Ólafur Arnalds live from Hafursey, in Iceland for Cercle

☞ Cercle Records

☞ Ólafur Arnalds

Icelandic composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Ólafur Arnalds explores the crossover from classical to pop by mixing chamber strings and piano with discreet electronics. In addition to forming the experimental techno duo Kiasmos with Janus Rasmussen, Arnalds has produced a magistral repertoire of spine-tingling neo-classical works and film scores since the late 2000s.

63° 32' 26.0" N 18° 48' 01.4" W

☞ About the location

Hafursey is a palagonite mountain located on the north side of Mýrdalssandur and near the Katla volcano in Iceland. The lonely Inselberg is surrounded by vast valleys of volcanic sand, sanders, glaciers, and waterfalls that render one of the most special, almost lunar sceneries in the world.

☞ About Hafursey (Yfir) by Ólafur Arnalds (Cercle Records)

« Yfir » ("Above") is a musical journey through Iceland's various moods and seasons. At times, the music swells with a powerful surge, mirroring the crashing waves against rocky cliffs or the thunderous roar of a distant volcano. Other moments evoke a sense of stillness and serenity, echoing the peacefulness found in secluded valleys and hidden fjords near the inselberg of Hafursey.

The song is the continuation of another track written by Ólafur, Undir: “We’ve been playing Undir for 5 years, and rearranged it every time for each set, changing every element one by one. Last year, we realized the latest version of Undir was not the same track that the one we originally composed! On the occasion of our Show with Cercle, I decided to take the track back to the studio, rearranging it especially for the Show to meet Cercle’s energy”.

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Video credits:

Artist: Ólafur Arnalds
Drummer : Christian Tschuggnall
Violin : Vaka Eythorsdottir & Petur Björnsson
Viola : Karl James Pestka
Cello : Unnur Jonsdottir
Venue: Hafursey, Myrdalssandur, Kötlujökull, Katla, Iceland
Produced by Cercle
Founder & Creative Director: Derek Barbolla
Music Director: Philippe Tuchmann
Film directed by: Pol Souchier & Derek Barbolla
Director of photography & Post-production: Mathieu Glissant (Saison Unique Production)
Cameramen: Mickaël Fidjili, Mathieu Glissant
Drone pilots: Alexis Olas, Jérémie Tridard, Aurélien Moisan
Production team: Armand Prouhèze, Anaïs De Framond, Dan Aufseesser, Mollis Schulze Elshoff
Technical manager : Aurélien Moisan
IT & Internet: Eric Caucheteur (Paris WebCube)
Sound engineers: Jonathan Lucas, Terence Goodchild, Ólafur Arnalds
Sound mastering: Zino Mikorey
Photographer & location manager: Elli Thor Magnusson
Icelandic producers: Covert Productions, The Empire, Steve Lewis, Will Morris, Eddie Lewis
Artist production: Brace Productions, Finn Zitscher
Driver: Kristjan Sveinsson
Communication: Pol Souchier, Lola Lebrati, Louise Dorne & Jeremy Maurin
Graphic Design: Anaëlle Rouquette & Stanley Obobogo
Label Manager: Clémence Maillard
Finance: Andy Cheremond & Kevin Benisty
Executive assistant: Marcelo Ernesto Velit Castillo

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Official Partners:
They lent us the Beoplay H95 headphones, which Derek and Ólafur used during their interview alongside the A9 speaker behind them (with its iconic shape!).
The Beoplay EX earbuds were offered to Ólafur in the Mystery box.

Special thanks to:
Sven Hasenjäger, Árni Þór Árnason, Beth Lawson, David Heath, Benedict Curran, Laura Monks, Lee Barter, Natalie Rapp, Jessica Graham-Wright, Yung-Yee Chen, Robert Raths, Courtesy of Erased Tapes Records Ltd., Luxor Iceland, Teitur Sigurðsson, Óli Valur Þrastarson, Marcos Viladomiu, George Papageorgiou, Cerys Weetch, Elli Thor Magnusson

Tracklist:
00:00 Ólafur Arnalds - Loom feat Bonobo
05:15 Ólafur Arnalds - Brot
07:55 Ólafur Arnalds - Only The Winds
14:39 Ólafur Arnalds - re:member
20:58 Ólafur Arnalds - Still / Sound
24:54 Ólafur Arnalds - saman
27:20 Ólafur Arnalds - Doria - Island Songs VII
31:30 Ólafur Arnalds - Ypsilon
36:11 Ólafur Arnalds - Hafursey (Yfir)
44:10 Ólafur Arnalds - ekki hugsa
48:58 Kiasmos - Blurred
54:00 Ólafur Arnalds - Near Light
59:19 Ólafur Arnalds - We Contain Multitudes
1:04:45 Interview

This artistic performance has been recorded live.

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#olafurarnalds #cercle

[Michael-fxyt]

I'm an elderly guy. But such is life i am going through a hard time for the last while. Your music is comforting and helping get through it. Thank you.

[TheMissdodgee]

Gave birth to my baby daughter while this played in the background. The most serene and peaceful experience hearing those baby cries for the first time with this in the background. @olafurarnalds music will forever have a profound meaning for me now, thank you for giving us this gift!

[austinfassino]

i'm happy places like this exist. I'm happy that music like this exists.

[EchoMeadow]

This kind of musical performance restores my faith in humanity.

[DalenaT]

While I was watching this, my boyfriend came home from work and told me "you're always listening to music that feels like I'm about to die." I laughed and realized that... yes. I do. This music makes me feel like I could die and it would still be okay. It makes me feel like I'm constantly trying to grasp the infinite wonder of this universe but I can never quite get there. It reminds me of how precious life on Earth really is. It makes me feel grief, awe, and hope, all at the same time. I love you Olafur and thank you so much for putting this together Cercle. <3

[daniros]

This performance was like a journey through all the feelings a human can have... masterpiece....

