KEXP at Iceland Airwaves, Day 3: Vök

Rounding out our last day of the KEXP broadcast live from Kex Hostel at Iceland Airwaves Music Festival is Icelandic dream-pop band Vök. Formed in 2013 as a duo (singer Margrét Rán Magnúsdóttir and saxophonist Andri Már Enoksson) to enter Músíktilraunir (or "Musical Experiment Contest")--a battle of the bands for young musicians, similar to Seattle’s Sound Off! Within mere weeks, they had composed several songs, and ended up winning the competition, which was their very first concert. The dreamy electro-pop band released their bilingual first EP Tension on Icelandic label Record Records in 2013, and a follow up EP, Circles, earlier this year.

They began their set with "Waterfall," setting the mood with low atmospheric tones and slow clapping beats. "Circling" began as rumbling and ominous, and was dreamy, low-key, and spacey. Their set was incredibly polished, alternately highlighting singer Margrét Rán's beautiful, but understated voice and their unique addition of a saxophone. Though Andri Már's sax style does err on the smooth jazz side, he manages to really make it work, all while keeping it from getting too Kenny G.

They really stepped up the beats for the rest of their set, the pulsing thump getting the enthusiastic crowd on their feet and shaking their butts. "Before" has Margrét Rán sighing into her first notes, but quickly dropping into a deeper beat that asked the crowd to dance, and they were more than willing to oblige. Vök really set the tone for a killer Friday night at airwaves, and was an incredible way to wrap this year's broadcast.

Though we're finished with this year's broadcast from Iceland Airwaves, our live video streaming will go on for one more day! Join us tomorrow starting at 4 AM PST/7 AM EST for Sturla Atlas, Reykjavíkurdætur, Úlfur Úlfur, and Æla. Watch it live here!