Gabríel Ólafs
Gabríel Ólafs at Harpa in 2022
Gabríel Ólafs at Harpa in 2022
Background information
Birth nameGabríel Örn Ólafsson
Born (1998-12-03) 3 December 1998
Reykjavík, Iceland
Occupation(s)
  • Pianist
  • composer
  • producer
Instrument(s)Piano
Labels
Websitewww.gabrielolafs.com

Gabríel Ólafs (born Gabríel Örn Ólafsson, 3 December 1998 in Reykjavík, Iceland) is an Icelandic pianist, composer, producer, Decca Records US recording artist, and cofounder of the Reykjavík Orkestra. He is known for instrumental music for piano, strings, choir, and electronics, influenced by classical music, Icelandic poetry, Norse tradition, film, fantasy, and the natural world.

Early life and independent career

Ólafs grew up in Reykjavík. He began playing piano at age five. He received both classical and jazz training,[1][2] including studying jazz in his teens at the FÍH music school.[3]

He was 14 when he wrote a piece called "Absent Minded." It ultimately led to his first record deal,[4] after Derek Birkett, Björk’s manager, heard his first live performance on Icelandic TV, leading to his signing with Björk’s label, One Little Independent Records (then called One Little Indian Records). "Absent Minded" became the title track of his debut album Absent Minded, released on the label in 2019 when he was 19.[5][2] The track "Staircase Sonata" was streamed more than 10 million times on Spotify,

On 26 June 2020 he released his second album, also on One Little Independent, called Piano Works. Pop Matters described the music as "eight rather stunning solo instrumental pieces...devoid of empty showmanship, technical posturing, or any shallow attempts to dazzle the listener. Instead, Ólafs focuses on mood and emotive gestures to develop pieces, both concise yet brimming with beauty."[6] Paste Magazine included it in its Favorite Instrumental Albums of 2020,[7] and the track "Filma Solo" was streamed more than 20 million times on Spotify.

On 13 November 2020, One Little Independent released a reworked version of Absent Minded titled Absent Minded Reworks.[8] The reworked tracks featured contributions from Kelly Moran, Niklas Paschburg, Masayoshi Fujita, and Hugar.[9]

Decca Records US

The success of his early recordings brought him to the attention of Decca Records US,[10] and in 2022 he signed with the label.[11] That year Decca released his album Solon Islandus, with music inspired by the poetry of Davíð Stefánsson[1] and instrumental expansion to include choir and orchestra.[12]

On 9 June 2023[13] Decca released his album Lullabies for Piano and Cello, inspired by ancient Viking melodies[14] he found in a Reykjavík antique bookshop, in an out-of-print book published over 100 years before.[15] The album includes re-imaginings of tunes from the book as well as original lullabies.[12] He and cellist Steiney Sigurðardóttir recorded the album in Reykjavik's Eldborg Concert Hall.[16] The album made the Billboard Classical Albums chart for the week of June 24, 2023.[17] NPR described the album as "transporting the listener to a soothing landscape".[18]

As his music became popular in the classical crossover genre and on streaming playlists such as Spotify's Calming Classical, he became the first (and as of 2023 the only) Icelandic composer to have amassed over 100 million streams on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music combined before turning 25.[19]

Reykjavík Orkestra

In 2022, Olafs founded the Reykjavík Orkestra (originally called Reykjavík Recording Orchestra) with audio engineer Bergur Þórisson.[10] Based in the Harpa concert hall in Reykjavík, the company has produced works for the BBC, Netflix, Apple TV+, [20] and composer Hans Zimmer.[21]

Discography

  • Absent Minded (2019)
  • Piano Works (2020)
  • Absent Minded Reworks (2020)
  • Solon Islandus (2022)
  • Lullabies for Piano and Cello (2023)

References

  1. 1 2 Mitch Mosk (28 April 2022). "PREMIERE: ICELANDIC COMPOSER GABRÍEL ÓLAFS STIRS THE SOUL WITH ACHINGLY BEAUTIFUL "THE DRIFTER"". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 Dusty Henry (2 February 2020). "Pure Imagination: Meet Wunderkind Icelandic Pianist and Composer Gabríel Ólafs (Live Video + Interview)". KEXP. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  3. ↑ Rex Beckett (13 September 2019). "Melody-Minded Chapters: The Visual Classical World Of Gabríel Ólafs". Reykjavík Grapevine. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  4. ↑ Olivia Hampton (12 June 2023). "Viking heritage inspires soothing lullabies from Icelandic pianist Gabríel Ólafs". NPR. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  5. ↑ Noemi Ehrat (24 July 2018). "19-Year Old Gabríel Ólafs Signs With One Little Indian". grapevine.is. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  6. ↑ Andy Jurik (25 June 2020). "PIANIST GABRIEL ÓLAFS CHAMPIONS BREVITY OVER SHOWMANSHIP ON 'PIANO WORKS'". Pop Matters. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  7. ↑ Lizzie Manno (21 July 2020). "Our Favorite Instrumental Albums of 2020 (So Far)". Paste. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  8. ↑ Lizzie Manno (17 September 2020). "Exclusive: Icelandic Composer Gabríel Ólafs Shares Kelly Moran Reworking of "Think of Home"". Paste. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  9. ↑ Aaron WillSchick (23 November 2020). "Gabríel Ólafs Breaks Down Each Track on His Beautiful New Album, 'Absent Minded Reworks'". v13.net. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  10. 1 2 Chanel Björk Sturludóttir (22 September 2022). "An Icelandic composer signs with a publishing giant". ruv.is. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "Gabríel Ólafs signs with a publishing giant". mbl.is. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  12. 1 2 Hannah Means-Shannon (10 June 2023). "Gabríel Ólafs Was Inspired By A 1906 Icelandic Folk Songbook To Create 'Lullabies For Piano And Cello'". wildfiremusic.net. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  13. ↑ Blair Ingenthron (13 May 2023). "Gabríel Ólafs Debuts New Single 'Bambaló'". Broadway World. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  14. ↑ Olivia Hampton (12 June 2023). "Viking heritage inspires soothing lullabies from Icelandic pianist Gabríel Ólafs". NPR. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  15. ↑ Paul Sexton (17 April 2023). "Gabríel Ólafs Previews 'Lullabies for Piano and Cello' With Lead Track 'Fantasia'". udiscovermusic.com. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  16. ↑ "Gabriel Olafs Releases New Album Lullabies For Piano And Cello". Top40-Charts.com. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  17. ↑ "US Billboard Charts (24/06/2023)". Top40-Charts.com. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  18. ↑ Olivia Hampton (12 June 2023). "Viking heritage inspires soothing lullabies from Icelandic pianist Gabríel Ólafs". NPR. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  19. ↑ "Ga With 100 million streaming plays". mbl.is. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  20. ↑ Jonathan Eifert (29 September 2022). "Soup, Soak, and Music: Icelandic Composer Gabríel Ólafs on His New Album, Solon Islandus, and Planning the Perfect Day in Reykjavík". Classical Post. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  21. ↑ "Recorded for Hans Zimmer in Harpa". mbl.is. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
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