Further Information

Quiet Presence on Vinyl

Album Cover by Yael B.C.

Coming out 1st of November, Quiet Presence is Sævar's third and most ambitious album to date and his first ever Vinyl release! Featuring introspective piano compositions, lush string quartet arrangements and subtle electronics, this work explores the concept of home, is it a physical space, is it a memory or is it something else entirely?

Three years in the making, this album draws inspiration from the composer's childhood. Born in London and bouncing back and forth between Iceland and Germany. Summing up to moving between cities and countries a total of eight times before his teenage years, which left him feeling rootless and unsure of where he fitted in.

Even though some of the songs are melancholic and mournful of past homes and communities, the album also has its lighter, playful sides celebrating homes and communities like Music Schools and Marching Bands which acted as a lighthouse for the composer's growth and self-exploration.

This album would not have been possible without the help of these wonderful people:

- Eðvarð Egilsson (Studio Varða) for engineering and overseeing the piano recordings
- Valgeir Sigurðsson (Greenhouse Studios) for engineering and overseeing the String recording sessions. He also did subtle electronics and mixed the album.
- The sublime string quartet which consisted of Una Sveinbjarnadóttir (Violin), Agnes Eyja Gunnarsdóttir (Violin), Ásta Kristín Pjetursdóttir (Víóla) and Hrafnhildur Marta Guðmundsdóttir (Selló).
- Yael B.C. for creating the stunning album artwork
-Orri Dror and Ósk Ebeneserdóttir for assisting with the photoshoot
- Elvar Smári Júlíusson for his impeccable design
- Götz-Michael Rieth for mastering the album

Also huge shoutout to:
Josie Anne Gaitens
Rakel Ýr Stefánsdóttir
Vikram Pradhan
Tónskáldasjóður RÚVs
Rannís Upptökusjóður
ÚTÓN
Katla Kristjánsdóttir
Tryggvi Þór Pétursson
Iðunn Einarsdóttir
Mikael Lind
Arndís&Jacquie

About the Composer

Born in London, partly raised in Germany and now residing in Iceland, Sævar Jóhannsson is a neo-classical composer, collaborator and pianist who embraces experimentation, diversity and human imperfections.

His music, often minimal, cinematic, chamber pieces for piano and strings, explores the full spectrum of human emotion and experience; at times melancholic but also playful and warm.

In addition to his solo work, Sævar is an active musician in his local scene having composed original music for three major theatre productions, a documentary and a short film which was premiered at the Oscar accredited film festival Shortshorts and Asia in Tokyo and RIFF 2024.

Currently Sævar is juggling three operas as music director, co-leading songwriting workshops for adults in recovery and co-scoring with Maria-Carmela (MSEA) a new horror short film by Katla Sólnes.