Quintessence - by Marketa Irglova, featuring Emiliana Torrini and Aukai

This video is a short film I made to accompany my song, Quintessence. It was shot in Iceland, over the period of a few weeks this past June, with the help of my two daughters Karítas Árný Sturludóttir and Árveig Mía Sturludóttir who drove with me to several locations and allowed me to capture their natural, beautiful selves in our favorite places all within an hours drive from Reykjavík, where we live. My friend Jónatan Grétarsson, an Icelandic photographer had additionally taken some footage of Karítas, a portrait in motion.

Given that the song is about our connection with nature, and the feeling of stillness, presence and awareness wild places imbue our hearts with, it seemed only natural the visuals should invite those very feelings. I remember them most intensely from my childhood, when spending all hours outdoors in warm summer days was the most magical and fun thing there was. When we become adults, there is always so much to do, and so little time to do it, that we don’t allow ourselves this stillness, this silent communion with nature and with ourselves. Walking without a destination, sitting on a rock unaware of time passing. What’s more, we don’t even feel like we are missing out, for we are always rushing. So much that there is no time to even consider an alternative way of being. But something is always calling us, inviting us to retrieve what had been lost.

Shooting this video, I had spent more time outdoors than I have in a very long time. We followed the weather and often waited for the magical hour of twilight. We took advantage of the 24 hour day light and sometimes went to a location late in the evening when there was little foot traffic. Every such trip felt like an adventure, at a time of day most people were on the couch watching an episode before turning in. Which is exactly what I would have been doing myself had it not been for the filming. It made me wonder, why I had stopped doing this. Going outside spontaneously, just to watch a sunset, or to feel the rain on my face. Me, who has always been so aware of how much I need nature to feel balanced. It felt quite shocking to realize that between work and children, cooking, cleaning, and so forth, I had forgotten to make room for such moments in my life. I forgot to make room for myself. It is as though it was always on my mind, but a part of me thought: “Oh well it will still be there once I have the chance to go and experience it.“ As if it were not possible right then and there. As if I needed some excuse, some purpose beyond that of simply going outside and being in my own company. I think we are all a bit trapped in our routines, for that is how the world is designed. Perhaps it is time to break out of them a bit. To make room for spontaneity, and allow the unexpected to happen. For without mystery, our lives become dull.

So here is to playfulness and spontaneity. Let them not be exclusive to childhood but follow us throughout our lives always. Let us live each day as if it were our last, for one day, it will be.

VIDEO CREDITS
Quintessence by Markéta Irglová, featuring Emiliana Torrini and Aukai,
Starring Karítas Árný Sturludóttir and Árveig Mía Sturludóttir
Produced by Sturla Mio Thorisson at Masterkey Studios

Filmed and edited by Markéta Irglová
Additional footage by Jónatan Grétarsson,
Color grading by Bjarki Guðjónsson at Trickshot

Made with the help of
Sturla Mio Thorisson,
Tina Dickow and Helgi Hrafn Jónsson,
Anna Kristín and Pétur Ben and Gylli the horse,
Karl Petersson,
Linda Björk Eiríksdóttir and
Her beautiful custom knitted sweaters,
Iceland,
Nature,
Mary Reynolds and
The elemental realm.

[barnacles]

The world needs more music like this, and especially now. Brilliantly beautiful with a spiritualism that will make one think, thank

[evarybnickova]

Nádherný. Island, který mě tolikrát taky tak moc chytil, vaše úžasný dcery, radost z jejich objevování světa, a i ten komentář, kterýmu jako každá máma, chycena v rutině, tak moc rozumím. Přeju ať jste šťastná, těší mě sledovat vaši cestu k polárnímu kruhu a s hudbou dál, přeju vám radost z dětí a přeju si další písně.

[panicopter]

Marketa is one of my favourite artists of all time, such a good song writer and crazy good voice, so much love !

[emilymclaughlin]

Marketa, thank you for blessing the world with such beautiful music. This gave me beauty when I really needed it.

[marcolicalzi]

Just beautiful and dreamy! I love nordic culture and music!!! So connected with Mother Nature!!! Thanks thanks

[myearthandskycreation]

I listening this song since yesterday, don't remember how many times😊 it's makes me cry, smile, nostalgic, happy, calm, dreaming, grateful..., ... How beautiful is this, Soulful.

[PoitinCZ]

This glorious anthem is a huge (non-religious) prayer and an aural hug which goes so deeply into the very heart of our existence. It makes me cry. Thank you. Jeremy.

[paintingmommy]

I feel sorry for the soulless people who could give this a thumbs down. They're missing something so essential to being human. It is magnificent and touching. I'm moved to tears. Nature is my salvation <3

[martinakolackova]

Markéto, děkuji Vám srdečně za tuto hlubokou písničku, ta energie je přesně to, co je teď potřeba.

[miguel..g]

It is a melody that helps the world to reflect, I think it is necessary to think about this life that we lead so quickly, as if there was no end, the human being is a machine today that has forgotten the main thing. to provide yourself with feelings that help your inner world, thanks Marketa for making us see our problem in reality

[Kiplargely]

Your comments about being with nature and acting now really resonates with how I am feeling at the moment. It is easy to to feel such adventures should be planned, part of a routine and put off instead of just for now, when you feel the impulse. I often look back fondly to the days of my youth when I would move freely from one place to another, unaware of time and constraints that I was yet to build into my life. I don't see my family as constraints but the baggage you allow yourself to collect (abstract and concrete), which weighs you down and tries to keep you anchored to one place and a fixed way of thinking. Thank you for a beautiful song and refreshing outlook.

[katerinasalabova]

I am sitting here, in my home, tears coming down my face because they are putting google fiber cables underneath our beautiful garden soil that was ordered by the city. They are putting this plastic snake all over our state and it brakes my heart on top of everything else like poison truck driving at night through my neighborhood, spraying against mosquitoes while I wake up to dying bees on my driveway.THEN I found this beautiful song and its story and I feel better, knowing, there are others, loving on our planet❤️

[nachorros]

This song has made a big impact on me. It is really beautiful, spiritual, simple and at the same time hypnotizing. Thank you very much, I admire you very much. Please Marketa, come to Spain soon!!

[lea_australiannativefaunaconsv]

please keep making these beautiful videos with your most beautiful music 🙏🌻🌼🌷

[lisalazarczyk]

So pure and beautiful with simple heartfelt emotional authenticity. May God bless this beautifully and singularly gifted artist.
❤🙏

[rafaelmoraes]

please Marketa, come back with The Swell Season, we need you :~

[jose.icicle]

I was born in Moravia, high school in Zlin and i listened to all music during night shifts while driving a yellow cab in New York in 80-90s and I have to thank you dear Ms. Markéta for sharing this song with others.

[C.Emmaus]

4 years and finally... my heart is almost breaking

[erazered]

Beautiful song and so truthful sentiment. Now more than ever nature is calling us to remember our connection.

[jankucera]

Přenádherná píseň, váš hlas a videoklip, naprosto dokonalé!❤