Roster
Valgeir Sigurdsson :: Biography
There is certainly no easy label to put on what it is that Valgeir Sigurdsson does, a studio-collaborator in the broadest sense and an artist in his own right. Born and raised in Iceland, Valgeir has been honing his craft in the recording studio since finding a home in a small basement studio in Reykjavik as a teenager. He studied the classical guitar and attended the SAE college in London, then returned to Iceland and was active with various local bands and as a freelance engineer and producer.
In 1998 Björk approached Valgeir and invited him to work on her Dancer In the Dark soundtrack and Selmasongs album, this was the start of a relationship that continued for 8 years and spawned 4 albums (Selmasongs, Vespertine, Medúlla, Drawing Restraint 9) including 2 film scores and numerous other projects.
Drawing from a solid musical and technical background and a wealth of experience gained from diverse and demanding projects, Valgeir applies a combination of classic production techniques and digital surgery. He's recognized for making heavily textured electronic soundscapes and beats and for his unique ability 'to melt cold electronics into warm acoustics'.
In 1997 he set up his own studio, the Greenhouse, which in the year 2000 was relocated and built to spec as a stunning creative haven for Valgeir and visiting collaborators. Continually improving and upgrading, the studio was equipped in 2005 with a brand new SSL desk, two full Pro Tools HD systems and a host of analogue outboard including Neve EQ's and many classic compressors. Although the Greenhouse is Valgeir's home base and studio of choice he continues to work anywhere in the world a given project requires.
After finishing Björk's soundtrack for Matthew Barney's Drawing Restraint 9 film Valgeir decided that it was time to strike out in new directions, direct more focus into his own writing and set up a fully fledged boutique label, Bedroom Community. Most recently, he has produced and engineered albums for Will Oldham (under his Bonnie 'Prince' Billy moniker), CocoRosie, Maps, French songstress Camille and Swedish singer/songwriter Ane Brun - as well as classical composer Nico Muhly and avant-garde electronic musician Ben Frost, and folk singer Sam Amidon all of whom are signed to Valgeir's label. .
In September 2007 Valgeir released his first solo album, titled Ekvílibríum, which features performances from many of his past collaborators but this time in settings that are very much Valgeir's own.
Credits include; Björk, Wll Oldham (Bonnie 'Prince' Billy), Maps (nominated for 2007 Mercury Awards), CocoRosie, Múm, Nico Muhly, Ben Frost, Camille, Ane Brun, Howie B, Machine Translations, Slowblow.
Selected discography
Valgeir Sigurdsson
Ekvílibríum (Bedroom Community 2007)
Nico Muhly
Speaks Volumes
Mothertongue (Bedroom Community 2008)
Sam Amidon
All Is Well
Camille
Music Hole (EMI Virgin 2008)
Ane Brun
Changing Of The Seasons (Ballon Ranger Recordings 2008)
Ben Frost
Theory of Machines
Maps
We Can Create (Mute 2007)
CocoRosie
The Adventures OF Ghosthorse and Stillborn (Touch And Go 2007)
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
The Letting Go
Björk
Selmasongs
Vespertine
Medúlla
Drawing Restraint 9
Múm
Finally We are No-One
Ekvílibríum
- preview trailer #1
Add
to My Profile |
More Videos
Summary | Discography | Full Biography