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Olafur Arnalds

We Didnt Know We Were Ready feat. Talos

Mercury KX
Release Date: January 31, 2025

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Performance (Live on KEXP) Seattle
1 We Didn’t Know We Were Ready  

Featuring Ye Vagabonds, Niamh Regan and a choir of friends, the song is a celebration of creativity and community and a powerful reminder of uncertainty, sorrow and beauty of life

Today, Icelandic composer and producer Ólafur Arnalds and the late Irish musician Talos (Eoin French) are releasing the striking single “We Didn’t Know We Were Ready.” The song marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration between the two artists and was co-written alongside Niamh Regan and Ye Vagabonds at Sounds from a Safe Harbor (SFSH) festival & artist residency in 2023. Listen to the song here.

“We Didn’t Know We Were Ready” was finally fully recorded after Talos’ untimely passing in August 2024 and poignantly features Talos’ lead vocals alongside contributions from his friends, family and collaborators: Sandrayati, The Staves, JFDR, Memorial, Christof van der Ven, Laoise Leahy, Niamh Regan, Ye Vagabonds, Myles O’ Reilly, Ross Dowling, Eoin’s wife Steph French and Icelandic orchestra, SinfoniaNord. This single is a testament to their enduring bond forged through music.

A masterful melding of the writers’ deft and emotional songwriting, “We Didn’t Know We Were Ready”
is a powerful reminder of the uncertainty of life: "This song was always an expression of community and creativity. But with Eoin’s untimely passing, it has now taken on meanings we could never have imagined back when we wrote it," said Arnalds. "Barely a day goes by where I don’t think about how fortunate we are to have this platform to channel our grief into."

  • Olafur Arnalds - Talos 'We Didnt Know We Were Ready' collab. is an emotional tribute to creativity / ReviewsNewAge
    Posted At: February 16, 2025
    Icelandic composer and producer Ólafur Arnalds and the late Irish musician Talos (Eoin French) have released the striking single “We Didn’t Know We Were Ready.” The song marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration between the two artists and was co-written alongside Niamh Regan and Ye Vagabonds at Sounds from a Safe Harbor (SFSH) festival & artist residency in 2023. Listen to the song here. “We Did...

  • Kiasmos announce new album: 'II' / CLASH
    Posted At: April 24, 2024
    Production partnership Kiasmos will release new album ‘II’ on July 5th.CLASH - ROBIN MURRAY writes…..The duo is comprised of Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds and Faroese musician Janus Rasmussen, and they lead from the front in the ongoing conversation between modern classical music and left-field electronics. Recent surprise EP ‘Flown’ marked their return, with Kiasmos set to play London’s HERE At Outerne...

  • Olafur Arnalds announces the launch of the OPIA Community music hub / THE LINE OF BEST FIT
    Posted At: July 26, 2023
    Acclaimed Grammy-nominated artist Ólafur Arnalds, announces the launch of a travelling music festival, label and community hub.THE LINE OF BEST FIT's Tyler Damara Kelly writes…..Born out of Ólafur’s desire to create an environment that encourages experiments and collaboration, OPIA was originally founded in 2019 as a one-day festival. The first edition was a sold out takeover at Southbank Centre in London f...

  • Watch Olafur Arnalds play the Korg PS-3100 synth / musicradar
    Posted At: April 24, 2023
    Born in 1986, Ólafur Arnalds hails from the suburban Icelandic town of Mosfellsbær, just a few kilometres outside of Reykjavík. He has immersed himself completely in a world of delicate symphonic compositions generating near weightless orchestral pieces. Arnalds explores the crossover from classical to pop by mixing chamber strings and piano with discreet electronics which makes him a perfect fit ...

  • Olafur Arnalds, Ella McRobb 'and well leave it there...' makes NPR: All Songs Considered - New Mix
    Posted At: March 28, 2023
    Grammy-nominated composer and producer Ólafur Arnalds releases ‘and we’ll leave it there…’, the result of an unlikely encounter between the Icelandic composer and unsigned rising singer-songwriter Ella McRobb connecting by chance through social media. The 23-year-old Londoner was inspired and moved by Ólafur’s short sound check improvisation posted on Instagram reel, which grew into a global viral hit, reac...

  • Olafur Arnalds connects with Ella McRobb on social media and creates 'and we'll leave it there' / CLASH
    Posted At: March 23, 2023
    Grammy-nominated composer and producer Ólafur Arnalds releases ‘and we’ll leave it there…’, the result of an unlikely encounter between the Icelandic composer and unsigned rising singer-songwriter Ella McRobb connecting by chance through social media. The 23-year-old Londoner was inspired and moved by Ólafur’s short sound check improvisation posted on Instagram reel, which grew into a global viral hit, reac...

