Elín Hall and Nanna feature in the 2023 Iceland Airwaves Sessions – produced by The Line of Best Fit with Record in Iceland 

Photos taken by Cat Gundry-Beck

It’s become an annual tradition to invite our esteemed delegates and press who are here for Iceland Airwaves on a STUDIO SAFARI, a tour around Iceland’s brilliant studios hosted by Record in Iceland – the 25% refund system on all recording costs incurred in Iceland. Our aim is to show off our incredible recording facilities, from the obvious to the unusual. Over the years we’ve visited some of Iceland’s most stunning studios including Sundlaugin, Gróðurhúsið, Hljóðriti, Harpa – and many more.

This year we turned it up a notch, starting in the incredible new studio space at the INNI offices in downtown Reykjavík. It’s not only a studio, but an independent music company based in Iceland founded by Colm O’Herlihy and Atli Örvarsson. It’s primarily a publishing company, but also serves as an independent record label and music production house. There, Nanna from Of Monsters and Men with RAKEL performed Godzilla from her latest album ‘How To Start A Garden’ in a stunning and intimate rendition. 

Nanna performs "Godzilla" live in session for The Line of Best Fit

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If you think the only place to record music is in a studio, think again. We’re in Iceland after all, so why record in a studio… when you can record in a cave! This leads us to our next stop, Raufarhólshellir. Raufarhólshellir is one of the longest and most renowned lava tubes in Iceland. It is located just 30 minutes from Reykjavík and accessible year-round. 

‍Elín Hall performs "Manndráp af gáleysi" for The Line of Best Fit

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Turns out (who knew) that due to the nature of the rocks in the cave there is no echo in there – so there is absolutely no natural reverb in there! Thankfully we came geared up, and the one and only Elín Hall performed her hauntingly beautiful music for our guests and left everyone utterly mesmerised. She performed her number one ‘manndráp af gáleysi’ and this version has become so beloved its been released as its own version. 

Record in Iceland warmly thanks our guests for their visit, and our partners at the Business Iceland, The Line of Best Fit, INNI Music, Raufarhólshellir, and Iceland Airwaves for making these videos possible, and of course Nanna, Rakel, and Elín Hall for their beautifully crafted music.