World Watch: Eydís Evensen

Country: Iceland

The music of Eydís Evensen conveys deep emotional resonance without a word being sung. The classically trained pianist and composer began playing music when she was six years old, learning classical composition and singing in a world-renowned choir that once also featured Björk and members of Sigur Rós. She spent time in London and New York, but still drew inspiration from her homeland of Iceland.

There’s a pure tranquility and gorgeous peacefulness to Evensen’s music. Piano-led tracks like “Wandering II” and “Bylur” build orchestral layers around Evensen’s playing, forming melodies that are both heartbreaking and cathartic. One could compare her music to the works of Ludovico Einaudi, though there is a natural grace to her work that lets it flow in its own way.

There’s also a deep well of sadness one can hear in new tracks like “Tephra Horizon”, with its mournful horns and gentle violin accompaniment. It sounds like the end of a war, when you finally have the chance to feel the grief of all you’ve lost. It would not surprise me to hear that Evensen was scoring a future Sam Mendes film or the work of another high-end director. Her work carries the same power as many of their films.

Enmesh yourself in her music in our World Watch Playlist.