Lucky to be alive

Out in the quiet countryside, embraced by mountains, lives one of Iceland’s most beloved musicians. Lay Low lives in a small house she’s giving a new paint job this summer. She enjoys the solitude and feeds of the creative energy of her surroundings as she works on three new albums.

Since a little girl she wanted to lay low (pun intended), not seeking attention. For years she played the bass in a church band and felt comfortable in the background doing her own thing. Series of challenges in her personal life led to a spark in her creativity and she posted an original song on MySpace. A music producer spotted her talent and quickly Lay Low was standing in the spotlight.

“I started to write music in response to dramatic events in my life,” Lay Low tells us.
“I started to write music in response to dramatic events in my life,” Lay Low tells us.

“It all happened so fast and singing live terrified me. I didn’t feel up for the challenge since I wasn’t a trained singer. I was haunted by the thought of quitting, but I kept at it. Today I’m grateful that I didn’t give up since performing is something I really enjoy,” says Lay Low.

The strong presence and the sincerity in her voice is a key factor in her versatile charm and anyone who’s seen Lay Low give a live performance will probably find it hard to believe that her singing was the root of her insecurities. So the question of courage arises. Where did it come from?

“I started to write music in response of dramatic events in my life. I was divorcing my husband and at the same time trying to find myself. Furthermore I had been fighting a serious nerve disease and a brain tumor which I’ve fully recovered from. For the longest time I woke up in the morning just thinking how lucky I was to be alive. It’s spooky to think back on this time now and sometimes it feels unreal, although I know this strongly affected how I grew as a person. My recovery is a true miracle, perhaps I’ve earned it after all the years I spent at the church,” Lay Low jokes.

As a teenager Lay Low joined a church band as a bass player playing religious pop music.

“I guess I don’t come from a traditional background in music, although I did study piano until my teen brain got bored and gave up, which I still regret. I picked up the bass instead and played with the church band twice a week, for a few years. It was precious time for me and a great learning experience. There was no pressure to perform perfectly and I could learn and grow as a musician at my own pace in the background where I felt quite at home.”

“For the longest time I woke up in the morning just thinking how lucky I was to be alive. It’s spooky to think back on this time now and sometimes it feels unreal…”

She’s left the church since, and doesn’t consider herself a very religious person. “I guess I have my own beliefs, and I’m truly grateful for my time at the church.”

The jump from being a bass player in a church to a renowned musician has been a steep learning curve, which Lay Low has embraced. “I didn’t even know how to control my own voice in the beginning so I had no choice but to learn, and learn fast.” The last record she made, Talking About the Weather, was the first one she did all by herself.

Lay Low is currently working on three albums. One of which is called “Minor Mistakes” and she’s making with Benny Crespo’s Gang.”Minor Mistakes” is scheduled to come out next spring.
Lay Low is currently working on three albums. One of which is called Minor Mistakes and she’s making with Benny Crespo’s Gang. Minor Mistakes is scheduled to come out next spring.

“I’ve never had such a hard time finishing an album. I would go to bed at night feeling pleased with myself, only to wake up the next morning doubting everything I did the day before. Sometimes I was way off track. I learned that sometimes it’s best to pick up the phone and get a little help from my friends. I’m lucky to be surrounded by talented people, specially since I still feel like a beginner.”

When writing music, Lay Low says the lyrics come last. “I was never the type who wrote poetry and this is another thing that I just had to learn how to do. It doesn’t come naturally to me and sometimes I just have to wait for the lyrics to come to me.” One of the three albums she’s working on now features Lay Low’s original music and lyrics, another one music she’s working with Benny Crespo’s Gang (a rock band she’s in) and the third features poems by Icelandic women, similar to the one she made in 2011 called Brostinn strengur. “The poems I chose are the one’s that I can relate to, and that’s how I can pair my own voice to theirs and interpret them with music. I’m no expert on poetry but I’m strongly drawn to it.”

When Lay Low is not touring (she just got back from a tour around Europe where one critic called her voice beautiful and smooth – with a depth that has to be heard in person to be fully appreciated), she keeps to herself at her house in Ölfus, in the southern region of Iceland. There she writes her music and reads poetry as the wind dances in the long grass, and the looming mountains gaze into the distance. Lay Low is humbled by her destiny and takes her opportunities seriously. Lucky for us, the path she’s been put on leads to our hearts.

Biography
  • Lovísa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir better known by her stage name and alter ego, Lay Low.
  • Her music combines elements of blues, folk and country.
  • Her debut album, Please Don’t Hate Me, went gold only two months after its release.
  • Talking about the weather.
    Talking about the weather.

    The following year she was nominated for four of the 2006 Icelandic Music Awards, winning two; Best female singer and best album cover. She was also voted by the nation through phone election as the most popular artist of 2006.

  • She performed songs for the Baltasar Kormákur film Brúðguminn (e. Bridegroom).
  • In 2009 Lay Low took on her first film role in December, a movie by Hilmar Oddsson.
  • In 2012, Lay Low supported Of Monsters and Men on their United States tour.
  • All in all she has released seven albums, four singles and an album with Benny Crespo’s Gang.

Source: wikipedia.org and Lay Low’s official website.

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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