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The band first came together in 2009, after Nanna Bryndis Himarsdóttir (vocals, guitar) expanded her solo project to include Raggnar Pórhallsson (vocals, guitar, melodica, glockenspiel), Brynjar Leifsson (guitar, melodica, backing vocals), Kristján Kristjánsson (bass, backing vocals) and Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson (melodica, glockenspiel, accordion, backing vocals). The band performed regularly at venues across their homeland, building in local popularity. In 2010, they received an invitation to perform at 2010's Iceland Airwaves Festival, a show that broke them to a wider audience, impressing Seattle's (US) KEXP Radio show, who recorded a living room performance of their track, "Little Talks."
After this exposure, Of Monsters and Men signed with Record Records in February 2011, beginning work on their debut album thereafter. "Little Talks" was released as a single, receiving significant airplay, most notably in the US. The debut record itself, "My Head Is an Animal," appeared in September 2011, with "Little Talks" reaching the top spot on the charts.
Growing popularity led Universal Records to agree a major label deal, distributing their debut globally. The band received praise as the "new Arcade Fire," before releasing a new EP, "Into The Woods" in December 2011. Their debut record, "My Head Is an Animal" was then re-released in the US in April 2012, again continuing the band's momentum of success. The band then embarked on a tour of the US and UK, performing at a number of major festivals, including T in the Park, Coachella and Bonnaroo Music Festival. A number of their songs were also used for film soundtracks, with Of Monsters and Men being featured on "The Secret Life of Walter and Mitty" (2013) and "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" (2013).
Their debut album went on to peak at number one in the album charts of the US, Iceland, Ireland and Australia, as well as reaching the Top 20 of several European countries. To round out a successful year, Of Monsters and Men were rewarded with the 'European Border Breakers Award,' praising their international success in 2013.
Every time I listen to Of Monsters of Men on a CD or a record, I can't help but imagine myself sitting by a lakehouse watching the day go by somewhere in Iceland. It's strange to think it has almost been a year since I had the great opportunity to see them at Fuji Rock Festival last summer in 2013. Some may say their songs can get redundant with very similar sounding tunes but when you listen to them live at an outdoor festival, you can listen to them endlessly. I had the pleasure of attending an OMAM (Of Monsters and Men) concert in the mountains which added on a more chilled out, Icelandic vibe to their songs. It was definitely worth standing out in the rain too, especially when they played "Little Talks", oh boy was that something! Although most of the crowd was Japanese and didn't understand much English, we all felt the same way through OMAM's music. Everybody was singing and dancing and laughing under the rain and music filled the ears of everybody. Their concert was one of the first time I ever felt the love for and realized the beauty of music festivals.
Also can I say Nanna is so adorable on stage too?! She is awesome and also very friendly, I had the chance to see her off stage getting food with every other festival go-er. And I also want to make a special mention to all of the instrumentalists of OMAM, they also made the concert all the better with their live music! I would definitely go see OMAM again if they ever visit Japan again or in another country.
Tamango
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