We need to keep the fire going

For over three decades Sigríður Beinteinsdóttir, otherwise known as Sigga Beinteins, has been one of Iceland’s most prominent singers. Today she’ll be performing her new single, “Surrender”, at the Reykjavík Pride outdoor concert (at Arnarhóll).  We spoke to Sigga about her newly released song, what it takes to make it in the music industry for so long and why Pride is still important in Iceland – as well as being a lot of fun.

Congratulations on the new song. How did it come about and become the official Reykjavík Pride song?
“Thank you, it’s a great honor to perform the official Reykjavik Pride song this year. The song came to me last winter when the composers, Swedish twin sisters Ylva and Linda Person, sent me a demo of a few songs of theirs. They wanted to know if I was interested in singing any of them for publication.

This particular song, “Surrender”, was one of the songs that immediately caught my attention. I thought it was a well composed and “catchy” song with great potential. All the elements to become a Euro hit. So we finished the song and sent it to the Eurovision song contest in Iceland. Unfortunately it didn’t make to the Icelandic contest. But since we all felt the song had great potential to become a summer hit in Iceland it was offered to the Reykjavík Pride board of directors and they loved it.”

There’s a Eurovision vibe to it, not surprising given that the songwriters live in Sweden, the land of Eurovision extravaganza. Why did it appeal to you?
“I agree, it has a great Eurovision vibe to it and that’s one of the reason I originally liked it. What appeals to me mostly is the melody itself. And the fun summer beat which mixes together the old and new disco beats.”

At risk in Zagreb

It‘s been two decades since you sang „Nætur“ on behalf of Iceland in Eurovision in Ireland. Would you compete again?
“I’m not sure I would participate in Eurovision again on behalf of Iceland. But if I would even consider it, the song in question would have to be really strong. I would have to have one hundred percent faith in that it would go far in the contest. To tell you the truth, I was pretty certain that “Surrender” would do well in the Eurovision contest. So it came as a big surprise that it didn’t even make it into the contest in Iceland. But that’s Eurovision for you, always full of surprises.”

You’ve competed three times in the past. Can you share a memorable Eurovision moment with us?

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Sigga and Grétar Örvarsson in Zagreb 1990.

“What’s most memorable is how much fun it’s to take part in the contest, to see how big of a show it is, to perform and try your very best for your country. It’s of course a big thing so you feel pressured to do well – not least for your country.

However the most memorable incident was with the band Stjornin in Zagreb 1990. I performed in high heels and the famous red dress – high heels and dresses weren’t exactly my every day outfits at the time. I was really stressed out since the floor was also laid with plates that had small gaps between them. So not only did I have to sing my very best, wear a dress and high heels, but I also needed to step between the gaps when dancing so the heels wouldn’t get stuck in the gaps!”

The advantages and drawbacks of being a YouTube star

For decades you’ve been one of our most renowned singers. What’s the key ingredient to such a longevity?
“That’s a big question with no right answer, since it would be different for everyone. But one of the key elements is to perform and make appearances. Otherwise you’ll quickly be forgotten. Of course you need to make music you love and sing with your heart. That’s what appeals to your listeners. Also be humble and thankful for the gift of being able to sing and bring joy and happiness to people. That’s not something that everyone can do and it shouldn’t be taken for granted.”

Would you say the music industry has changed much since you started out?
“I guess the Internet has been the key game changer in the music industry like in almost everything else. Today, young artists can be heard all over the world instantly and do a lot of their own marketing, especially abroad. That’s something that wasn’t even a remote possibility when I started my career.

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“You need to make music you love and sing with your heart.”

At the same time, there’s a lot more on offer so your music has to stand out. But young kids can become YouTube celebrities even though they wouldn’t get their music played on the radio stations. This creates more opportunities for any type of artists and makes the cake bigger for everyone.

However it’s getting harder for musicians and composers to get paid for their songs and lyrics since there are less hard copies being sold. A thing I believe will evolve and even out in time like everything else.”

A lot of singers seem to suffer from vocal problems now a days. How do you take care of your voice?
“The vocal cords are a complex organism. Nobody has the same type of voice, so nobody performs or acts the same way. The voice, like any other muscle in the body, needs to be used and exercised in order to keep it in good shape. People who have a lot of vocal problems are usually not using the right technique. Which is something they should learn sooner than later. Otherwise they might lose their voice or damage the vocal cords. Throughout my career I’ve fortunately had very little problems with my voice. If anything, I’ve gained more strength and control over it as the years have passed.”

Who’s currently your favorite artist(s)?
“That’s a difficult question. I listen to a very broad range of music so it’s hard to pick one out. My all time favorites though have always been Elvis Presley and Tina Turner, outstanding performers that you can always look to for inspiration.”

Visibility is important

The big Pride Parade is coming up. Do you always participate in it or Reykjavík Pride for that matter?
“For the past few years, yes and I made an honorary performance on the main stage in 2012 when celebrating my 50th birthday. This year I won’t be able to join the parade itself since I’ll be performing on the stage. But the whole week has been full of celebration and this weekend will continue to be. The Reykjavík Pride is one of the most fun weekends of the year.”