[gilazarteb]

Olafur is something else! He sounds like wind, water and earth, Iceland is another planet, but he sounds like iceland it doesn’t matter where the location is. Enjoy every second of it! Thanks so much!

[hvanmegen]

I feel privileged to live in an age where I can see these kinds of wonders for free, at home, bathing in the beautiful music and stunning sights of the place you call home, and be able to share this music with friends or enjoy it on my own.. My head is glowing by the sheer beauty of this wonderful gem that you folks have created.. thank you for this precious gift you have bestowed upon the world in these trying times.. bravo.. ❤

[stevenbarnes]

It’s hard to express what Ólafur’s music does as a single feeling - somewhere between intense energy and complete relaxation. Somewhere between separating from reality and feeling closely connected. It has a way of conveying a powerful message, without using a single word. I really enjoy coming back to the live performances and seeing how the tracks evolve over time. Art which reflects the inpiration of the moment, rather than using it merely as a backdrop.

[nicolevidarte]

I have no words to describe what I feel every time I hear 'Only the winds', is just so beautiful

[ExiledMango]

in the digital era, in the creator economy, where everyone is trying to "figure out the magic formula", make a brand, "go viral" with monetization intent...

blissful art that speaks to our heart and soul is so important... i can't remember when was the last time something made me shed an actual tear.

[mafulazireginamondi]

This man is a music genius. I could hear some housemusic influences on Kiasmos just brilliant. I only discovered Olafur's music in 2024😢
Im so blessed❤

[Nicozurdo]

The kind of visuals that reminds you that the world is a much bigger, beautiful and sacred place than we remember in our day to day...
The kind of music that makes you smile, and know that you can be connected deeply without a single word...
The kind of art that is needed to guide us properly forward...

Just...thank you, everyone reading this, for making possible all of this 🙏🧡

[therealwacker]

Ólafur Arnalds and Sigur Rós - be proud Iceland.
What a magnificent performance. Absolutely stunning!

[justgo.design]

My wife gave birth to this set... Now watching with my newborn 1 month later. Nothing but love. ❤

[ygvkxzk]

I am not sure why the first five minutes of this set completely tears me apart. I don't know if it is the sheer beauty of the violent, rugged beauty of the Islandic landscape, or the heavenly musical notes that I'm hearing. But it's absolutely AMAZING.

[gaothgreine]

Oh, my heart! This music video by Ólafur Arnalds, set in the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland, has left me absolutely spellbound. From the very first note, I was transported into a world of ethereal beauty, where every melody seemed to dance with the wind and every rhythm echoed the heartbeat of nature itself.

As the camera swept across the rugged mountains and cascading waterfalls, I couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion welling up within me. The powerful combination of Ólafur's hauntingly delicate piano and the cinematic imagery was nothing short of awe-inspiring. It's as if the music and the land were inextricably intertwined, each enhancing the other's grandeur.

With each passing moment, I found myself getting lost in the melodies, their intricate layers wrapping around my soul and stirring a myriad of emotions within me. The music seemed to speak a language that went beyond words, reaching deep into the depths of my being.

I was particularly moved by how the video captured the interplay between light and darkness, mirroring the complexities of life itself. The juxtaposition of the vibrant sunset against the looming storm clouds painted a vivid picture of the human experience—full of light and shadow, joy and sorrow, hope and despair. It was a poignant reminder that even amidst the harshest of conditions, beauty and resilience can still thrive.

Ólafur Arnalds' talent as a composer is simply unparalleled. The way he weaves together delicate melodies and intricate arrangements is a testament to his artistic genius. His music has the power to transport us to another realm, where we can momentarily escape the chaos of the world and find solace in the purest form of expression.

This music video has touched my soul in a way that few others have. It has reminded me of the profound connection we share with our surroundings, and the transformative power of music to unlock our deepest emotions. Thank you, Ólafur Arnalds, for taking us on this extraordinary journey through the landscapes of Iceland and leaving an indelible mark on our hearts.

[PlannBmann]

This performance made me feel as if I was discovering a long lost secret that many had already stopped searching for. Truly beautiful music and landscape. Thank you Cercle and thank you Ólafur

[itsveryhotinhere]

Can I just say that the love here in these comments is something that I’ve almost never witnessed on YouTube. Thank you to all of you for your contributions. 🤗 All of you are amazing human beings for being here and appreciating this art for what it is.

[emmasoret]

I will always remember the day I discovered Olafur Arnalds. It was a cold weather morning in Paris. I wanted to discover new classic, chilling songs and decided to trust my Apple Music algorythm for once. The first song that played was Re:member and I will always cherish the first listening of this song. Goosebumps, tears almost falling in the subway, and most of all a great feeling of peace and ease. I started listening and falling in love with the whole album. But I couldn't manage to just have his music in my headphones, so without great conviction, I searched "Olafur Arnalds concert Paris". There it was, a concert, just a few weeks ahead during the Iceland Week-End at La Philarmonie de Paris. I didn't have a lot of money and the ticket was 50euros but oh man I did not think twice and bought it. I did go, all by myself, and it was the most moving and beautiful concert I could see. I cried in this magnificent place, I could feel the coldness of Iceland vibes and the rays of sunshine that confort you. Since then, I never missed a piece of this great great artist. Thank you Olafur Arnalds, for the tears, for the smiles, for all the emotions that your music provides. 💙