  • Olafur Arnalds links with Ella McRobb on new single "and we'll leave it there" / THE LINE of BEST FIT
    Posted At: March 23, 2023
    Grammy-nominated composer and producer Ólafur Arnalds releases ‘and we’ll leave it there…’, the result of an unlikely encounter between the Icelandic composer and unsigned rising singer-songwriter Ella McRobb connecting by chance through social media. The 23-year-old Londoner was inspired and moved by Ólafur’s short sound check improvisation posted on Instagram reel, which grew into a global viral hit, reac...

  • Olafur Arnalds Q&A's with 1883 Magazine
    Posted At: October 22, 2022
    Grammy-nominated producer and musician Olafur Arnalds will draw us into a world of calm on his Radio 3 and BBC Sounds show Ultimate Calm, offering up an extension of the ambient and introspective artistry he has developed over recent years. An environmental activist who has managed to balance soothing sounds with the power of music in affecting change, Arnalds uses his craft as a platform to talk about his ...

  • Olafur Arnalds presents: In Ultimate Calm, for BBC centenary / BBC Music Magazine
    Posted At: September 26, 2022
    The continuous broadcast of speech and classical music will mark 100 years of BBC outputBBC Music Magazine's Steve Wright writes….BBC Radio 3 has revealed the highlights of its schedule for Autumn 2022, including a series of programmes marking 100 years of BBC radio broadcasts.In recognition of the BBC’s centenary year (the first BBC broadcast took place in November 1922), Radio 3 will present a host of ext...

  • Olafur Arnalds curates piano reworks of 'Some Kind Of Peace' / udiscovermusic.
    Posted At: July 1, 2022
    udiscovermusic. - Sharon Kelly writes….Groundbreaking Icelandic composer and producer Ólafur Arnalds has invited a global line-up of friends, collaborators and artists he admires from across the musical spectrum to reimagine his previous album Some Kind Of Peace, which featured Ólafur’s two Grammy-nominated tracks, ‘The Bottom Line’ (feat. Bonobo) and ‘Loom’ (feat. Josin). Some Kind Of Peace – Piano Reworks...

  • Olafur Arnalds Q&A's with billboard for 2022 dance/electronic GRAMMY preview
    Posted At: April 1, 2022
    "I'm a guy from a small town of like, 5,000 people in Iceland. The Grammys were not on my radar of things that might be possible in life."Olafur Arnalds on Being ‘Stumped’ By His Nomination & Popping a Tiny Bottle to Celebratebillboard's Katie Bain writes… In this series, Billboard Dance is speaking with each 2022 Grammy nominee from the dance/electronic categories ahead of the 64th Annual Grammy Awards...

  • Olafur Arnalds - Sunrise Session II makes The Reykjavik Grapevine's 'New Year Musical Picks'
    Posted At: December 30, 2021
    The Reykjavík Grapevine's writes….So it’s the last week of 2021. And with one ear on the upcoming hectic shenanigans of New Year’s Eve, we bring three gentle musical gifts from the frosty north to calm your spirit. As ever, you can enjoy the musical gems brought to you by The Grapevine over this last year in our New Music Picks 2021 playlist.The shortest day of the year in Iceland – the winter solstice on D...

  • Olafur Arnalds plays NPR: Tiny Desk Home concert
    Posted At: March 4, 2021

    NPR's Bob Boilen writes.....The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit - stripped-down sets, an intimate setting - just a different space. Using an Edison "Fireside" cylinder phonograph and his own Stratus music software, Ólafu...

  • Within Olafur Arnalds most revealing and vulnerable work to date, is a self-confessed perfectionist grappling with the messier realities of everyday life / The Catholic universe
    Posted At: January 11, 2021

    'some kind of peace' is the stunning new album from the ground-breaking Icelandic multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Ólafur Arnalds, available now on Mercury KX. More than anything he's ever made, 'some kind of peace' is the story of Ólafur Arnalds' life - and there is quite the life-story to tell. Throughout Ólafur urges you to embrace all that...

  • Olafur Arnalds - some kind of peace makes Bob Boilen's 'Top 10 Albums Of 2020' / NPR
    Posted At: December 29, 2020

    Ólafur Arnalds has recently surpassed a staggering 1 billion streams, an incredible milestone for the Icelandic multi-instrumentalist. 'some kind of peace' is the stunning new album from the ground-breaking composer and producer. Available on Mercury KX. Bob Boilen selected 'some kind of peace' for his 'Top 10 Albums Of 2020' and he writes; Ólafur Arnalds, the Ic...

  • Olafur Arnalds - some kind of peace makes NPR: Best Music Of 2020
    Posted At: December 4, 2020

    This week we shared NPR Music's best songs and albums of 2020, lists voted on, politely argued over and presented by our staff, station partners and contributors. Today we're featuring the good stuff from the private reserves. Below you'll find lists of top 10 albums and songs from the members of NPR Music's staff. Bob Boilen HOST, ALL SONGS CONSIDERED writes Quietude. More than h...