What significance does Pride have for you?
“It’s so great to see how it’s grown from being a small parade to being one of the largest yearly events in Iceland. A family event that welcomes everyone but also reminds us we need to keep our heads up and keep the fire going. I take part because I know it’s important to be a good role model, visible and lead with good example. That will pave the way for others to come.”

Finally, what does the future hold in store for Sigga Beinteins?
“Knock on wood, I think it’s bright in respect of Sigga the singer. I’ll keep on singing as long as I enjoy it and as long as anyone is willing to listen.”


 

Á. Óskarsson
Á. Óskarsson

Á. Óskarsson offers a variety of products and services to sports centers, swimming pools, schools, kindergartens, and the general public. The company specializes in sport-related products, activity-focused games, and a wide range of solutions for sports facilities.

Á. Óskarsson has been involved in numerous big projects related to building sports facilities and has made it their benchmark to offer good quality products and equipment since the company was founded.

See links to social media in the upper left-hand corner

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Á. Óskarsson selur fjölbreytt vöruúrval fyrir íþróttahús, sundlaugar, skóla og leikskóla og einnig ýmsar vörur til einkaafnota. Fyrirtækið selur vörur til íþróttaiðkunnar og leikja ásamt því að bjóða upp á ýmsar lausnir fyrir íþróttamannvirki.

Á. Óskarsson hefur komið að fjölda stórra verkefna við byggingu íþróttamannvirkja og hefur frá stofnun kappkostað að bjóða vandaðar og endingargóðar vörur.

Tenglar á samfélagsmiðla eru í efra horninu vinstra megin.

Webpage/vefsetur

Blush

    Blush was founded in 2011 when it started selling high quality sex products. The goal from the beginning was to change the market and take the discussion about sex products to a higher level. Today Blush provides professional services in a pleasant environment that fulfills different needs, both for individuals and couples. Blush respects diversity and wants to set a good example in all of its messaging to target audiences. Sexual health and equality in sex is important and Blush wants to focus on those issues through education and open discussion. Blush works in a socially responsible manner for society, their customers and the environment.

    Check out Blush’s website: https://blush.is/

    Omnom Chocolate
    - award-winning chocolate maker

      Omnom Chocolate is an Icelandic craft chocolate company based in Reykjavík. We produce handcrafted chocolate from organic cacao beans sourced ethically and sustainably. We’ve developed direct relationships to create premium chocolate with fine flavor cacao beans.

      Our creative flavors are carefully crafted by meticulous chocolate makers. The cacao beans are roasted, winnowed, ground, and refined into melty-smooth chocolate.

      Omnom’s process is one of constant exploration, invention, and experimentation. If it doesn’t please us, if something isn’t absolutely delicious, there’s no reason to be doing it. So, we always start with our taste buds and follow our instincts. Our team searches for the finest ingredients in the world and new ways to improve chocolate. This obsession with knowing where our ingredients come from has led us around the corner to dairy farms in the Icelandic countryside and all the way to rainforest cacao farms of Nicaragua.

      In only a few short years, we’ve grown from our 50 sq. m. petrol station space and become an award-winning chocolate maker. Now, with our headquarters in 101 Reykjavík, our chocolate is sent out around Iceland and all over the world.

      At the end of the day, our goal is to make chocolate.

       

      Nasdaq

         

        Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.

        With over 4,300 employees in 39 offices around the world, at Nasdaq we all contribute to the success of the company and its culture, and each one of us has the ability to make a difference. When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. We strive to create a culture that embraces the power of different perspectives—a culture where people’s unique backgrounds and different experiences helps us fuel innovation and support our clients around the world.

        Our unique position at the center of the capital markets allows us to see firsthand how these values have redefined corporate culture and success, deepening and accelerating our own commitment to champion inclusive growth and prosperity, as we strive to create more equitable opportunities to help people of all backgrounds reach their full potential. Most notably, we published our diversity statistics for the first time in 2020. These metrics serve as a quantitative assessment of where we are today and help determine what strategies we need to adopt to enhance diversity in the workplace. We recognize that we have much work to do, but we are steadfast in our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive culture—one that reflects the communities in which we live, allows all employees to be their true, authentic selves and fosters individual growth and achievement.

        As we move forward together, we will continue advancing diverse ideas and perspectives that help fulfill the promise of a more inclusive and prosperous world. We aim to set the pace for rethinking capital markets and economies anywhere and everywhere. To learn more about the company, technology solutions and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on Twitter @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.

        Blue Lagoon
        - One of the 25 Wonders of the World

        Named by National Geographic as one of the 25 Wonders of the World, the Blue Lagoon is a shimmering expanse of warmth, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Its unique geothermal seawater
        comes from 2.000 meters within the earth where seawater and freshwater converge in a tectonic realm of porous lava and searing heat. Propelled by extreme pressure, the water ascends to the earth’s surface, emerging enriched with silica, algae, and minerals—the elements that endow Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater with its radiant, healing properties.

