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Stuart Bailie interviews Georg Holm, bassist with Iceland’s coolest act, prior
to their show at Belfast’s Empire Music Hall, 30 March 2000. Stuart: Sigur Ros have already inspired some of the
most pretentious journalism in the world. According to Melody Maker, "they
sound like god weeping tears of gold in heaven". Is that right? Georg. "I think it’s a bit over the top. It sounds like a poem. But
maybe that’s what our music is as well. It’s a poem." Stuart: A lot of it boils down to the vocalist, Jonsi
and his extraordinary style. Can you talk about the evolution of this, Georg? Georg: "It took maybe a year. It started in a studio,. We did one song
and found something we really wanted to do. And we started rehearsing after that
and it wasn’t the same. So it took maybe a year after that to develop into
what we wanted it to be… until we found again what we wanted to do." Stuart: Did you have any musical reference points, or
was it an intuitive thing? Georg: "It was just from our heart. A lot of the bands that the press has
been comparing us to, we haven’t even heard them. Until recently. We don’t
discuss it we just do. When we write the songs, it might start with a drum beat
or a bassline or something and just slowly develops into a song. The song is
never finished until we release it on the album and the singing just goes with
the flow." Stuart: Over here, Van Morrison has coined this phrase,
‘inarticulate speech of the heart’. The idea is that words are abstractions
that don’t mean that much, and to get to the core of your soul, you have to go
down another level, where words don’t have any meaning. You have to excavate
down to that. Is that a useful parallel? Georg: "Yeah. I think that fits the picture."
Georg: "I think it’s not very easy in Iceland. People aren’t that
encouraging. In the other Scandanavian countries, bands that are doing something
different, they can get funds from the state. In Iceland there’s nothing like
this. You’re completely on your own. You have to find the right people to help
you."
Georg: "Yeah, people in Iceland are very open to everything, really. Even
though that might sound like a contradiction."
Georg: "That’s true, I think we’ve sold 7 000 records now. That’s not
a lot, but it’s pretty good for a band like us. Pop bands can sell 12 -15000
if they’re lucky."
Georg: "It’s actually based on an Irish nursery rhyme, a very old one.
But the lyrics are in Icelandic." Stuart: So let’s talk about trout fishing, Georg.
I’ve heard a rumour that you can catch fish in your teeth. Georg: "That’s absolutely true. It’s a long story. I can’t remember
actually doing it, but I’m certain that I can." Stuart: The story I heard was that you were working
together in a wooden hut in the wilderness. Everyone goes slightly mad. And at
one stage, you dive into the water and catch a fish in your teeth. Will you
allow us to believe that rumour? "Definitely.
I’m gonna let it evolve by itself. It’s a very funny story. Ha-ha!" Stuart: Your album will be released shortly over here.
Can you give us an idea what to expect? Georg: "I just think people have to find out by themselves. I don’t
want to ruin the surprise." Stuart: The big question is, will it sound like God
weeping tears in heaven? SIGUR ROS Stuart: Sigur Ros have already inspired some of the
most pretentious journalism in the world. According to Melody Maker, "they
sound like god weeping tears of gold in heaven". Is that right? Georg. "I think it’s a bit over the top. It sounds like a poem. But
maybe that’s what our music is as well. It’s a poem." Stuart: A lot of it boils down to the vocalist, Jonsi
and his extraordinary style. Can you talk about the evolution of this, Georg? Georg: "It took maybe a year. It started in a studio,. We did one song
and found something we really wanted to do. And we started rehearsing after that
and it wasn’t the same. So it took maybe a year after that to develop into
what we wanted it to be… until we found again what we wanted to do." Stuart: Did you have any musical reference points, or
was it an intuitive thing? Georg: "It was just from our heart. A lot of the bands that the press has
been comparing us to, we haven’t even heard them. Until recently. We don’t
discuss it we just do. When we write the songs, it might start with a drum beat
or a bassline or something and just slowly develops into a song. The song is
never finished until we release it on the album and the singing just goes with
the flow." Stuart: Over here, Van Morrison has coined this phrase,
‘inarticulate speech of the heart’. The idea is that words are abstractions
that don’t mean that much, and to get to the core of your soul, you have to go
down another level, where words don’t have any meaning. You have to excavate
down to that. Is that a useful parallel? Georg: "Yeah. I think that fits the picture."
Georg: "I think it’s not very easy in Iceland. People aren’t that
encouraging. In the other Scandanavian countries, bands that are doing something
different, they can get funds from the state. In Iceland there’s nothing like
this. You’re completely on your own. You have to find the right people to help
you."
Georg: "Yeah, people in Iceland are very open to everything, really. Even
though that might sound like a contradiction."
Georg: "That’s true, I think we’ve sold 7 000 records now. That’s not
a lot, but it’s pretty good for a band like us. Pop bands can sell 12 -15000
if they’re lucky."
Georg: "It’s actually based on an Irish nursery rhyme, a very old one.
But the lyrics are in Icelandic." Stuart: So let’s talk about trout fishing, Georg.
I’ve heard a rumour that you can catch fish in your teeth. Georg: "That’s absolutely true. It’s a long story. I can’t remember
actually doing it, but I’m certain that I can." Stuart: The story I heard was that you were working
together in a wooden hut in the wilderness. Everyone goes slightly mad. And at
one stage, you dive into the water and catch a fish in your teeth. Will you
allow us to believe that rumour? "Definitely.
I’m gonna let it evolve by itself. It’s a very funny story. Ha-ha!" Stuart: Your album will be released shortly over here.
Can you give us an idea what to expect? Georg: "I just think people have to find out by themselves. I don’t
want to ruin the surprise." Stuart: The big question is, will it sound like God
weeping tears in heaven? Georg: "Definitely!" |
Sigur Rós:
Jón Þór
Birgisson (vocals, guitar),
Georg Holm (bass),
Kjartan Sveinsson (keyboards/piano),
Orri Páll Dýrason
(drums)
popplagið.com
HOME PAGE UPDATE NEWS DISCOGRAPHY MAIN DISCOGRAPHY LIVE RECORDINGS SETLIST COLLECTION DVD POSTCARDS PHOTO ALBUM SHOPPING LINKS TOURDATE PRESS BOOKS JONSI AMIINA