Of Monsters and Men: The Life Story Behind Iceland's Folk Band
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Some bands sound like the place they come from, and Of Monsters and Men sounds like Iceland. Their songs have the open feeling of a green valley, the sadness of a long winter, and the warmth of friends singing together around a fire. When the band released Little Talks in 2011, people all over the world heard a song that felt both new and old at the same time, with two voices singing together, with trumpets and guitars, and with a chorus that made strangers want to sing along.
The band came from a small island in the far north, and they had no big record company behind them when they began. They were young musicians who won a local music contest, and then they made an album in Iceland, and then the world found them through the internet. Their story is a modern one, because it shows how a song can travel from a small town to the whole world in a matter of months, without the band ever leaving home. It is also an old story, because it is about friends, about songs that feel like stories, and about a band that stayed true to its own sound.
This is the story of Of Monsters and Men, from a music contest in Iceland to the biggest festivals in the world. It is a story about two singers who share a voice, about a group of friends who learned to play together, about a first album that surprised everyone, and about a band that kept making music even when the world changed around them. It is also a story about Iceland, a country of volcanoes, waterfalls, and long nights, and about how the land itself can be heard in the music of its people.
What makes this band special is the feeling of togetherness in their songs. The voices of Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson blend like two friends telling the same story, and the band plays like a group of people who enjoy being in the same room. That warmth is rare in modern music, and it is the reason their fans have stayed loyal for more than a decade. The band does not shout for attention. They sing, and people come to listen.
There is also something hopeful in the story of this band, because they show that a small country can speak to the whole world. Iceland has a small population, but it has a large heart for music, and Of Monsters and Men carried that heart to America, to Britain, and to many other places. They did not change their sound to fit a bigger market. They sang the songs they believed in, and the world came to them. That is a lesson worth remembering.
Two Voices in Iceland
Of Monsters and Men began in 2010 in Iceland, when Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson started making music together. Nanna was a young singer and songwriter from Garður, a small town in Iceland, and Ragnar was a singer and guitarist who shared her love of folk music and stories. They met, they played together, and they found that their voices fitted each other well. Nanna’s voice was clear and strong, and Ragnar’s voice was warm and deep, and together they sounded like two people telling the same story from different sides.
The two singers entered Músíktilraunir, a music contest for young bands in Iceland, in 2010, and they won it. The win gave them confidence, and it gave them a chance to meet other young musicians who wanted to join them. The band grew from a duo into a group of six, with Brynjar Leifsson on guitar, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson on drums, Kristján Páll Kristjánsson on bass, and Árni Guðjónsson on keyboards. Each new member brought a new sound, and the band began to sound bigger and richer than before.
The band’s early songs were written in a simple and honest way, with acoustic guitars, with harmonies, and with words that told stories about animals, about the sea, and about people who felt lost. The songs sounded like folk tales, and they had a feeling of old Iceland in them, even though the band was young and modern. The members loved the music of bands like Mumford and Sons and Fleet Foxes, but they also loved the Icelandic tradition of storytelling, and they joined those two loves into their own sound.
In those early days, the band played small shows in Iceland, in bars, in clubs, and at festivals, and they built a small but loyal audience at home. They were not in a hurry, and they were not thinking about the world. They were thinking about the next song, about the next show, and about the joy of playing together. That slow and patient start gave the band a strong foundation, because they learned to play as a group before the world started watching them.
The friendship between the members was the strongest part of the band, and it showed in the way they sang together. A band that sings in harmony has to listen to each other closely, and the members of Of Monsters and Men listened well. They were friends first and bandmates second, and that order mattered. When the band became famous, that friendship would be tested, but it would also be the thing that kept them together.
Little Talks and the First Album
The band’s big moment came with the song Little Talks, which they released in 2011. The song had a bright and joyful sound, with trumpets, with guitars, and with the two voices singing together in a way that made people want to clap along. The song was about a couple growing old together, and about the love that stays even when memory fades, and it touched people deeply. It became a hit in Iceland, and then it travelled to America, to Britain, and to many other countries, where it was played on the radio again and again.
The success of Little Talks was helped by the internet, because people shared the song online, and it spread from one listener to another without the need for a big record company campaign. The band had made a song that people wanted to share, and the sharing did the work. In a short time, a band from a small town in Iceland was being heard in cars, in shops, and in homes all over the world, and the band could hardly believe it.