        From its humble beginnings in the shadows of a geothermal power plant, Blue Lagoon has evolved into a world of wonder, now encompassing two hotels, three restaurants, three
        geothermal lagoons, a subterranean spa, a renowned line of skin care, a thriving research center, and a wealth of spa and refreshment facilities.

        Achieving harmony with the volcanic landscape, the lagoon and its surrounding architecture embody the unification of the man-made and the natural, and adhere to the highest principles of sustainability.

        The Blue Lagoon. A wonder of the world. A world of wonder.

        Landsbankinn
        - leading financial institution
        Landsbankinn

        Landsbankinn is a leading Icelandic financial institution. It offers a full range of financial services and is the market leader in the Icelandic financial service sector with the largest branch network.

        The present bank was established on 7 October 2008 but the history of its predecessor dates back to 1886. The bank is owned by the National Treasury of Iceland, which holds 98.2% of its share capital, and other shareholders who own 1.8%.

        Landsbankinn’s strategy is to provide comprehensive financial services that meet customer’s needs. It emphasizes providing exemplary service to customers, developing e-banking for their convenience, increasing the efficiency of support functions, modernizing its technology and ensuring effective utilization of its balance sheet.

        The bank’s vision is to be exemplary and its role is to be a trusted financial partner.

        Special emphasis is placed on promoting a performance-oriented culture in the bank. To follow up on the implementation of this strategy, the bank has defined key goals which are measured regularly to determine progress. These goals include, for example, customer satisfaction and loyalty, profitability, cost efficiency and the correlation between risk appetite and employee satisfaction.

        Landsbankinn wishes to lead the development of a sustainable society in Iceland by integrating economic, social and environmental concerns in its operations. The Bank aims to ensure that both its owners and society at large benefit from its activities.

        It intends to achieve this aim by building solid infrastructure and a strong team of 1.100 employees, by listening to its customers and by respecting and encouraging its employees to actively participate in their community. Landsbankinn was a founding member of Festa, a Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, and is a member of the UN Global Compact.

        Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of the Reykjavik Pride since it was first celebrated in Iceland.

        Dohop
        - get inspired
        Dohop

        Dohop allows people to find the cheapest flights available with just one click. Founded in Reykjavik in 2004, it is the only Icelandic company of its kind and quickly became the go-to tool for finding cheap flights among the locals. Dohop finds the best deals among hundreds of different airlines and online travel agencies, to make sure that the user is getting the cheapest price. Dohop also offers hotel and car rental search engines, so users can make all of their travel bookings from a single website.

        Dohop‘s specialty is finding so-called “self-connect” flight options, which can save travelers money by booking a ticket through two or more different airlines. The ability to look for these self-connect option is what sets Dohop apart from its competition, as it can save people hundreds of dollars on certain routes.

        More recently, Dohop has developed a unique product called Dohop Go!, which allows users to check for the cheapest available flights from their home airport. This tool is perfect for those who are looking for travel inspiration but are not willing to overpay for their flight ticket. Dohop Go! is now available in the Dohop Flights App, both for Android and iOS, along with its traditional flight, hotel, and car search engines. “

        VSÓ Ráðgjöf

           

          VSÓ Ráðgjöf er alhliða ráðgjafar- og verkfræðifyrirtæki sem leggur áherslu á trausta og faglega þjónustu sem tryggir viðskiptavinum hagkvæmustu lausnir hverju sinni, skilar raunverulegum árangri og stuðlar að samkeppnisforskoti.  Á skrifstofum VSÓ í Reykjavík og í Noregi starfar yfir 80 manna samhentur hópur verkfræðinga og annarra tæknimenntaðra starfsmanna.

          Macland
          - for all your Apple needs
          Macland

          From starting out as a proper startup with only a good idea and the need to change things, to becoming an established company with 6 employees. Starting from scratch and expanding organically has allowed us to love our expansion and take our customers on the ride with us.

          Macland is located at Laugavegur 23 (101, Downtown Reykjavik)
          For all your Apple needs. We are here.

          Ísey skyr
          - once tasted never forgotten

          Our Story
          Once upon a time, 1,100 years ago in fact, Nordic settlers began arriving in Iceland. They brought with them the skills and knowledge for producing skyr. As time passed, the know-how and recipe for this nutritious food slowly faded out elsewhere in the Nordic region. Luckily, the Icelandic skyr-making tradition continued.

          For centuries, Icelandic skyr formed a cornerstone of the national diet, helping to keep people strong in living conditions that were often harsh. On family farms countrywide, it was the women who nurtured this dairy and passing on both the recipe and the original Icelandic skyr cultures from mother to daughter.

          Ísey skyr builds on this remarkable legacy. It was some of those very same women, the recipients of their mothers’ expertise, who, around 90 years ago, taught Icelandic dairy scientists the art of skyr-making. The production process is more high-tech these days, and the quality standards more rigorous. However, the basic recipe and the use of original cultures to ferment the skimmed milk remain the same. Protein rich, fat-free, creamy and delicious – Ísey skyr is as relevant to consumers now as it was all those centuries ago.
          This is our secret and you are in on it

          You can read more about Ísey skyr on our website.

          Contact Us


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