Vök - Waiting

Music Appreciation

I first discovered the Icelandic dream pop and indietronica band Vök during the height of the COVID pandemic. Their sound—an atmospheric blend of ethereal synths, ambient textures, and delicate vocals—immediately brought to mind the moody elegance of Portishead.

Vök was formed in Reykjavík in 2013 by singer Margrét Rán Magnúsdóttir and saxophonist Andri Már Enoksson. They rose to prominence after winning Músíktilraunir, Iceland’s annual music competition. Since then, the band has evolved into a trio, now composed of Margrét Rán, Einar Stefánsson, and Bergur Dagbjartsson.

"Waiting" is a single released by Vök in 2016. The song features shimmering synths and Margrét Rán's haunting vocals, creating a dreamy atmosphere. Lyrically, it explores themes of emotional vulnerability and the desire for connection. The composition combines electronic elements with ambient soundscapes, showcasing the band's signature style.

The music video for "Waiting" was directed by Glashier and filmed during a road trip across Iceland. The video complements the song's ethereal quality with visuals that reflect the band's Icelandic roots. The imagery captures the serene and mysterious landscapes of Iceland, enhancing the song's emotional depth.

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.stereogum.com/1864365/vok-waiting-video-stereogum-premiere/news/

https://grapevine.is/music/2016/03/10/9946180/

https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/track-by-track/track-by-track-vok-on-figure

https://news.northeastern.edu/2016/08/09/a-monster-look-at-one-students-global-co-op-in-icelands-music-scene/

https://atwoodmagazine.com/vok-2017-interview-figure/

https://www.subvrtmag.com/spend-the-love-with-mystical-icelandic-electro-pop-vok/

https://indiepulsemusic.com/2019/02/10/icelandic-electro-dream-pop-band-vok/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Hatari/comments/bvxu52/introduction_to_v%C3%B6k/

https://creative-commission.com/project/david-garrett/music-video/glashier

https://glashier.co/tag/music-video/

https://www.nordicmusiccentral.com/live-review-vok-iceland-the-deaf-institute-manchester-13th-march-2023/

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18940118/

https://www.kexp.org/read/2016/04/14/song-of-the-day-vok-waiting/

RANDOM WEDNESDAY: Ronald Searle - The New Yorker February 18th, 1991

Cover by Ronald Searle

 

FILM: 40 Days

Film Appreciation

Written and directed by Charleen Weiss and Hannes Stolpe, 40 Days is a short film that follows Grace as she mourns the loss of her brother, Finn. Over the course of 40 days, she navigates her grief while his soul searches for refuge. In a final act of closure, Grace writes her brother a letter—knowing that once she burns it, she'll have to let go and begin to move forward.

via Charleen Weiss 

Alaska y Dinarama - Ni tú ni nadie

Music Appreciation

Alaska y Dinarama solidified their cultural impact with Ni tú ni nadie, a track included on their second studio album Deseo carnal. Although the album was released in 1984, Hispavox and Polydor issued the song as its second single in February 1985. 

Written by Carlos Berlanga and Nacho Canut and produced by Nick Patrick, the song later appeared on the compilation Grandes éxitos (1994). Alaska has noted that Canut drew inspiration from 1950s Hollywood film noir, lending the song a dramatic emotional tension beneath its pop surface.

Musically, “Ni tú ni nadie” is rooted in pop but incorporates elements of baroque and progressive pop, marked by elegant melodies and layered arrangements. Alaska sings in a notably low vocal register, reinforcing the song’s mood of restraint and resolve. 

The lyrics, delivered in the first person, explore the fallout of a painful relationship and the struggle to survive a breakup, insisting that neither the former partner “nor anyone else” can change the narrator. Structurally, the song follows a verse-chorus format, enriched by ringing bells, Alaska’s audible sighs in the instrumental bridges, and even a French horn—part of Deseo carnal’s broader use of wind instruments.

Commercially and culturally, the song was a major success, becoming Alaska’s second number-one single in Spain. It was proposed as Spain’s entry for the 1985 OTI Song Festival, though the idea was rejected by the selection committee. 

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.discogs.com/release/216465-Alaska-Y-Dinarama-Deseo-Carnal

https://elpais.com/noticias/alaska-dinarama/

https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20200209/movida-madrilena-cuando-espana-dio-salto-del-blanco-negro-color/2000000.shtml

https://www.hhv.de/en-US/records/item/alaska-y-dinarama-deseo-carnal-pink-and-blue-vinyl-edition-1167982?srsltid=AfmBOop207-A5OxyARRRfE3MhTgk2DaUHMsFdOapE27w2O7P7b6Lm_-D

Dance: Anubis @ Tribal Beat Fest 2018

Dancers: La Catalina, Olga Popova, Natalia Rodikova, Irina Sapozhnikova, and Tanya Zhuravleva

via La Catalina

Cosplay is an Art: Anime Los Angeles 2026

via Kara Mel Photography

Agent Provocateur - "Love Me Tender... Or Else" (2009)

Model: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

via Roger Rabee