A new queer anthem

The Queer Song is an upbeat summer single by the quirky and fun band Eva. The members actually think that it might very well become an international queer anthem since it entails many letters in the queer alphabet.

Vala Höskuldsdóttir and Sigríður Eir Zophoníasardóttir form The Band Eva. Their new song, The Queer Song, has just hit the airwaves.

“The alphabet is getting a bit hefty and we are prepared to update the song if some letters are added to it. But I personally think that many need this sort of explication. People tend to be afraid of these “new” definitions and turn up their noses at the fact that the term “gay” doesn’t cut it anymore. It’s simply not a satisfactory umbrella name for all of those who are part of the queer community today,” says musician Sigríður Eir Zophoníasardóttir.

Sigríður is one half of The Band Eva (Hjómsveitin Eva), along with Vala Höskuldsdóttir. They’re known for not taking themselves too seriously and writing lyrics that will make you smile, even giggle, whilst absorbing a noble and often philosophical message. Their new summer song, The Queer Song, is exactly in that spirit. It was written some two years ago but just hit the airwaves.

“We released a CD in November of 2013, which we funded on the crowd funding site Karolina Fund. One way of donating money was to order a song about a specific subject. We got a few orders, too many if anything, and just last week we delivered the last song: The Queer Song,” says Sigríður. “The Queer Song was ordered by Pink Iceland, travel agency and wedding planner. They wanted a song that could be a theme song for them and it had to entail all the groups belonging to the queer umbrella. That rigmarole is quite long, LGBTQQIP2SAA, but we managed to fit the whole queer abbreviation in the song which we are extremely proud of. So, we can thank Pink Iceland for its creation,” she says with a smile.

“… the music industry in Iceland is controlled by the white, hetero sexual, non-disabled man on the radio. So everything that we, “the others” , do is a good step forward.”

I wonder if the song could appeal more to the queer community, giving the subject matter. The musical and whimsy women ladies agree with me.
“Yes, we think we even managed to write a new, international queer anthem, even though I think and pray that the freedom of the individual to be who he, she or they are is something that everyone can relate to,” says Vala, convinced that The Queer Song will stick to people’s brain.

“At least, I think everyone can wiggle to the whistling in the car on the way home.”

Both Sigríður and Vala say that they think that the world needs more queer music in general and queer musicians as well.
“Pop music has influence, it’s socially and opinion formative and all music that has to do with something else than the hetero normative society does its job to level the playing field,” Sigríður points out. “I also have to mention that the music industry in Iceland is controlled by the white, hetero sexual, non-disabled man on the radio. So everything that we, “the others” , do is a good step forward.”

Sigríður and Vala say that they think that the world needs more queer music in general and musicians as well.

As said before the message of The Queer Song’s is in line with topics that the ladies in Eva have been known to write about. Its style however is more pop infused than the band’s fans might be used to. The ladies say that was simply an accident.

“We always write songs that have to be written, about things and subjects that need a song, so the words and meanings are always in the forefront and our driving force,” Sigríður explains. “What the melody sounds like just emerges when we sit down and write the music. Will it be a melancholy folk melody, a pop song or punk? I sometimes feel that the song just writes itself and that we’re only spreading it out. Therefore we have limited control over in which style the song will be. Does this make any sense?” she ask with a pondering look on her face and turns her head to Vala.

“Absolutely,” Vala answers without a second thought.

“We always write songs that have to be written, about things and subjects that need a song, so the words and meanings are always in the forefront and our driving force.”

On a more personal note, the ladies tell me that band won’t be performing much this summer, due to family circumstances.
“The summer will mostly be family time,” says Sigríður. “Vala just had a son and I am expecting a child in July, so we’re just going to take care of our children and wives and enjoy the summer. Grow some salad on the balcony, take long walks and so on. But we will of course take some sort of part in Reykjavík Pride, which is a unmissable part of the summer.”

But does the duo intend to make it an annual tradition to release summer songs like The Queer Song?
“Yes, that’s a very good idea and is here by set in motion.”

Photos: Rut Sigurðardóttir.

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.

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      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.

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        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.

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        Blue Lagoon
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        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
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        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%.

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        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.

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        Dohop
        - get inspired
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        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.

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        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.

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          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.

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          This is our secret and you are in on it

          You can read more about Ísey skyr on our website.

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