Interview with Bardi Johannsson at the Hotel Alda / Reykjavik / Iceland
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Interview with Bardi Johannsson – The “You are hot, I am cool” experience.
Bardi Johannsson “The Wolves Are Whispering” Bang-Gang.
Report: Jens Hoffmann
I am in love with Iceland and had a fantastic time in the mysterious country.
In the morning before Bardi’s “Birthday Concert” I met him in the lobby of the Alda Hotel to chat about his new album, life, family and his career.
Bardi Jóhannsson (10/9/1975) an Icelandic musician, composer, writer, TV show host (of the world-famous surrealist Icelandic TV show “Konfekt”) and film director.
He is mostly known for his work with the groups Bang Gang. Good fun to talk to this charming guy with a certain sense of humor.
The place to be: The hotel lobby@ Alda hotel in Reykjavik.
Bardi casually clad in a cool style talked about what inspired him to bring out his new album.
Island, love, gettin 40 years (half-time of life) are all in the lyrics, which are special; singing about a desire for love, freedom to do what you want and nature.
The few metaphors that do arise involve romance, love, natural, immovable objects, a lake, dark and white forces, good & bad, being consumed by joy.
It’s no surprise for me that the musician has become one of Iceland’s most beloved persons.
The perfect album about returning to yourself.
Wow! Just fantastic.
On the evening just after the interview he gave a fantastic concert on 30/9/15.
Bardi & Bang-Gang shaked the northernmost capital of the world again.
Perhaps that`s why Reykjavik became one of my favourite places on the planet.
It is no urban metropolis. Instead of high rising glass towers the city centre, ‘downtown’, is laced with tiny two-story houses, many of which shine in all colours of the rainbow, blue, light blue, grass-green, red to pink.
Jules Verne chose Iceland as the entry point for his “heroes” in his novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth”.
He knows why the unexpected happens here everyday and life is changing quick and often like Bardi’s life.
He started with a school band “Up Yours”.
He studied languages, was writing for magazines and wanted to become a serious lawyer (!).
He did art & design and wanted to be a designer, at his college time he wrote songs on with a bit a of luck he got a contract with “Warner” records.
Bardi got a record deal, the man from the Land of Fire & Ice became a pop star.
Just by concidence. So from there, it was just his new life. Most people here seem to know each other, many play in bands, of course he knows Björk. Iceland. There is no place like in the world for musicians.
They must go abroad and work together with differt artist. Bardi wanted to work with Brian Molko from “Placebo” and was looking for talented and humorous people. Only talent, no humor is no good.
That’s true. Finally he started to work together with Keren Ann, Bloodgroup, Jofridur Akadottir and one of my favourits JB Dunckel from “Air”.
In addition to the musical outlets, Bardi has been involved in a number of other audio-visual projects.
He has written music for commercials and for the National Theatre of Iceland and Centre Dramatique d’Orleans (Museum of the Sea), he has appearedand co-produced and co-directed short films, written scores for movies like “Would You Rather” with Daniel Hunt, directed by David Guy Levy and the score for the film “De toutes nos forces” directed by Nils Tavernier (a big success in France)
Reykjavik:
I enjoyed a bit of peaceful Reykjavik, a city without typical tourist attractions.
The city centre is just warm and cold, walkable and full of of atmosphere.
That’s exactly what I love about this city and the country.
Not a destination it’s an adventure. Everything is about nature and introducing visitors to the Icelandic way of life.
Place to stay: Hotel Alda.
A highlight in every sense. The stylish boutique hotel offers nice rooms with design interiors and is perfect located.
It’s on Reykjavik’s main street, Laugavegur, which means restaurants and bars are footsteps away.
The Alda is a stylish, contemporary 4star hotel with Nordic-inspired design.
Perfect to have a drink in the bar-lounge-lobby area and to visit a hipster style barber in the hotel to get a trim.
The 65 hotel rooms have views over Faxaflói bay and to Mount Esja.
The rooms have wooden floors, deep, warm colours and a minimalist layout including bedside Anglepoise-style lamps and walk-in showers. The rooms are unusually spacious,
A touch for Reykjavik newcomers especially, is the smartphone loaned to you at check-in loaded with apps to help you explore the city and to make free local calls.
You can use the sauna 24/7.
Love it.
There exist already plans for the country’s first five-star hotels, let’s see so far there are buses to bring you to the city and no strech limo’s.
I will be back soon.
Not to forget:
When you check in @ the Alda hotel, you’ll be given a smartphone to use throughout your stay. It’s really handy for looking up directions or surfing.
Next time I will visit the national parks.
Total: “The Wolves Are Whispering” is an heavy instrumentals album paired with sonorous vocals, dreamy, guitar-driven songs.
Performed live at Bang Gang’s latest Reykjavik concert, gives off a very human sense multidimensionality:
Info: Bang Gang “The Wolves Are Whispering”.
Check in: Hotel Alda, Laugavegur 66-68, Reykjavik, Iceland.
How to get there: Wow Air.
Wow Air
Haxan – performed by the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra:
