Further Information

Brek to release their first album on LP

Brek is a new band that was formed in the autumn of 2018. We have since then tried to find the right sound and took some time for that work.

The emphasis is on combining the various influences from different styles of folk and popular music. We also try to find new and exciting ways to use the instruments (piano, acoustic guitar, mandolin, double bass) to create a catchy and comfortable atmosphere, but also challenging.

The songs are sung in Icelandic, and that emphasizes the use of diverse wording and thus utilizes the large and beautiful vocabulary that Icelandic has to offer. Our songs draw their inspiration from Icelandic nature and weather conditions, among other things. The influence of the music comes from various sources, but we want to try to weave them together into our world of sound and thus try to break down walls between genres as well as to connect the Icelandic folk heritage with other types of folk music. Icelandic lyrics and voices mixed with the interplay of rhythmic and dynamic dialogue of the instruments are used to drive the music forward.
We intend to be active in playing concerts and keep on evolving our sound.

Harpa Þorvaldsdóttir graduated with a master's degree in opera singing from the Mozarteum University of Music in Salzburg, Austria in the spring of 2011 and works as a music teacher at Laugarnesskóli in Reykjavík.

Jóhann Ingi Benediktsson graduated with a master's degree in guitar playing from Sigursveinn D. Kristinsson's music school in the spring of 2006 and subsequently studied creative music communication at the Iceland Academy of the Arts and graduated from there in 2015. He is studying masters in singing and instrument teaching at the Iceland Academy of the Arts and works as a music teacher at Sigursvein D. Kristinsson.

Sigmar Þór Matthíasson graduated from the FÍH School of Music's jazz department in 2012 and in the fall of 2013 he began his postgraduate studies at the music department of the prestigious American university The New School in New York City. From there he graduated with honors in the spring of 2016. Sigmar has composed and exhibited works for Stórsveit Reykjavíkur and has played with many of the country's leading jazz and pop artists. In September 2018, Sigmar released her first solo album, called Áróra, which received two nominations for the Icelandic Music Awards in the category of jazz and blues music in 2019.

Guðmundur Atli Pétursson studied filmmaking but music has always been a very big part of his excistance. He has worked with the bluegrass band Illgresi, as well as participating in various projects such as playing on recordings and concerts with Baggalútur, Brother Grass, Krummi and others.

Recording for the album is finished, but there is quite a work left on mixing and mastering. We then have to have an artwork designed and of course manufacture the album. We really hope to be able to release the album in the beginning of the year 2021. This crowdfund and your support is a key to that. Thank you.

We intend to be active in playing concerts, writing new music and further develop our sound in the near future.

Brek is a fresh addition to the Icelandic music scene.

www.brek.is