen is passing on here a message of both personal and collective hope and resilience to her listeners that better must come.  Having dealt with personal challenges in the very best way she knows how – at the piano, making music, this cathartic experience of intense composition and performance has culminated in ‘The Light’.

‘The Light’ reflects Evensen’s deep attachment to the rough landscapes and weather conditions of her native Iceland and how its unique environment impacts and shapes the people who live there.  The title of the first single ‘Tephra Horizon’ - released today to announce the new album - refers to the extraordinary imprint left on a landscape by volcanic ash from a single eruption.  Her inspiration behind this powerful track featuring interwoven piano, brass and strings is her witnessing the Fagradalsfjall volcanic eruption of 2021 with its potentially destructive power and dramatic outcome. In the accompanying video directed by Einar Egilsson we see Evensen returning to a site near the eruption, dancing on the tephra layer, as if claiming the territory as her own.

Evensen has spoken of the impact on her work of both the ancient Icelandic choral tradition and also its time-honoured poetry tradition, going back to the famous sagas from the earliest days of settlement on the remote island.  For ‘The Light’ she wrote a choral piece - based on one of her own poems - entitled ‘The Light II’, performed here by acclaimed Icelandic choir Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. The first part refers to “a beautiful light that froze” to which the second part returns, heralding “the beautiful light still survives”.  Her own singing voice can be heard on her song ‘Dreaming of Light’, for which Evensen also penned the lyrics.

‘The Light’ is a very personal and emotional album for Eydís Evensen and is a true reflection of this musician of ever-growing maturity and accomplishment as she presents her listeners with a dynamic, wide and colourful palette that ranges from swirling strings to mesmerising song and takes them on a journey across Icelandic time and space and shows them that truly even a little bit of light dispels a lot of darkness.

Following recent performances at major tastemaker events throughout Europe, which include Reeperbahn Festival, ARTE Concert Festival, Iceland Airwaves and Eurosonic (ESNS), Evensen has just announced that she will be performing in March 2023 at South By SouthWest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. A tour of the USA and Canada will come later in the year, following shows throughout Europe and the UK in Summer 2023 (tour dates below). Evensen will celebrate the release of ‘Tephra Horizon’ with an intimate solo piano show at Reykjavík’s Hannesarsholt on 24th February. Evensen’s KEXP ‘Live at Home’ session has been seen by almost 4 million viewers to date.


CLASH - ROBIN MURRAYwrites…..Icelandic composer Eydís Evensen returns with new song ‘Dreaming Of Light’. The musician’s 2021 debut album ‘Bylur’ enjoyed magnificent word of mouth success, her delicate touch adding a curious intensity to the piano-focussed songwriting. A bold voice within modern classical developments, her subsequent 2022 EP ‘Frost’ further illuminated the Icelandic artist’s work. Second album ‘The Light’ is scheduled to be released on May 26th via XXIM Records, with Eydís Evensen set to play an all-too-rare UK shows at London’s Grand Junction on June 21st.

A homeland performance is scheduled for this year’s Iceland Airwaves, but ahead of that Clash is able to bring you something special. Stripped from her incoming album, new song ‘Dreaming Of Light’ is magnificent, a work of hushed beauty and poise. The undulating melodies intertwine with her voice, the song operating as its own speed. Frosted musicality, it echoes the album title, and speaks eloquently about broader themes in her work. Eydís Evensen comments…

“To me, ‘The Light’ is a sense of hope and a sense of lighter times, as we’ve all experienced quite challenging times in the last couple of years. I composed this album inspired by a personal experience, and a resolution to that experience, so it gave me a sense of closure and a sense of relief. I hope the listener is able to go through this journey with me throughout the album.”

Tune in now.