Ingibjörg Friðriksdóttir’s music under the name Inki blends catchy melodies, punchy rhythms, deep basslines, and velvety vocals within an electronic soundscape. An award-winning composer, her work is through-composed and inspired by being slightly over-caffeinated and her interest in people has shaped her creativity, taking her to unexpected places – like producing music at San Quentin Prison while earning her master’s in music composition.
Describe your sound? The genre lies somewhere between electronica and hip-hop-inspired indie alternative — think if James Blake and Lykke Li had a drunken heart-to-heart in an Icelandic mountain cabin. I create music for late-night drives and the feeling of going barefoot on the dancefloor. So if you are a night over day type of person who kicks of their shoes the minute a good beat comes on, I think you´ll enjoy my set. Sometimes my music is a bit moody, but I’ll promise to weigh out the darkness with not-so-dramatic stories, so the set never gets too serious. The foundation is a deep, bassline that shakes you both physically and mentally – but it can’t just be loud; it has to be hooky too.
And your live show? I’ve been circling around in my head how to make this show truly unique. For me, shows are about personal connection. They’re these rare moments that exist only in that time and space, and they are unique not only because of the performer but also because of who was there that night in the audience. To share that feeling, I’ve created a project called Postcards from Iceland Airwaves. I’m inviting everyone who shows up to write a postcard home — to send a little piece of that moment to someone you care about. It’s a small celebration of real human connection in a world that’s constantly online.
On stage, I’ll be joined by Robin Pearkes, an amazingly talented guitar/bass player and not only one but two legendary drummers – Hössi (Plastic Gods/Godchilla) and Keli (Agent Fresco). Seeing those two drummers on stage together is reason enough to come. But if that’s still not enough – I’ll be 39 weeks pregnant. So if you want to see a real Icelandic whale on stage – that’ll be me.
What should we listen to? In the lead-up to my Airwaves show, I’ve been releasing the first singles from my album Locally Grown. There will be five new singles out before the show — but I’ll also be performing brand-new songs that haven’t been released yet. So it’s your chance to hear something no one else has heard before you. I’d start with “I Think We Would Have Been Friends” — a song I wrote about my grandma’s sister. She was a colorful lady who always went her own way. The song comes in two versions: Dawn and Dusk. If you’re reading this after 3 November, you can also check out my cover of To Build a Home, which closes my Airwaves set — leaning towards a UK club sound: beat-driven, full of texture, but still holding on to the intimacy of the original track by The Cinematic Orchestra.
Who else do you rate in the Icelandic music scene right now? You can’t go wrong with Scam — a duo made up of two music powerhouses, Herdís and Salka. If you catch their show at Kolaportið, you’ll be able to say you were there right at the start, because this collaboration is only just beginning. Saint Pete is my favourite Icelandic rapper, and I’m excited to see him live for the first time. And if you’re after a more introverted festival moment, I’m sure pianist Magnús Jóhann will deliver.
Tips for a first time tourist? Robin, one of my bandmates, is British, and this year his wife and a few friends are coming to Iceland Airwaves. I’ve been putting together a little list of “best things” for them to do during the day. I’d say hit a swimming pool — Laugardalslaug or Sundhöllin are both great.
The Sequences Art Festival also has some great shows running during Airwaves. If you want to see some art during the day, I’d recommend stopping by the Marshall House, not far from downtown Reykjavík. For music lovers, there’s an exhibition by the Fischersund Collective — Jónsi from Sigur Rós, Sindri and Kjartan Hólm, along with their siblings and partners Inga, Sigurrós, and Lilja — who together have created a mesmerising audio, visual, and scent experience.
And the worst tourist trap? The Northern Lights buses. Just get out of the city lights and look up — that’s all you really need.
Best late night snack? Hlöllabátar is the late-night legend and I think they taste even better after a few drinks. I always go for the New York one, but I think the bacon one is more of a classic choice. Hlölli is right next to the taxi queue, so that’s also handy.
Best hangover food? For the morning after, I’m a bit strange and prefer not-so-greasy food when I’m hungover. So I would head to Pósthússtræti Food Hall and grab a poké bowl, either the one with crispy chicken or salmon.