guitar & electronics: Bert Cools
keyboards: Kjartan Sveinsson
kanklės, vocals & electronics: Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė
vocals & cello: Gyda Valtýsdóttir
co-production B-Classic & CCHA
B-Classic and CCHA/cultuurcentrum gave guitarist and sound artist Bert Cools carte blanche for a new musical creation with Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė (Merope) and Kjartan Sveinsson (Sigur Rós).
Bert Cools, known from Merope, Hoera, and Book of Air, time and again conjured dreamlike worlds between folk, jazz, and electronic music. His subtle yet compelling playing made him a sought-after musician for artists like Sam Amidon, Trixie Whitley, and Efterklang.
Kjartan Sveinsson was a co-founder of Sigur Rós, one of the most influential postrock bands and a flagship of Icelandic music export. He also worked closely with Ragnar Kjartansson, composed soundtracks, and wrote an opera.
Lithuanian Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė wove traditional folk songs, the kanklės, and her ethereal voice into serene, otherworldly soundscapes. Together with Bert Cools, she formed Merope.
Gyda Valtýsdóttir was once part of múm, another Icelandic band that made waves in the late nineties. Since then, the cellist has collaborated with Kronos Quartet, Damien Rice, Jónsi, Ben Frost, and Aaron and Bryce Dessner (The National).
In the summer of 2018, their paths first crossed during the PEOPLE festival by Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and Bryce Dessner (The National) in Berlin. Two years later, they reunited for a series of intimate concerts with Shahzad Ismaily.
What followed was a rare musical encounter, a soundscape where Lithuanian folk music, Icelandic mysticism, and minimalist piano music converged. The premiere took place during Nordic nights, where this unique synergy came to life for the first time.
