On August 12, a total solar eclipse drew thousands of travelers to remote corners of Iceland, Greenland, and Spain. In Víðistaðatún, a sculpture park in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, a one-day rave called Echolalia was held, headlined by Björk, arguably Iceland’s most famous musician.
The party was organized by Smekkleysa, a Reykjavik-based record label, to commemorate its 40th anniversary. Smekkleysa, which translates to “Bad Taste,” was founded in 1986 by members of Icelandic alternative rock band The Sugarcubes, along with Ásmundur Jónsson, the host of the underground radio show Áfangar and co-founder of Gramm Records.
Echolalia promised to live up to Smekkleysa’s name, with a multi-sensory exhibition at The National Gallery of Iceland, featuring three of Björk’s songs played in immersive, theatrical soundscapes. The event was a culmination of Smekkleysa’s work, which is all about bringing people together for the love of music.
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Smekkleysa’s original 1986 manifesto declares: “good taste and financial restraint are the main enemies of creativity and well-being.” This spirit is still alive today, with the label continuing to support experimental and offbeat musicians. They remain committed to their mission, as seen in their recent collaborations.
Iceland’s close-knit creative community has something that’s shaped the experience of many artists, including Björk. There has always been a sense of harmony among its artists, and no matter how big someone like Björk gets, there’s always a ready excitement to collaborate with new artists and mediums to try something new.
At Echolalia, the crowd was a mix of locals and international attendees, all united by their love of music. The event featured Björk and other musicians. It was a celebration of music and community, with attendees traveling from around the world to experience the unique scene in Iceland.
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Although the eclipse was not fully visible due to cloud coverage, the atmosphere at Echolalia was still electric. Björk welcomed the return of daylight with an hour-long soundtrack of high-energy beats, which would sound equally at home in outer space as down on Earth.
Smekkleysa’s work is a prime example of the power of music to bring people together.
