Starting out as drummer for several hardcore/metal bands, Ólafur was asked to write instrumental intros and outros for the album "Antigone" of German metal band Heaven Shall Burn. This led to more work in the field of neo-classical strings and piano based music, and ultimately to the release of Eulogy for Evolution and the beginning of Ólafur's partnership with Berlin based label Erased Tapes. In 2008 he embarked on a tour with fellow Icelanders Sigur Rós.
In 2009 he started a week-long project of composing one track by day, making it immediately available online to his fans. The collection was later officially released under the title Found Songs. He repeated the same experiment in 2011 under the title Living Room Songs. Also in 2009 the ballet Dyad 1909 premiered with a score composed by Ólafur. Choreographed by Wayne McGregor and performed by Wayne McGregor Random Dance, the ballet was inspired by Ernest Shackleton’s Nimrod Expedition to the South Pole in 1909. That year he also started Kiasmos, together with Janus Rasmussen. Kiasmos is a minimal techno based project. Their self titled debut album was released in 2014, preceded by the Thrown EP.
In April 2010 Ólafur released his second full-length album entitled ...And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness, which was backed up with an extensive tour, including his first trip to China.
His third album, and the first to be released under his new partnership with Universal Music's Mercury Classics imprint, is titled For Now I Am Winter and planned for international release in February 2013. Expanding on his previous work the new album features a full orchestra and – for the first time – introduces vocals to his soundworld. Icelandic singer Arnór Dan is to be heard on four tracks of the album.
More recently Ólafur has been venturing into the world of films, writing his first Hollywood film score to Another Happy Day. He also had music in the hit film The Hunger Games and has been featured several times on popular American television show So You Think You Can Dance. For 2013 his scores include the music to the ITV thriller series Broadchurch, starring David Tennant and Olivia Colman, as well as to the film Gimme Shelter, directed by Ron Krauss and starring Vanessa Hudgens and Brendan Fraser.
In 2014 Arnalds won the prestigious BAFTA Television Craft Award for his score to the BBC's hit detective series 'Broadchurch'.
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Ólafur Arnalds Lyrics
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As this is an instrumental piece of music, the interpretation of the lyrics is not applicable. Instead, the focus will be on the emotions and atmosphere the music evokes. "Film Credits" is a beautiful and melancholic orchestral piece that appears towards the end of Ólafur Arnalds's album "Eulogy for Evolution," and it's reprise on his album "re:member." The arrangement features piano, strings, and synthesized elements, which create a dreamy soundscape.
The music begins with a delicate piano melody, slowly building and adding layers of strings and electronic textures, creating an expansive yet introspective atmosphere. The piece conveys a sense of nostalgia and reflection, as if it's the soundtrack for a movie's closing credits, reminding you of the journey that you have been on. The instrumentation also gives the track a cinematic feel, with its broad sweeps of sound punctuated by moments of stillness.
Overall, "Film Credits" is a moving instrumental piece that manages to evoke strong emotions despite the lack of lyrics. It is a testament to the power of music to speak to the soul and the ability of a skilled composer to create beauty out of sound.
Contributed by Peyton O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.