Gyða Valtýsdóttir - Harpa nominated 2020 for her score for Ari Alexander Ergis Magnússon Mihkel
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From the first day that I meet Gyda, 15 years ago, I felt that she was a musical genius and I was just waiting for the right moment for us to collaborate. Filmmaking is a huge marathon and it was many years later when I had written this script Mihkel when I saw her again. By total accident I went to a concert by Gyda. There she was performing like a beautiful creature from a unknown planet, this was the sound and mood I had been looking for. I asked her after the concert if we could meet for a coffee, due to that I had a film coming up. I gave her the script, she liked it and then the real work began. It was wonderful to work with her, so amazing, she is a hard working composer full of beautiful ideas, and here we are today.
Ari Alexander Ergis Magnússon, the director of Mihkel „ |
The score of the film Mihkel by Gyða Valtýsdóttir forms an integral part and can even be described as the lynchpin of the film. Gyða manages to create her own powerful sonic identity, which serves the story perfectly, while elevating the whole film. In a story based on dark and true events, the music adds to the film a more human and warmer feeling. Gyda also brilliantly succeeds with her music to build a bridge between the two worlds where the story takes place, Iceland and Estonia.
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Gyða Valtýsdóttir has been active as a musician since her early teens as a founding member of the experimental pop-group múm. Classically trained, Gyda has made music for films, installations, dance, among many other creative ventures, possessing a rare range of musical experiences which creates a unique alchemical compound. Her music emerges from the fluidity of time & genres, disolving any bounderies by simply not sensing their existence. Her cello playing always inventive and highly personal, underlines a dignified craftsmanship while flirting with sensitivity & strength. Her list of collaborators is extensive & includes a wide palette of musician & other artist including Kronos Quartet, Aaron & Bryce Dessner, Josephine Foster, Damien Rice, Dustin O´Halloran, Colin Stetson, Jónsi, Kjartan Sveinsson & visual artist Ragnar Kjartansson, just to name few. Her first solo album Epicycle came out in 2017 on figureight records & received prestigious prizes at the Iceland Music Awards. Epicycle is a constellation of written music spanning from ancient to avant garde. A year later she released her first album with her own work called Evolution. The record was nominated for the Nordic Music Prize & won “album of the year” at the Icelandic Music Awards. Gyða won the prestigous Nordic Council Prize in 2019 for her works. |
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Latest Works
2020 Epicycle II - A unique collaboration with icelandic´s most compelling musicians Previously won awards or award nominations
Nordic Council Music Price 2019 Nordic Music Price Nomination for best album 2019 Best album Icelandic - Music Award 2017 & 2019 Best album artwork - Icelandic Music Award 2017 Harpa Award - Nordic Film Music, nomination 2020 Edda - Film Music, nomination 2019 Best Film Score - Icelandic Music Award, nomination 2019 |