Farmgirl Aldís Fjóla began her career at the age of ten in a local singing competition. She was raised in the breathtaking nature and gloomy fog of Borgarfjörur Eystra. She took it very seriously and even though she lost, she kept penning dramatic lyrics about the passing of her cat and other things that needed to be said. She buried herself in rock, grunge, and happier music during her teen years, but she was constantly searching for the pain, sarcasm, and deeper meaning of the lyrics. Aldís Fjóla was 16 years old and listening to bands like Skunk Anansie, Pearl Jam, No Doubt, and Alanis Morisette when she wished to feel that raw pain so she could write those words down. Aldís Fjóla began working with the talented Stefán Örn Gunnlaugsson, a musician and sound engineer, and began bringing her music to life with his assistance after years of self-doubt and going through that raw pain. Her first album, Shadows, was released in 2020. Suddenly, her pain and vulnerability were reflected in her songs. Her and Stefán Örn’s roots in Grunge Rock music will serve as the inspiration for her next album, which will be an EP and arrive in 2022. Check out her latest single and the exclusive interview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how you got started?
ALDÍS FJÓLA: I come from a small village in East Iceland called Borgarfjörður eystra, population around 120 people. There I started dreaming on being on stage when I was a little farmgirl. I used every opportunity to go on stage, but was also terrified while I was going there. Then when I moved to a dorm in High school, I started going to singing lessons and loved the stage.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
ALDÍS FJÓLA: There was always this idea in my head and in the environment when I was young that girls should learn how to sing while the guys were self-taught and just went straight to the stage. Therefore, I started learning classical singing at the age of 17. It was fun but also the only thing I could learn in East Iceland. I have since then learned jazz singing and then everything changed when I moved to Copenhagen to attend Complete Vocal Institute. Today I am a CVT Vocal Coach and know my instrument very well, which I think is very important for singers to do.
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘ALDÍS FJÓLA’?
ALDÍS FJÓLA: My first influences were a lot of bands my brothers listened to and I was always drawn to the most dramatic lyrics. But when I heard Skunk Anansie for the first time, I was blown away. The emotions, the space that Skin took on stage, the lyrics, I was mesmerized and have been ever since. I’ve always listened to the lyrics in the music and felt the feelings. When I was a teenager, I sometimes wished I would have a massive heartbreak, just so I could “use” the angry lyrics for myself, which is hilarious when I look back on it. The same goes for Portishead, Alanis Morisette, Pearl Jam, Damien Rice and Glen Hansard.
The name Aldís Fjóla is my name. I thought of using an artist name, but nothing came up. Maybe it will change someday.
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
ALDÍS FJÓLA: My music was once described as a misty, melancholic music from the foggy east mountains, and I think that describes me and my music well. I have always interpreted lyrics through my heart, and I sing from there so that is my most important element. The rock/blues/grunge elements are also very strong, and I love to scream my feelings out in a song.
ALDÍS FJÓLA:
When I was younger, my brother Magni was a rising star in Iceland, so I started singing just like him, with a dark soundcolour and influenced by Eddie Vedder and other male singers I always had a strong lower voice and a tiny power in my higher region. After I learned the Complete Vocal Technique, everything changed and I could suddenly control my instrument, experiment all kinds of volumes and effects and develop my own sound. But my influences always come from the 90’s grunge rock and Portishead soundscape. That’s my origin and my comfort zone.
6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative and entertainment?
ALDÍS FJÓLA:
My lyrics evolve a lot around what I am feeling and experiencing at the moment. Right now I burn for the space that women in music should have and to rise up and be loud and ignore those who have something to say about it. Music has always been my life, my passion and when I am down or need to get something out I can find an anthem about that feeling. I have a angry song, a happy song, a calming song and song for every feeling between them. I think that music is essential in our society to reflect everything that is going on. If you can’t say it, sing it out!
7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfilment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
ALDÍS FJÓLA:
Music is basically my fuel and my life. My most precious time is when I allow myself to write, compose, play, or organize a concert with my band. It gives me so much to be able to write myself out of situations and tell my stories that I am just enjoying the ride and love everything and everyone that listens to my music.
8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
ALDÍS FJÓLA:
It happens almost differently every time. I always have a notebook with me if some line or something around me inspires me. I also have a full Voice Memo on my phone with lines that I sing into. My next EP is done with the amazing Stefán Örn Gunnlaugsson, so we meet up in the studio and create a song demo, and I take it home and throw some lyrics down.
9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
ALDÍS FJÓLA: To keep believing in myself and my music. It is so much easier to give up and go to a regular job, but that doesn’t fill my heart like music does. There is always something that can prevent you for following your dream, but if you have your “why am I doing this”, you can always find a way through the “how will I do this”.
10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far? ALDÍS FJÓLA: Standing on stage with my bandmates playing our songs for a full audience on our two release concerts. Having their support on stage and singing my heart out is what I want to be doing for the rest of my life.
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Photo credits: itorfa & Cat Gundry Beck