Alas I have no camera! Here is Ólöf Arnaulds performing the awesome ‘Crazy Car’ on KEXP radio, Seattle
The Icelandic songstress narrowly avoids the wrath of the elements in her homeland to make her debut London appearance. The rather lovely Café Oto is a suitably boho haunt for Ólöf Arnaulds first foray into performing in our nation’s capital. As we arrive, the place is already wall-to-wall hipsters and artsy types that populate this particular post code. The lights are low and single lamp shines on a grand piano – it almost feels like (what I imagine) a prohibition- era club would have been like. Which is entirely fitting, as there is something of a bygone-days glamour in Arnaulds’ persona as she watches Jonsson from afar in a red velvet dress.
Before she graces us with her presence, a bearded gentleman named David Thor Jonsson takes to the piano. He plays an improvised piece which includes plucking the inside of the piano with a water bottle and a brief rendition of Patsy Cline’s ‘Crazy’ before stopping abruptly to say “hello, do you mind if I carry on for a bit” he nods enthusiastically. I warm to him instantly. After a few more moments of tinkering he introduces the lady of the hour. Ólöf Arnaulds winds her way through the crowd and sidles coquettishly up to the mic. With a violin in her hand, she plays and sings a beautiful, melancholy song with clipped trills, like a Nordic Edith Piaf.
Classically trained Arnaulds combines serious musicianship with a playful nature that is endearing to watch. “We came from Iceland, and we brought some of our minerals with us so hopefully that will be a good omen for the gig” she quips.
She sings soft, sweet folk songs in Icelandic and English, and even a cover of Japanese pop song (appropriately as Oto means sound in Japanese). “This song is about a friend of ours who got famous too young and lives in New York…it’s not about Björk though” she cautiously volunteers before launching into ‘Crazy Car’
Mid set, the pair even invite us to take a break while they play a country jam. They look just as happy jamming with the bustle at the bar and the rumble of chairs as they did when everyone was hushed and still.
They continue for a while longer, playing beautiful songs and bantering. I’m glad I’m here to witness this, I don’t think she’ll be playing tiny clubs for too long.
Her second album Innudir Sskini will be out later this year.