Why Iceland attracted the most cutting edge drum and bass acts of the 1990s
Thunder Records, downtown Reykjavík (Photo Credit: Karl Tryggvason)
This week I chatted with original Junglists and Icelandic ravers, Anna Linda Matthiasdóttir and Bjarki Sveinsson. Although Anna Linda lives in Copenhagen and Bjarki in Norway, these guys have a massive presence within the London drum and bass community. The UK is a global hub for dnb and jungle, so the heads really travel for this shit! Read on to learn more about the Icelandic raving community in the golden era of dnb, and what made the vibe so irresistible to the top UK selectas.
Hey team Iceland! Let’s start broad. What did the Icelandic raving scene look like in the 90s?
Bjarki: For me it all started around the summer of 92, I just turned 13. I actually asked my mum if I could go to these parties, and my she was like “No. You’re not even legal”! Ahaha.
Anna Linda: I think it’s the same year I started to go to raves, I’m 5 years older. The parties started out with acid house and hardcore.
And when did drum and bass come onto the scene?
Bjarki: It wasn’t really until 95 that we started playing jungle and dnb. In September 95 we broke into a rehearsal room. We had like 50 people crammed into a small 20 square metre room.
My bag was full of records from London. I used to go to Blackmarket Records and we were playing things like ‘Photek - Complex’ ... then the cops came and busted us.
And what did the lineups look like on Icelandic DnB nights?
“Anna linda: In 97 dom and roland, Marcus Intalex in 2000... Paradox in 2001 or 2002, … but also Masters at Work in 95, Damian Wild - house and techno DJs!”
Bjarki: Yeah, in 96 we had J Majik...Dj Lee in 98, Klute and DJ Die in 99… Bryan Gee in 2000...
Dom and Roland playing on Above the Clouds Radio Show, 1997. Photo Credit: Eldar
Why do you think that there was such an attraction for all these underground UK djs to come to Iceland?
Anna Linda: Because we have people who burn for the music. Then they have friends abroad, and that’s how it connects and grows.
“Also, in terms of a nation we’re only 300,000. So we’re quick to pick up stuff. Iceland is often a test market, for example cinema, because we show how a big market behaves in a shorter time”.
Bjarki: I think they considered us on the forefront of music. When I moved away from Iceland to Norway I started to realise we were quick to pick up on the newest music. So our underground scene was pretty strong.
Anna Linda: If I recall right, Goldie first came over as a graffiti artist to decorate a nightclub in the late 80s/early 90s. My friend Grètar played me the Timeless album on cassette before it got released!
Wow! So if Goldie was coming to Iceland a lot perhaps that encouraged the scene to flourish as well?
Bjarki: “Yeah, Goldie had a connection to this clothing and record store in 91 - 92. Did some graffiti in there as well. He knows the owner, Aggi Agzilla. So he has an Icelandic connection”.
And of course, Bjork was playing a lot at this time. I imagine he was speaking keenly about Iceland.
What sort of dnb did you play back in the day, Bjarki?
Bjarki: Well back in the day, the old guys used to say, “If Bjarki’s gonna play you know it’s gonna be a rudeboy set”. Ahahahaa.
So basically lots of V recordings. Roni Size. And a lot of old jump up, Ready or Not... Dope Dragon. I used to play a lot of that. Almost with a rap influence, and old jungle stuff.
It’s interesting because you mention hearing and playing some cutting edge UK artists like Paradox and Photek. So how did the local DJs get their hands on these underground records?
Bjarki: Well there was a steady influx of new dance records in the Thunder record store in downtown Reykjavik.
But most of the guys would go to London and buy records a couple of times a year. They would buy kilos of records and carry them back on the plane!
No way, that must have been heavy! So what did you love about icelandic drum and bass scene that made it unique to icelaND?
Anna Linda: It’s the vibe. Its when everybody screams when a track starting, because they know the music. The floor’s vibrating.
Anna Linda: But also no MCs! ahahahaha.
Bjarki: Yeah, no MCs!! We weren’t used to them, so you would notice it more.
Why do you think you had all these UK DJs coming to Iceland but not the MCs?
Bjarki: Probably no one requested it, not even the DJs themselves! But I do love a great MC to guide the vibe on a night.
Anna Linda: Yeah, in all fairness, I’ve changed my mind! After hearing MCs like Blackeye, Degs, Cleveland Watkiss, Fats, T.R.A.C, Visionbi, Lowqui, Tempza, GQ, Inja, DRS…Voice Mc, Sopheye, Jessie Write, MC Chickaboo, AJ Dizzy Taylor, Ad, Ruthless and Impact, basically there’s so many…now I get the MC thing.
I know its a big part of the culture. And after seeing them in London clubs, lifting the party to another level, I get it now.
for sure! drum and bass MCing is an art. And really hard to execute well! But when it’s good, then we’re talking next level business.
Anyway, it sounds like you had something really special and unique in Iceland.
Bjarki: Yeah, our crowd was pretty awesome. I remember Dom and Roland saying “you Icelanders, you really love your tech-step”, and we probably did. Sometimes I wish there were more pictures and videos! Like, of us guys DJing, and the crowd. But everyone was in their zone.
I think every artist coming to the country says you got the best crowd but I do think the vibe was pretty good.
Aw, huge shout outs to my Icelandic raving crew! I love your energy and passion for the more sophisticated sounds of dnb. Please don’t ever change!
Anna Linda (Middle) at Diggin’ in the Crates London. Photo Credit: Casales Photography
Bjarki (far right), his family and the Icelandic raving crew (2019)