BIOGRAPHY
Producer and composer Valgeir Sigurðsson was born in Blönduós, a small town in north Iceland in 1971. He studied classical guitar and played in bands from early age. At the age of 16, he got his first break in a small Reykjavík studio which he subsequently directed for two years before leaving to study at London. Valgeir graduated with a Tonmeister degree from London's SAE Institute in the year 1991.
He set up Greenhouse Studios in 1997 where he continued producing and performing with local musicians and writing for various projects. From 1998-2006 Sigurðsson was one of Björk’s closest studio collaborators and worked on her Selmasongs, Vespertine, Family Tree and Medúlla albums, film scores for Dancer In the Dark (dir. Lars Von Trier), Being John Malkovich (dir. Spike Jonze) and Drawing Restraint 9 (dir. Matthew Barney), as well as a number of live recordings, surround projects and singles, assuming various roles of programmer, engineer, co-producer and/or mixer.
Valgeir has worked with an array of innovative artists (Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, múm, CocoRosie, Camille, The Magic Numbers), focusing to push new boundaries. As a producer and collaborator he has worked in many genres of music while his own style often shifts between, or combines, post-classical and electronic music.
In 2006 he formed the Bedroom Community record label/collective and has gone on to launch the recording career of Nico Muhly and release acclaimed albums by Ben Frost and Sam Amidon. Sigurðsson has composed music for TV, film and theater for many years. He most recently scored Dreamland, a feature length documentary, as well as co-composing (with Muhly) music for Scent Opera which openened at The Guggenheim Museum in New York in May 2009. Sigurðsson’s debut solo album Ekvílibríum was released by Bedroom Community in September 2007.
On Ekvílibríum he has revealed that as well as being a gifted producer, engineer and musician, he is equally skillful as a crafter of songs and instigator of a cascade of emotions. Valgeir is joined by a number of guest musicians on Ekvílibríum, such as Samuli Kosminen on drums and Nico Muhly who plays piano. The album also features vocal performances from Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, who helps craft 2 of the songs, as well as Faun Fables' Dawn McCarthy and J. Walker aka Machine Translations. Following the release Valgeir has toured and performed with a band in Europe and in the US.
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PRESS QUOTES FOR 'EKVILIBRIUM'
“This debut features quiet electro-acoustic folk pieces made of delicate electronic textures, lushly scored acoustic instruments (lots of strings, subdued piano courtesy of Nico Muhly, occasional brass instruments), and a dreamy feel...this is wonderful stuff." 4/5 -The Times UK
“…almost collapses under the power of its own trembling beauty…Valgeir Sigurðsson delivers his bonded masterpiece… prepare to be dazzled.” -God’s In The TV
"The strength of Ekvílibríum is in the organic way Sigurdsson weds the electronic to the human... The result is a singular album, as ornate as it is direct." -The Fader Magazine
“Valgeir Sigurðsson is the most welcoming and thoughtful of hosts and, as he leads his companions through various narratives, he orchestrates one of the most exhilarating and perfect records you’ll hear this year.” - The Milk Factory
Selected discography:
Valgeir Sigurðsson
Evkílibríum (Bedroom Community 2007)
Nico Muhly
Speaks Volumes (Bedroom Community 2006)
Mothertongue (Bedroom Community 2008)
Sam Amidon
All Is Well (Bedroom Community 2008)
Camille
Music Hole (EMI Virgin 2008)
Ane Brun
Changing of the Seasons (Ballon Ranger Recordings 2008)
Ben Frost
Theory of Machines (Bedroom Community 2007)
By The Throat (Bedroom Community 2009)
Maps
We Can Create (MUTE 2007)
CocoRosie
The Adventures OF Ghosthorse and Stillborn (Touch and Go 2007)
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
The Letting Go (Drag City 2006)
Björk
Selmasongs (One Little Indian 2000)
Vespertine (One Little Indian 2001)
Medúlla (One Little Indian 2004)
Drawing Restraint 9 (One Little Indian 2006)
Múm
Finally We are No-One (Fat Cat 2001)
Slowblow
Nói Albinói (music from the film) (Kitchen Motors 2002)