Vök: 2018

On a snowy night in Akureyri, during the 2017 Iceland Airwaves music festival, I had the chance to see the Reykjavík-based band Vök live for the very first time — and I was instantly smitten. A few months earlier, the band had released their debut album, Figure, and their charisma, confidence and temperamental dream pop was impressive.

Vök will release their second album in early 2019 (the title of which they were still contemplating when they visited FUV). This past September, they made their New York debut as part of the Reykjavík Calling showcase via Taste of Iceland. And they return to the Iceland Airwaves music festival in November.

When Vök visited Studio A, Margrét Rán, Andri Már, Einar Hrafn Stefánsson, and their touring drummer Bergur — debuted one of their new songs, “Night and Day,” and resurrected an older song, "Waiting," too. They spoke about the importance of Iceland Airwaves, their career-changing surprise win at Iceland’s 2013 Músíktilraunir (Music Experiments) competition, and the close, supportive community of musicians on their beautiful island.

[Recorded: 9/28/18; Engineer: Jim O'Hara; Producer: Sarah Wardrop]