The 17th annual Icelandic Music Awards were held in the National Theater in Reykjavík on Tuesday. The solo album Go, by Jón Thór Birgisson, better known as Jónsi from Sigur Rós, was named the Rock/Pop Album of 2010.
Jónsi. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
Go was also named Best Nordic Album 2010 at the first ever Nordic Music Prize held in Oslo recently, Fréttabladid reports.
“Hamingjan er hér” (“Happiness is here”) by Jónas Sigurdsson was voted Best Song of 2010. It’s a track on Sigurdsson second album, Allt er eitthvad (“Everything is something”) and enjoyed significant popularity last year.
Old-schooler Bjartmar Gudlaugsson, who had a successful comeback last year, was named Best Lyrics Writer in 2010 for the lyrics on his album Skrýtin veröld (“Strange world”). He was actually nominated for three awards—the first in his career.
Ólöf Arnalds earned the title Song Writer of 2010 for her album Innundir skinni (“Underneath the skin”), beating out Jónsi, Gudlaugsson and Skúli Sverrisson.
Ágúst Ólafsson and Gerrit Schuil were chosen Performers of the Year for their concerts at Reykjavík Arts Festival and opera singer Kristinn Sigmundsson received an award for Voice of the Year.
Trumpet player Ari Bragi Kárason was named Iceland’s Brightest Hope. He is considered to be the most talented trumpet player the country has seen in years.
Designer Sigurdur Eggertsson was awarded for Album Cover of the Year for his design of Pólýfónía by Apparat Organ Quartet, while Jóel Pálsson boasted Jazz Album of the Year for Horn.
The Honorary Music Award went to producer, composer, pianist and Hammond organist Thórir Baldursson. The ceremony ended with a tribute to his music.
Click here to read more about the Nordic Music Prize.
