This December sees the return of Nordic duo, When ‘Airy Met Fairy (WAMF) with their glacial Christmas single, ‘Blanket of Sorrow’ – the first song from their upcoming second album, out Spring 2020 via Berlin based label – Motor.
Utilising subtle melody and minimalist instrumentation, ‘Blanket Of Sorrow’ is melancholic piano pop at its best. Frontwoman Thorunn Egilsdottir’s singing feels intimate and vulnerable as she glazes through biting cold soundscapes and swelling horn and organ arrangements.
Christmas is about spending time with family and loved ones, a time to congregate and reconnect with the special people in our lives. But despite its warm and unifying nature, it can make someone’s absence only more apparent. ‘Blanket Of Sorrow’ captures that sinking feeling of longing and sadness… the festive season has never felt so lonely.
Thorunn: “I felt like this last Christmas when I was celebrating with my family in Reykjavik. I sat down at the piano. It was in a dark room, illuminated by the glowing snow outside. There was no sound in my brother’s house as everybody had gone outside for a walk. And there it was; Blanket of Sorrow. The melody, the lyrics, as if they had always existed.”
Bass player Mike Koster: “When we record songs, we do it in my apartment. We like homemade stuff and we like it simple. Blanket of sorrow is a particularly delicate song, so we added merely the necessary. The organ and the bass are the only ornaments around Thorunn’s voice and piano lines.”
And don’t miss the accompanying video, produced by Raphael Kindig and Runa Egilsdottir (Thorunn’s sister). Filmed in a semi-museum – a house completely untouched since the 1970s – the video is a nostalgic look into an unhappy couple ‘celebrating’ Christmas.
When ‘Airy Met Fairy consists of Icelander Thorunn Egilsdottir and Luxembourger Mike Koster. The duo is supported visually by art director Runa Egilsdottir, as well as French producer Raphael Kindig. Runa and Raphael create all the artwork and music videos. The band formed in 2015, and were spotted a year later by Icelandic musician Bardi Johannsson (Bang Gang, Lady & Bird, Starwalker), who produced their debut single ‘Intoxicated’. The band released their debut album ‘Glow’ in 2018, with acclaim from the likes of Clash, Line of Best Fit, The 405, Louder Than War and God is in the TV. They’ve played shows across the world, from Tokyo to Prague, as well as festivals like The Great Escape, Reeperbahn, Iceland Airwaves and Eurosonic.
‘Blanket of Sorrow’ is out now and available on all digital platforms.
