Amiina

amiina
Amiina concert in Pennsylvania, 2006
Background information
Origin	Reykjavík, Iceland
Genre(s)	Ambient, post-rock, instrumental
Years active	2004–present
Label(s)	Bláskjár, Ever, Kitchen Motors, Rumraket, Speak'n'spell, The Worker's Institute
Associated acts	Sigur Rós
Website	www.amiina.com
Members
Hildur Ársælsdóttir Edda Rún Ólafsdóttir Maria Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir Sólrún Sumarliðadóttir
Former members
Ólöf Júlía Kjartansdóttir

amiina (formerly Amína and Aníma) is an Icelandic musical quartet composed of Hildur Ársælsdóttir, Edda Rún Ólafsdóttir, Maria Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir, and Sólrún Sumarliðadóttir. They frequently perform live and in the studio along with Sigur Rós. Back in 2001 violinist Ólöf Júlía was part of the band but has since been replaced by Hildur Ársælsdóttir.^[1]

The quartet's music is made with a great number of instruments. It contains elements of minimalistic style, contemporary classical, ambient, and electronic loops.

In their performances, each of them plays from the large range of instruments, moving from one instrument—and side of the stage—to another mid-song, often after sampling.

Before adopting their name Amiina, the group were initially a string quartet: María and Hildur as violinists, Edda as violist, and Sólrún as cellist. As a string quartet Amiina have recorded work with Sigur Rós, notably on the award-winning album ( ) as well as its follow-up, Takk....^[2][3]

Their first commercially-available recording was the four-track EP Animamina. This was followed by their first single, "Seoul". Their first full-length album, Kurr, was released March 21, 2007, through the band's own label, Bláskjár. It was re-released by Ever Records in June 2007.

When Sigur Rós ceased touring in July 2006, Amiina followed with their first solo tours of Europe and America in October and November. Following the release of Kurr, they toured North America in March and April and Europe in May.

The song "Hilli" was released on December 10, 2007 as the second single from the album Kurr. It is a collaboration between Amiina and Lee Hazelwood whose vocals (the last recording before his death) are mixed with a reworked version of the original song.

Amiina appeared in the Icelandic movie [1]Brúðguminn, (White Night Wedding) released early 2008.

Instruments

Electronic

• Compact synthesizer
• Digital piano

Guitars

• Baroque
• Solid-body electric

Harps

• Celtic

Reeds

• Harmonium
• Melodica

Metallophones

• Celesta
• Glockenspiel (which they sometimes bow)

Viols

• Cello
• Viola
• Violin

Zithers

• Gideon harp (external description; also called a "table harp")

Other

• Call bells (also called "office" or "reception" bells)
• Glass harp
• Kalimba
• Mandolin
• Musical saw

Discography

Albums

• Kurr (March 21, 2007)

EPs

• Animamina (May 9, 2005)
• re minore (2009)

Singles

• "Seoul" (November 6, 2006)
• "Hilli (At The Top Of The World)" (December 17, 2007)

Compilation inclusions

• Screaming Masterpiece (2005)
• Kitchen Motors Family Album/Fjölskyldualbúm Tilraunaeldhússins (Spring 2006)
• Nightmare Revisited (Sept. 2008)

References

External links

• Official website
• Amiina at MySpace
• Promotional website for the upcoming re-release of Kurr
• Article on Amiina from the Reykjavík Grapevine 2004
• Amiina at NPR Music