Life of the Record The Making of ÁGAETIS BYRJUN by Sigur Rós - featuring Kjartan Sveinsson
Nov 19, 2019
Kjartan Sveinsson, the talented keyboardist and guitarist for Sigur Rós, reflects on the creation of their iconic album 'Ágætis Byrjun' as it celebrates its 20th anniversary. He shares stories of the band's early days in Iceland, working tirelessly while balancing day jobs. The conversation dives into their experimentation with sound, the serendipitous use of broken equipment, and even the influence of Nirvana on their music. Kjartan also reminisces about the exhilarating atmosphere of their recording sessions and memorable concert experiences.
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The "Submarine Song" Story
- The "submarine song" nickname came from a distorted organ sound caused by a broken amplifier. - This unique sound resembled a submarine radar and inspired the song's character.
String Session Challenges
- Recording strings with professional players was awkward due to bad software and printed music delays. - The band had to fax sheet music copies to keep the session going despite the challenges.
Balancing Day Jobs and Recording
- All Sigur Rós members worked day jobs while recording the album at night to save money. - Kjartan Sveinsson juggled teaching kindergarten by day and mixing music by night.