Taking its small population (circa 360.000 people) in account, Iceland has a very talented music scene. Artists like Sugarcubes, Björk solo, Sigur Rós, Emiliana Torrini, Of Monsters And Men and, more recently, Daði Freyr, are successful far abroad. Can we soon add Máni Orrason to that list? I hope so!

His new single Change The World came about after a chance meeting with fellow musician Yann Lauren led to some jam sessions. One of those produced this anthemic track. Orrason cites artists such as LCD Soundsystem, The Modern Lovers, David Bowie and Talk Talk as influences. But listening to this song, I think he forgets to mention Blur. The fuzzy, strumming guitar you can hear throughout it brings Coffee And TV to mind. Elsewhere, the British band’s bravado is never far away either.

In a press statement, Orrason says: “I’ve gotten a lot more cynical about the state of the world and how nothing really changes and the lack of power that we really have. I can’t change the world, but I can change how I exist within it”.

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Werner Schlosser

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.