[Cover photo credit to Anna Maggý]

Reykjavik, Iceland-based pianist/composer Magnús Jóhann has just released his fourth full solo album, Rofnar. The album takes its title from the Icelandic word for “break” or “tear apart”, a reflection of the artist’s “affinity for sonic deconstruction.” Rofnar also marks the debut release for U.S.-based record label FOUND.  

He shares:

I love working with lush sounds like live piano or violin or brass instruments, then taking them apart so they become almost unrecognizable. A lot of the sounds on this album came from heavily distorting the pianos, synths or brass—I’d take what I’d recorded and filter it, reverb it, bit-crush it, add layers and layers of effects. I very much enjoy that process of turning a previously analog source into something digital, hi-fi and strange. 

The instruments on Rofnar include piano, organ, strings and vintage synthesizers.

Comprised of 11 untitled tracks, the final track, which is called “XI” is a piano tune that grew out of the final minor movements of the album.

Magnús says:

It came from developing a new theme from the harmony sprinkled throughout the record, and to me feels like an epilogue of some sort. There’s generally not a great deal of chromaticism on the album, but I liked the idea of ending with some musical ideas that feel new or even a bit out of place. 

Magnús explores new aspects of his creativity through his ongoing collaborations with other artists. Notably, the album he collaborated on with Ólafur Arnalds has recently been nominated for a Grammy. 

A boutique record label, FOUND emerged from the fascination of founder Scott Blum with Icelandic music. FOUND’s mission is “to share singular voices in Icelandic music with the world.”