  • Olafur Arnalds - some kind of peace makes Echoes November 2020 Top 25
    Posted At: December 1, 2020

    'some kind of peace' is the stunning new album from the ground-breaking composer and producer Ólafur Arnalds, available now on Mercury KX. The record features a brand new track 'The Bottom Line' ft. Josin, alongside a beautiful video featuring the work of Japanese flower artist Azuma Makoto out today, and 'Loom', Arnalds' collaboration with Bonobo. Also out now is '...

  • Olafur Arnalds 'Spiral' from 'some kind of peace' makes NPR Music's 'No. 1 Albums And Songs Of November'
    Posted At: November 30, 2020

    On this edition of All Songs Considered, we pick our favorite music released in November 2020, featuring Kali Uchis' heart-struck devotionals, Tierra Whack's playful pop, metal duo Jucifer's tribute to Arabic music and Salaam Remi's star-studded soundtrack of the Black experience, as well as; Ólafur Arnalds: "Spiral" from Some Kind of Peace. Some Kind of Peace is a perfect desc...

  • Olafur Arnalds leads UK record store chart with 'some kind of peace' / live4ever
    Posted At: November 14, 2020

    The latest UK Record Store Chart is topped by Icelandic multi-instrumentalist Olafur Arnalds with his new album Some Kind Of Peace. There's re-entries not far behind Arnalds from Dermot Kennedy and Phoebe Bridgers, while Bruce Springsteen is at #11 this week with his recent E Street Band LP Letter To You. 'some kind of peace' is a stunning new album from the ground-breaking composer, availabl...

  • Max Richter - Voices & Olafur Arnalds - some kind of peace make 'Rough Trade 2020 Albums of the Year' / BrooklynVegan
    Posted At: November 12, 2020

    Always first out of the gate with end-of-year lists, Rough Trade has just announced their 2020 Albums of the Year list. Making the list are Max Richter - Voices & Olafur Arnalds - some kind of peace. Over a decade after its inception, ground-breaking composer Max Richter announced the release of VOICES via Decca Records – a major new recording project inspired ...

  • The passionate calm of Olafur Arnalds / NPR: All Songs Considered
    Posted At: November 10, 2020

    Ólafur Arnalds' album some kind of peace is the most impactful record NPR's Bob Boilen has heard this year. The album, centered around Ólafur's melodic piano sounds, is packed with passion but generates an aura of calm. The songs work as a background music, but they're also rich in the kind of textures and intricacies that make it the perfect headphone album. Boilen spok...

  • Olafur Arnalds becomes Apple Music curator for 'Peaceful Music' playlist / udiscovermusic.
    Posted At: May 17, 2019

    Ólafur Arnalds believes that travelling the world playing music is an inspiring experience. "Travel is an influential part of my life," says the Icelandic multi-instrumentalist and composer. "It feels like your mind gets slowly pushed open, because you are seeing new things, learning new things and you are breaking down prejudices. That feeling induces a lot of creativity. When you come home from ...

  • Olafur Arnalds - re:member makes echoes: january top25
    Posted At: February 1, 2019

    BAFTA winning artist, composer, musician and producer Ólafur Arnalds has unveiled his new track ‘re:member' featuring his ground-breaking new software, Stratus, which transforms the humble piano into a unique new instrument. The Stratus Pianos are two self-playing, semi-generative player pianos and the centrepiece of Ólafur's new works. The custom-built software controlling th...

  • Olafur Arnalds manipulates an impressive array of sounds and tempos at the London Palladium / musicOMH
    Posted At: October 30, 2018

    Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds‘ new album Re:member, released this August, was a beguiling combination of intricate, impeccable craftmanship and human warmth, capable of scaling heights few of his contemporaries can match. A collection of often beautiful keyboard/strings pieces underpinned by subtle electronica, it achieved extra layers of harmonic complexity through Arnalds' use of his p...

  • With Olafur Arnalds starting world tour, let's recall his path / sonofmarketing
    Posted At: October 12, 2018

    Two years after Island Songs, Icelandic BAFTA winning artist, composer, musician and producer Ólafur Arnalds released a new album. re: member is out now via Mercury KX. Arnalds has unveiled ‘re:member' featuring his ground-breaking new software, Stratus, which transforms the humble piano into a unique new instrument. The Stratus Pianos are two self-playing, semi-gener...

  • Olafur Arnalds live setup on musicradar: rig tour
    Posted At: October 12, 2018

    Ólafur Arnalds has been refining the Stratus Pianos for his latest album re:member and we managed to hook with him, on stage, to find out more about the tech behind the live setup. We find out how it all works, the constant tuning schedule required when touring with three acoustic pianos and how much fun it really is to play generative pianos with their very own synced-up light show. The UK-pa...

