Today is the release date of Vök‘s 2nd EP, Circles.
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Vök are Margrét Rán (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Andri Enoksson (saxophone, synths) and Ólafur Alexander (guitar, bass). Named after the Icelandic word for ‘hole in the ice’, the trio hail from Hafnarfjörður, a town famous for allegedly being home to a large, hidden elvish settlement. This mysticism and magic which surrounds their hometown reflects in the dreaminess of Vök melodies and the celestial, otherworldliness of their vocals.
Vök came into consciousness in 2013 when the band played and won Iceland’s prestigious Músíktilraunir (‘Music Experiments’), a battle of the bands where the likes of Mammút, Of Monsters And Men and Samaris previously triumphed. Shortly after, the band recorded and released their EP ‘Tension’ through Icelandic indie label Record Records — later released via Musebox in the US — to a slew of positive reviews. The New York Times commented that “Vök shares the xx’s slow tempos, whispery female vocals, sparse but echoey bass lines and melancholy questions”, whilst Drowned in Sound exclaimed “the trio have hit upon their own uniquely atmospheric and emotional sound”.
2014 saw Vök performing an explosive set at several major festivals, including Eurosonic and Iceland Airwaves. About the latter, The Line of Best Fit proclaimed the band the “standout of 2014’s Airwaves, packing out the vast Gamla Bio venue with queues down the street.”