Icelandic musician and multimedia artist Skadi Thordardottir will be performing both on and off venue at the Icelandic music festival Airwaves this year. Skadi is a unique and lively performer who has a reputation for agitating her crowd into a fiery frenzy so audiences are in for a treat.
“I’m very excited and proud to be an Official Artist/performer at Airwaves this year (as well as performing at three Off-Venue gigs) and I truly feel I belong there. I’ve performed on Off-Venue gigs before during Airwaves but never as a solo artist on the official venue, says Skaði, when GayIceland got in touch and asked how she feels about performing at such a big event.
So far Reykjavík Pride is the biggest festival she’s taken part in, but Airwaves the biggest music festival. “I’m very active in organizing concerts. Most of the time with my partner-in-crime Mighty Bear. We are working on creating our own scene here in Reykjavik with various other music acts, for example KRÍA and SEINT, and we have performed at venues like Gaukurinn, Dillon, Kiki and whatever venue is daring enough to say yes to us.”
“Honestly, I am not sure how to describe my music … I’ll just be a humble lady and call myself an indescribable musical phenomenon / international mainstream pop-star.”
Will you be performing your own material at Airwaves?
“I will play songs from my latest EP ‘Dimmar Hvatir (‘Dark Urges’, on Spotify) and some unreleased material that I’m currently working on. I’m always working on something new and lot of my new songs are old songs I revisit when I open up an old hard drive and go: ‘Well well well, what do we have here?’”
But just how would you describe your music?
“Honestly, I am not sure how to describe my music. There are so many musical styles and categories I like to play with and can fit into, so a few days ago I decided that I’ll just be a humble lady and call myself an indescribable musical phenomenon / international mainstream pop-star (tongue planted firmly in cheek).”
Your former partner, María a.k.a MIMRA, told us about her new album a while back and described how you coming out as a trans woman affected her work on it. Are you dealing with the same experience on your album?
“My method of working has often been somewhat more unconscious and impulsive, so I often don’t see the true meaning of my songs until much later. My album is not particularly about us, but there is one song on the album called ‘Love Killed’ that was written in the period when we were trying to make things work out, so that song is in a way reflective of our breakup.”
Skadi adds that María has had a huge influence on her development as an artist, especially regarding music production. “And I still seek her advice and critique during the creative process. I’m happy that we have both been able to be honest and open about the whole process, and to still remain friends and colleagues.”
At Airwaves your before mentioned partner-in-crime Mighty Bear will be performing as well.
“Yes, both Mighty Bear and I are playing at Airwaves this year, but not on the same venue and the same goes for all the off venues that we are performing at. It is going to be a little strange performing when he is not there in line up, as we are such close collaborators on-stage and off. We have a unique musical love affair.”
“ … there is one song on the album called ‘Love Killed’ that was written in the period when we were trying to make things work out, so that song is in a way reflective of our breakup.”
How did it come about that you two started a collaboration?
“We met through the Drag-Súgur group (which hosts regular drag/cabaret/variety nights at bar Gaukurinn in downtown Reykjavik), but have cultivated our own form of performances and formed a personal as well as professional friendship.”
After Airwaves, what are your plans?
“My plan is to have a bit of rest and relaxation. However, for me that usually means: working on new music, planning my next music video, booking and promoting my own and my fellow artists’ gigs, performing at Drag-Súgur, and generally plotting the next step towards full world/galactic domination or submission.”
Skadi will perform at Hressó tomorrow, Saturday November 4th, at 20.50.
On Sunday, November 5th, she will take to the stage at Quest at 15 and at Friðarhúsið at 19.