Seabear
| Seabear | |
|---|---|
 Seabear performing in Rotterdam |
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Genres | Indie folk, Indie pop |
| Years active | 2000 - Present |
| Labels | Morr Music |
| Associated acts | Sóley, Sin Fang, Mr. Silla, Kimono, Skakkamanage. |
| Website | seabearia.com |
| Members | |
| Sindri Már Sigfússon Gudbjörg Hlin Gudmundsdottir Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir Halldór Ragnarsson Örn Ingi Ágústsson Kjartan Bragi Bjarnason Sóley Stefánsdóttir |
|
Seabear is a Icelandic seven piece indie-folk band from Reykjavik, Iceland. Although hailing from Iceland, they sing primarily in English. They are signed to the Morr Music record label.
Seabear started as a one-man project of Sindri Már Sigfússon in 2003. Performing for some time as a trio from 2005, the Seabear outfit eventually ended up as a seven piece in 2006. Other members of Seabear are Halldór (Dóri) Ragnarsson, Örn Ingi, Sóley Stefánsdóttir, Kjartan Bragi Bjarnason, Guðbjörg Hlín and Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir. In 2008 Ingibjörg stopped playing live with the band to follow up her art.
In 2007 Seabear released their debut album The Ghost That Carried Us Away on Morr Music. Their second LP, We Built A Fire was released in March 2010. The band is currently (as of July 2011) working on their third LP.
Seabear's most renowned song is "I Sing I Swim" - the music video for the song was viewed more than 1,050,000 times on YouTube as of July 2011.[1]
Seabear's music has been described as "Sufjan Stevens meets an unplugged Arcade Fire" by Clash.[2] Sindri Már Sigfússon has been called the "Icelandic Beck" by Rolling Stone.[3]
All members of Seabear have other music/art projects as well. In 2008, Sindri released his solo album Clangour under the name Sin Fang Bous and in 2011 he released his second solo album, Summer Echoes, and shortened his moniker to Sin Fang. Sóley is working on her solo project as well and is signed on Morr Music. Kjartan is in a band called Kimono that released three albums on Smekkleysa Records, a label that was founded by the The Sugarcubes. Dóri is a former member of Kimono from 2001–2007 and released two albums with the band. He is also a member of Mr. Silla, that has members from Kimono, Múm and Amiina included. Örn Ingi plays in the band Skakkamanage.
Inga, Dóri and Sindri also do art and have had numerous exhibitions (solo/group), both in Iceland and abroad.
The song "Cat Piano", from The Ghost That Carried Us Away, was featured in a BBC advert for Finding Neverland as well as in Season 2, Episode 2 of Gossip Girl. The song "Cold Summer", from We Built A Fire, was used in the closing scene of Episode 617 of Grey's Anatomy.[4]
Seabear have toured Europe and the U.S. over the years and have played numerous festivals.
Seabear's name comes from the polar bear's latin name Ursus Maritimus
[edit] Discography
- I'm Me on Sundays - Self-released
- Singing Arc EP - Self-released
- The Ghost That Carried Us Away - 2007 Morr Music
- Lion Face Boy / Cold Summer 7" - 2009 A Number Of Small Things
- We Built a Fire - 2010 Morr Music
- While the Fire Dies EP - 2010
[edit] References
- ^ "Seabear on Grey's Anatomy". Seabear MyspaceBlog. April 27, 2010. http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=6948483&blogId=530757006. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ^ http://www.clashmusic.com/artists/seabear
- ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/10/28/frickes-picks-the-icelandic-beck/
- ^ [1]
