Interview with Manila-bound Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men

Of Monsters and Men are the latest band to follow in the footsteps of great Icelandic musical acts like Bjork and Sigur Ros.

The six-piece indie pop-rock act led by Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson have been making music since 2009, but it was with their 2012 hit Little Talks, from their debut album My Head Is An Animal that they achieved widespread recognition outside of their native Iceland.

They were one of the most anticipated bands when they performed in Singapore’s Laneway Music Festival in 2013, and it was there where I first saw them perform. Lively, energetic and sublime, they played music that was quite a departure from my own preconceived notions of what Icelandic music sounds like.

The band has since released their second album, Beneath the Skin, with powerful new single, “Crystals”, and 10 other songs proving that their success is no fluke.

Thanks to the efforts of Karpos Multimedia, Of Monsters and Men are making their way to Manila to play here for the very first time at the World Trade Center on May 12, 2016.

I got the chance to speak with Ragnar Þórhallsson, who talked about their songwriting process, their fantastic music videos, and what their band name would be if it weren’t Of Monsters and Men. Excerpts:
 
GMA News Online: Where are you and what's outside your window?

Ragnar Þórhallsson: A beautiful view over Cape Town, South Africa.
 
GNO: I first saw you guys when you played at the Laneway Festival in Singapore in 2013. Do you remember anything from that show?

RP: Yes, I remember a bit. I remember something to do with a blown-up dolphin. It was fun! 

 
GNO: It seems like you tour A LOT. How much of the year do you spend on the road? How often do you get to go back home to Iceland?

RP: We actually started the year on a break. We took January and February off and didn’t start touring until March 6. But all of last year was pretty hectic. 
 
GNO: In terms of songwriting, I'm curious if you devote a specific time period for it. Like do you make sure to spend maybe a couple of months where you're pretty much focused on songwriting and don't do anything else? Or does it mostly happen along the way while you're doing other things, like touring?

RP: I kind of do both. While I’m on tour I usually record a bunch of ideas, just melodies here and there that I record on my phone so that when I get home I have somewhere to start from. 
 
GNO: Some of your videos are visually stunning, especially "Little Talks" and "Crystals," with gorgeous costumes and set pieces. How involved are you with conceptualizing them? 

RP: We like to be involved. It’s fun to go back and forth with the directors and brainstorm. Sometimes we’ll have ideas that we feel strong about but sometimes we also just trust the director’s vision. 

GNO: Many of your songs have been used in TV shows and films. Is there a particular one that you saw that you really liked? I mean when you thought the song was just perfect for that scene?

RP: I think “Dirty Paws” in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. That felt pretty perfect to me. 
 
GNO: Is there an artist or band that you would say has had the most profound influence on Of Monsters and Men? Who would that be?

RP: I’d say that when we were starting out Bon Iver was a big influence. Nanna and I used to listen to them a lot and we still do.
 
GNO: Are there any artists currently active that you really admire and you wouldn't mind working with or even share the stage with? Who would it/they be?

RP: I think it would depend on what band member you’d ask. We all have different ideas on who we’d like to work with. I wouldn’t mind working with Damon Albarn. He used to own a house in Iceland, not sure if he does anymore though. 
 
GNO: If you could take a few months off and do anything that isn't connected with music or the band, what would you do?

RP: I’d probably go to Copenhagen. My girlfriend lives there and it’s always nice to go there to relax. I’d probably just cycle around and see all the things there that I haven’t seen yet. It’s a beautiful city.
 
GNO: You're coming to the Philippines to perform for the first time. What do you know about our country and what are you looking forward to seeing and doing here? (Besides playing of course!) 

RP: I’m just excited to experience the culture. I don’t know too much about the Philippines but I’ll be sure to get some tips on where to go before we get there. I think we’re also just going to relax and enjoy the good weather. Maybe get a tan! 
 
GNO: If your band wasn't called Of Monsters and Men, what would your name be? 

RP: Masters of Darkness

—KG, GMA News

Of Monsters and Men are playing live in Manila at 8 p.m. on May 12, 2016. Gold tickets are at P3,000+ and VIP tickets are at P4,500+. They are available at Ticketnet, and SM Tickets. The event is made possible by Karpos Multimedia.

Paul John Caña is a magazine writer and live music geek. He is also co-founder of libreto.org, an online collective of writers and artists. Email him at pjcana@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter and Instagram @pauljohncana

Photo courtesy of Karpos Multimedia