Jónas Björgvinsson lays himself bare on new album

Icelandic musician Jónas Björgvinsson says his new album, Lífsins bók (The Book of Life), is deeply personal. In an interview published by mbl.is, he described the record as the result of a three-year process and said he was very pleased with the finished work.

Björgvinsson asked Sigurður Guðmundsson of the band Hjálmar to produce the album in 2023. He said he had not known Guðmundsson before, but wanted to work with him because of his musical talent. The pair connected quickly, he said, and the recording process was enjoyable. Guðmundsson plays all the instruments and has a strong ear for sound, melody and singing, according to Björgvinsson.

Björgvinsson’s previous album, Á norðurhveli (In the Northern Hemisphere), came out five years ago, with Ómar Guðjónsson handling the recording. Björgvinsson also brought in songwriter and artist Magnús Þór Sigmundsson, whom he met through the group Fjallabræður. Magnús contributed three lyrics, including the title track. Björgvinsson said they exchanged demos and that a completed lyric often came back soon after he sent a song.

The album is largely about life, with some nostalgia, Björgvinsson said. He sings about growing up in Akranes, his parents and their generation. “I open myself up to the bone on this album,” he said. “Now that it’s out, I have no control over anything any more — I’m just standing naked in the street.”

Björgvinsson will perform at a release concert at Tónabíó on Thursday with Sigurður Guðmundsson, Tómas Jónsson, Helgi Svavar Helgason and Valbjörn Snær Lilliendahl. A longer interview with him appears in Morgunblaðið’s Sunday edition.