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For the eighth Two Beats Ahead Live!, author R. Michael Hendrix interviews Siggi Baldursson, the renowned drummer and music executive, best known as a founding member of The Sugarcubes. He plays a key role in promoting Icelandic music globally, recently as managing director of ĂTĂN (Iceland Music), where he helped launch initiatives like the Icelandic Music Export Fund and the Record in Iceland program.
In this episode, Siggi discusses the connection between the growth of tourism in Iceland and its impact on Icelandic music. He shares that the Sugarcubes began as a joke, albeit one that âblew up in our face!â He tells about the importance of communities as creative incubators and how Smekkleysa became this for him and his friends in the 80âs. He expands on this for other creative communities in Iceland and how relationships built in a small locale have a trust that encourages weirdness and collaboration. He also shares how the lack of knowing how to do things can actually be the secret to doing something exciting and new, which was especially important to the early post-punk scene in Reykjavik. Finally he shares about the changing nature of the music business and how new innovations are helping artist find audiences.
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In this episode of Two Beats Ahead Live!, Michael Hendrix interviews musician and carpenter, Klemens Hannigan, best known as a member of techno performance art project HATARI, and an accomplished solo artist and sculptor. They discuss the parallels of songwriting and woodworking and the differences between art and design in both practices. They delve into why they appreciate limitations and frameworks, and how identities or brands create boundaries and opportunities for world building. Klemens discusses owning his personal contradictions as tensions and why the goal of an entrepreneur is to do something you burn for. They also discuss what is next for HATARI.
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In this episode of Two Beats Ahead Live!, Michael Hendrix interviews Melkorka MagnĂșsdĂłttir, a choreographer, member of synth pop duo, Milkywhale, and cofounder of Iceland Innovation Week, a platform that celebrates and promotes innovation, startups, and entrepreneurial activities. They discuss the rigidness of business culture and how play and joy are necessary characteristics of innovation, a practice which requires belief in positive possibilities. Melkorka explains how this optimism shows up in the choreography of Iceland Innovation Weekâs âOK, Bye Climate Theater,â and why she loves the enthusiasm of âintrapreneurs,â whom she sees as artist archetypes. They also cover her new project, Hverfa and the value of reframing the world through childrenâs eyes in order to rediscover everyday experiences.
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In this episode of Two Beats Ahead Live!, Michael Hendrix interviews accomplished Icelandic fine artist and photographer, Lilja Birgisdöttir, co-founder of Fischersund Perfumery and Art Collective. LIlja takes us on an intimate scent journey through the collective's shop and explains how this multi-sensory experience emerged from a desire to collaborate with her siblings, the most well-known being Jónsi, the singer of atmospheric post-rock band, Sigur Rós.
We discuss how pursuing personal passions results in universally relatable art and how this pursuit can also be a platform for growing a business. She shares how the experience design of Fischersund is a a gentle counterpoint to modern, aggressive retail experiences and why she values creativity and connection. We also touch on the science of embodied cognitionâunderstanding the world through our five sensesâand how the collective's latest exhibition, Faux Flora, has been a means of personal artistic growth through collaboration.
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In this episode of Two Beats Ahead Live!, Michael Hendrix interviews renowned Icelandic choreographer, artist, and designer Sigga Soffia, founder of EldblĂłm Elixir. Sigga Sofia shares how her clear understanding of âdesigning momentsâ has led to a connected career, from dancer to fireworks designer to gardener to spirits entrepreneur. She discusses the unpredictable nature of Icelandic weather and how it has been key to her building resilience and confidence as a creator, and how her own year-long battle with cancer deepened her commitment to honesty, joy and art.
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In this episode of Two Beats Ahead Live!, Michael Hendrix interviews critically acclaimed composer, producer and musician, Valgeir SigurĂ°sson, co-founder of the Bedroom Community record label and owner of Greenhouse Studios. Valgeir talks about his pursuit of âcomplementary differencesâ among his collaborators and his instinct to find interesting creative opportunities where categories blur. He shares the origin of his label as well as his new music project, Isabelle Lewis, a fusion of electronic and contemporary classical music.
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In this episode of Two Beats Ahead Live!, Michael Hendrix interviews Ăris Thorarins, a musician and composer who is also the co-CEO of TĂRA, a project management and consulting firm that fosters innovation and creative thinking. Ăris shares her own music career journey to embracing mistakes, the value of collaboration, and the self-revelatory power of improvisation. She also tells stories from her business, from supporting elections to empowering women with menopause, and how she manages the pendulum swing between strategy and creative thinking.
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In this episode of Two Beats Ahead Live!, Michael Hendrix interviews Pan Thorarensen, an ambient musician, founder of the Extreme Chill Festival and owner of Space Odyssey Experimental Music Space. Pan talks about seeking connections, seeking surprises and the value of building community through creating opportunities for others. He shares the origin of the festival and how improvisational music has taught him that he needs to occasionally have bad days.