  • Unpeeling the sonic layers of Olafur Arnalds - re:member / musicOMH
    Posted At: September 12, 2018

    Listening to a record as accomplished as Re:member, it's hard to comprehend that Ólafur Arnalds became a classical composer almost by accident. Back in his native Iceland in the mid-2000s, drumming for an obscure hardcore band, he was asked to write some short piano and string pieces for an album by German metal group Heaven Shall Burn after sharing demos of his own prog rock-influenced compositio...

  • Olafur Arnalds' re:member is Echoes 'CD of the Month' for September
    Posted At: September 1, 2018

    BAFTA winning artist, composer, musician and producer Ólafur Arnalds has unveiled his new track ‘re:member' featuring his ground-breaking new software, Stratus, which transforms the humble piano into a unique new instrument. Ólafur has been performing The Stratus Pianos across the world including a sold-out shows at London's Royal Albert Hall and New York City's Le Poisson...

  • Olafur Arnalds goes far beyond the use of innovative software on re:member / AP
    Posted At: August 29, 2018

    Icelandic composer Olafur Arnalds goes far beyond the use of innovative software involving self-playing pianos on "re:member," a wistful album also incorporating various string ensembles, fast and slow beats and even the human voice as it alternates between being buoyant and calm. The multi-part title track launches the album as a good sampler of the rest of the record. A swirling string section latches ...

  • Olafur Arnalds' adds AI on first solo project since 2013 / RollingStone
    Posted At: August 26, 2018

    On his first solo project since 2013, Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds adds a new element – robots! – to his mix of post-minimalist repetition, indie swoon, film score frisson and ambient drifts. Re: Member is a conversation between Arnalds and algorithms, the programmed and the human, his own intentions and new inspirations, composed with a software called Straus connected to two pla...

  • Shhhh....uffle! University librarians are creating spotify playlists ending the days of silent study / Daily Mail
    Posted At: August 18, 2018

    University librarians are creating Spotify playlists to help pupils focus while studying – an about-turn after years of telling students to ‘be quiet'. Oxford, Newcastle and Liverpool universities are just some of the many institutions throughout the UK which are now encouraging students to listen to music on their headphones to improve focus. However, eight years ago, Spotify was banned at O...

  • Olafur Arnalds returns to Australia for run of shows / MUSICFEEDS
    Posted At: July 30, 2018

    Post-classical Icelandic composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Ólafur Arnalds has announced his return to Australia for a run of headline shows in 2018. Performing songs from his impressive back catalogue and upcoming album RE:MEMBER, Arnalds will be hitting up expansive theatres in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide between November and December. RE:MEMBER - which is se...

  • BrooklynVegan tours announced. Includes; Bela Fleck, Olafur Arnalds
    Posted At: July 21, 2018

    He's usually out with The Flecktones, but banjo master Béla Fleck will go on a short solo tour in late summer, hitting Washington, CT, Brooklyn, East Hapton, NY, North Adams, MA, Flagstaff, AZ, and Berryville, VA. The Brooklyn date (his first-ever solo show in NYC) is at Murmrr Theatre on 8/4. Then in the fall, he'll be out on an extensive tour with bass fiddle player Edgar Meyer and tabla master ...

  • Olafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm, and A Winged Victory For The Sullen hit the road / Under The Radar
    Posted At: July 16, 2018

    In honor of avant-classical label Erased Tapes' fifth birthday, Ólafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm, and A Winged Victory For The Sullen are hitting the road for a brief European tour. Check out the full jaunt below.  10/8 -  HAMBURG (DE) – Fliegende Bauten 10/9 -  PRAGUE (CZ) – Palac Akropolis 10/10 -  BUDAPEST (HU) – Trafo 10/11 MANNHEIM (DE) – ...

  • Olafur Arnalds, set for Luminato / Toronto Star
    Posted At: June 24, 2018

    "No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main," wrote John Donne 400 years ago. But one meeting with Olafur Arnalds would have changed his mind. Arnalds is an Icelander who has carved out a musical niche clearly influenced by classical Western music as well as ambient pop. But it would be unfair to place him in either slot. The 31-year-old is about to ar...

  • Olafur Arnalds - re:member on NPR: all songs considered
    Posted At: April 11, 2018

    On this episode, a couple of remarkable new discoveries for co-host Robin Hilton: the summery, early-'70s psych-pop of Whyte Horses and the transfixing voice and carefree pop of Dallas native Caleb Campbell, who writes and records as Ari Roar. Host Bob Boilen shares the band Khruangbin and the trio's mostly instrumental songs that are both genre and mind-bending. Bob's also got a heart-rendin...
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