The music of Iceland is related to Nordic music forms, and includes vibrant folk and pop traditions, including medieval music group Voces Thules, alternative rock band The Sugarcubes, singers Björk and Emiliana Torrini, and post-rock band Sigur Rós. The only folk band whose recordings are marketed abroad is Islandica.
The national anthem of Iceland is "Lofsöngur", written by Matthías Jochumsson, with music by Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson . The song was written in 1874, when Iceland celebrated the one thousandth anniversary of settlement on the island. It was in the form of a hymn, first published under the title A Hymn in Commemoration of Iceland's Thousand Years.
Icelandic pop music today includes many bands and artists, ranging from pop-rock groups such as Sálin hans Jóns míns, Á Móti Sól (Rockstar: Supernova Magni's band), Írafár, Í Svörtum Fötum, Quarashi, Bang Gang, Amiina, and Skítamórall to solo ballad singers like Bubbi Morthens, Megas, Björgvin Halldórsson and Páll Rósinkranz, and all the way to reggae band Hjálmar and Bulgarian indie-folk band Stórsveit Nix Noltes. The indie scene is also very strong in Iceland, and bands such as múm, Sigur Rós, the quirky folk/pop singer Hafdís Huld and the solo artist Mugison are fairly well-known outside Iceland. Easily the most famous Icelandic artist is eclectic singer and composer Björk, who has received 13 Grammy nominations and sold over 15 million albums worldwide, including two platinum albums and one gold album in the United States.
In recent years, Iceland has seen a development and change in both the commercial and underground music scene. Prominent experimental indie bands, such as the high school originated Hjaltalín and Benny Crespo's Gang are enjoying a wider audience. Notable music veterans are expanding into sub genres; for example, GusGus frontman Daníel Ágúst is currently collaborating with punk rock star Krummi from Mínus, forming the raw duo Esja. The electronic scene in Icelandic music has also picked up a wider audience. Grittier electronic bands are redefining old styles with dynamic music such as the widely acclaimed band Steed Lord, who proclaim themselves as producers of "Gangsta electronic music".[citation needed]
The so-called Icelandic metal scene is a mix of metal and hardcore acts. Some notable Icelandic metal/hardcore bands include Sólstafir, Gone Postal, Changer and Severed Crotch.
Icelandic music
Á Móti Sól
Agent Fresco
Amiina
Ampop
Anna Mjöll
Apparat Organ Quartet
Bang Gang
Benni Hemm Hemm
Björk
Borko
Botnleðja
Brain Police
Bubbi Morthens
Changer
Daníel Ágúst
Darknote
Dikta
Eberg
Emiliana Torrini
Eurobandið
For a Minor Reflection
FM Belfast
Frakkur
GusGus
HAM
Hafdís Huld
Helgi Hrafn Jónsson
Hjaltalín
Jagúar
Jakobínarína
Jóhann Jóhannsson
Jónsi
Jónsi & Alex
Kira Kira
Kjartan Sveinsson
Kría Brekkan
KUKL
Lada Sport
Lay Low
Leaves
Lost in Hildurness
Magni Ásgeirsson (Rock Star Supernova)
Maus
Mammút
Megas
Mezzoforte
Mínus
Mugison
múm
Noise
Ólafur Arnalds
Ólöf Arnalds
Páll Óskar
Parachutes
Pornopop
Purrkur Pillnikk
Quarashi
Ragnheiður Gröndal
Rökkurró
Seabear
Severed Crotch
Sigur Rós
Sign
Sin Fang Bous
Ske
Slowblow
Sólstafir
Sometime
Stafrænn Hákon
Steed Lord
Steindór Andersen
Stuðmenn
The Sugarcubes
Tappi Tíkarrass
Trabant
Ultra Mega Technobandið Stefán
Úlpa
Valgeir Sigurðsson
Worm is Green
Yohanna
Þeyr
Ölvis
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