By Hannah Simon | August 31st, 2011
It was exactly 10 seconds into the track “I’ll Drown” that I decided I loved Sóley. I didn’t even need to hear the rest of the song (although of course I listened to it all the way through… again, and again) — I just knew that it was going to be good. Maybe it’s because the song’s intro evokes a sense of nostalgia. I was quickly reminded of Azure Ray, and all of those hours spent lying on my bed in high school, not listening to but feeling the music. It was early on in my music discovery phase, but while listening to Azure Ray’s “November,” I felt as if I had stumbled upon something rare, an exquisite secret of sorts.
Now it’s 2011, and female vocalists playing indie/folk pop have come a long way. It takes a lot to stand apart from the noise, but I think Sóley Stefánsdóttir has the talent. She sure as hell has the voice.
The Iceland native has been a member of other bands (Sin Fang, Seabear) for a while, but is releasing a solo album titled We Sink on October 4. Listening to her music is a lot like getting trapped in a spider’s web, only less sinister. She makes you feel as though you’re caught up in something beautiful and delicate and powerful all at once.
Refinery 29 describes “I’ll Drown”:
As Sóley’s voice swells and echoes underneath the clikity-clak beat, Sóley submerges us in her own psyche. – Refinery29.com
I’m obviously excited for her debut, and can only hope others feel the same. While I’d love to keep her a secret all to myself, I have to admit that music always (well, usually) sounds better when shared.