LET’S paint a little picture here. It’s 2011, the height of summer and Tenement TV aren’t even born yet. However, we’re in Spain and one beer-enfused evening- bump into a dude called Magni from Icelandic band Hoffman. He tells us many tales, drinks many beers and we eventually go our own ways. One discussion during our ‘Little Talks’ sticks though- Of Monsters and Men will be huge. Fast forward two years and what do you know, sure enough that crazy Icelandic drummer Magni was right. Their song Little Talks is on iPod playlists up-and-down the country, churned over-and-over mainstream radio and they have a sold-out UK tour to shout about.
Debut album My Head Is An Animal hit number one in nine countries throughout 2012, fans exist as far as Japan, The US and Australia- the five instrument-playing members have it all at their feet. Now onto their fourth single from the debut album, King and Lionheart is released this week. Impressive is their eclectic use and range of musical instruments which is ever-present during the new single- a folk-pop song that wonderfully opens with the angelically-indie vocals from only girl member Nanna Hilmarsdóttir.
But back to Little Talks, the lyrical twoing and throwing between Nanna and guitarist / co-lead vocalist Ragnar Þórhallsson is something quite special. The catchy tune making it a perfect radio hit. Everyone loves stories of a romance put under jeopardy. What’s even more wonderful is how the lovingly-light and youthful tone of Nanna and Ragnar’s voices portray worry and despair as the lyrics unfold. A chemistry that seems baffling for a band formed just three short years ago in 2010.
Proud of their Icelandic roots, the band are modest of their success: “A lot of good music comes from where we are from. About 20,000 of the 300,000 Icelandic population live in our place. It all happens there.”
Often on the road, the five-piece are getting used to the travellers life: “We came to Ireland to kick off the tour here. We weren’t expecting or hoping for anything like this, it just kind of happened. It’s so exciting. We love touring. It’s all amazing These things just happen. It’s mad. To be flown out to the states, and have a stretched limo pick us up at the airport and things- it’s all just mad.
“Our crew are from Scotland, they are the most lovely people in the world the Scottish. I’m not just saying that!
“We play Coachella in a few weeks, we are really looking forward to it. It’s going to be so picturesque.”
Of Monsters and Men have a busy schedule to get through before festival season prevails. With their on-stage chemistry and whitty Icelandic charm- the monster must only be in their head because here’s nothing gruesome about this lot, the music they play and lyrics they sing are 100 percent heavenly.
Edited by Nadine Walker
