B-Classic gave guitarist and sound artist Bert Cools carte blanche for a new musical creation with Kjartan Sveinsson, Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė & Gyða Valtýsdóttir.
Bert Cools, known from Merope, Hoera, and Book of Air, continually evokes dreamlike worlds situated between folk, jazz, and electronic music. His subtle yet layered playing has made him a sought-after musician for artists such as Sam Amidon, Trixie Whitley, and Efterklang.
Kjartan Sveinsson is co-founder of Sigur Rós, one of the most influential post-rock bands and a flagship of Icelandic music export. He has also worked closely with Ragnar Kjartansson, composed soundtracks, and written an opera.
Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė is a singer and kanklės player from Lithuania who creates otherworldly soundscapes, weaving together ambient textures, echoes of Lithuanian folk songs, and electronics. Together with Bert Cools, she forms Merope and frequently collaborates with artists such as Shahzad Ismaily, Laraaji, Jessika Kenney, and Solo Cissokho. Indrė also composes for theatre and film.
Gyða Valtýsdóttir is a member of múm, the Icelandic band that rose to prominence in the late nineties. In addition to her work with the band, 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.
For B-Classic, they created an entirely new program drawing on the distinctive voice of each of the four musicians. Icelandic and Lithuanian mysticism converged with minimalist piano, kanklės, cello, voices, and ambient guitar clouds.
The premiere took place during Nordic Night(s) at Cultuurcentrum Hasselt, where this unique synergy came to life for the first time.
In 2026, they will once again embark on a European tour together.
