Of Monsters and Men: Iceland's Indie Folk Export

Of Monsters and Men is an indie folk-pop band from Iceland. The group achieved international success with their debut album, which sold millions of copies worldwide and topped charts in several countries.

Early career

The band formed in 2009 in Garðabær, Iceland, initially as a duo between co-vocalists Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson. Their early sound, characterized by male-female vocal harmonies and folk instrumentation, was honed through local performances before expanding to a six-piece lineup.

Breakthrough

The group's breakthrough came in 2011 after winning Iceland's national music competition, Músiktilraunir. This led to the release of their debut single Little Talks, which became a global hit and propelled their first album, My Head Is an Animal, to number six on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Key tracks

Little Talks - This anthemic single defined the band's early sound and became a multi-platinum international hit.

Mountain Sound - A driving folk-pop track that further cemented the band's popularity following their debut success.

Dirty Paws - The opening track from their debut album, known for its storytelling and quintessential indie folk arrangement.

Crystals - The lead single from their second album, Beneath the Skin, marked a shift towards a darker, more atmospheric rock sound.

Alligator - A later single showcasing a more direct and percussive indie rock direction for the group.

The success of their 2012 debut was followed by the albums Beneath the Skin in 2015 and Fever Dream in 2019. Their music often features expansive arrangements, lyrical storytelling, and the distinctive interplay between its two lead vocalists.

Fans of Of Monsters and Men's melodic indie folk may also enjoy The Lumineers, who share a fondness for anthemic folk songwriting. The atmospheric scope of Florence And The Machine presents a similar grand, emotive scale. Listeners might also appreciate the harmonic folk-pop of First Aid Kit, another act built around vocal harmonies. The Icelandic experimental pop of Asgeir offers another perspective from the same creative landscape.

The music of Of Monsters and Men continues to receive airplay on a variety of alternative and indie radio formats, from stations specializing in modern folk to those playing contemporary alternative rock.

You can discover the evolving catalog of Of Monsters and Men by tuning into radio stations available on our platform.