The band’s first album, My Head Is an Animal, was released in Iceland in 2011 and around the world in 2012. The album included Little Talks, along with other songs like Dirty Paws, King and Lionheart, and Mountain Sound, and it showed that the band was more than a one-song group. The songs were full of stories, with animals, with kings, and with journeys, and they had a feeling of adventure that listeners loved. The album sold well, and it was praised by critics who liked its warmth and its honesty.
The band toured widely behind the album, playing in America, in Europe, and in Australia, and they played at large festivals like Coachella and Glastonbury. For a band from Iceland, playing at such festivals was a dream come true, and they worked hard to give the audience a good show. Their live performances were joyful, with the whole band singing together, and the crowd often sang along to Little Talks, which had become a song that everyone knew.
By the end of 2012, Of Monsters and Men was one of the best known new bands in the world. They had gone from a small contest in Iceland to the biggest stages in the world in less than two years, and they had done it with songs that were honest and warm. The journey had been fast, and it had been exciting, but the band knew that the hard work was only beginning. They had to prove that they could make a second album as good as the first.
Beneath the Skin and a Deeper Sound
The band’s second album, Beneath the Skin, was released in 2015, and it showed a band that had grown up. The songs were darker, slower, and more serious than the songs on the first album, and they talked about fear, about loss, and about the hard parts of life. The album included the songs Crystals, Empire, and Hunger, and it showed that the band could write about difficult feelings without losing their warmth. The fans stayed with them, because the new songs were honest, and the band’s sound had grown deeper.
Making the second album was not easy, because the band had to follow a very successful first album, and the pressure was great. They took their time, they wrote many songs, and they threw away the ones that did not feel right. They worked with a producer who understood their sound, and they recorded in Iceland, where they felt at home. The album took a long time to finish, but the band believed that a good album was worth waiting for, and their fans agreed.
The band toured behind Beneath the Skin, playing in large venues around the world, and their live shows became bigger and more powerful. The band had learned how to play for large crowds, and they had learned how to keep the warmth of their music even on a big stage. The songs from the second album worked well live, because the audience could feel the emotion in them, and the band played them with care and with strength.
The album also showed the band’s growth as musicians. The playing was more complex, the harmonies were richer, and the arrangements were more careful. The band had spent years playing together, and they had learned to trust each other on stage and in the studio. That trust showed in the music, because the songs sounded like a group of people who knew each other well, and who were not afraid to try new things together.
By the end of the Beneath the Skin years, the band had proved that they were not a one-album wonder. They had made two strong albums, they had toured the world twice, and they had built a loyal audience that would follow them wherever they went. The band had grown from a young group of friends into a serious and respected band, and they were ready for the next chapter of their story.
Fever Dream and New Colours
The band’s third album, Fever Dream, was released in 2019, and it brought a new sound to the band. The album included the songs Alligator and Wild Roses, and it mixed the band’s folk roots with electronic sounds and with a more modern pop feeling. The change surprised some fans, but it also showed that the band was still curious and still willing to try new things after nearly ten years together. The band did not want to make the same album again and again.
The album was written during a time when the band members were thinking about change, about growing older, and about the world around them. The songs talked about love, about fear, and about the feeling of being awake in a dream, and they had a strange and beautiful quality that fitted the album’s title. The band worked with new producers, and they tried new instruments, and the result was an album that sounded different from anything they had made before, but still sounded like them.
The band toured behind Fever Dream, playing in America and in Europe, and their shows included the new songs alongside the old favourites. The fans sang along to Little Talks, and they also sang along to Alligator, and the band was happy to see that the new songs had found a home with the audience. A band that can add new songs to its live show without losing the crowd is a band that is still growing, and Of Monsters and Men was still growing.
The years after Fever Dream were quieter for the band, because the world changed, and touring became harder for a time. The band used the quiet years to rest, to write, and to spend time with their families. They did not rush to make a new album, and they did not try to force the music. They waited for the right songs to come, and they trusted that the fans would wait with them. That patience is a sign of a band that cares about the music more than about the schedule.
In recent years, the band has returned to the stage, playing shows and festivals, and meeting fans who have waited for them. The band’s story is still being written, and the next chapter has not yet been told. But the songs they have already made are still played, still shared, and still loved, and that is a fine thing for any band to have.
Songs in Films and the World Stage
One of the reasons Of Monsters and Men reached so many people is that their songs were used in films and in television shows. Their song Dirty Paws was used in the film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and their song Silhouettes was used in the film The Hunger Games Catching Fire. When a song is used in a film, it reaches people who might never hear it on the radio, and it becomes part of the story of the film as well as the story of the band. The band’s music fitted those films well, because it had a feeling of adventure and of wonder.
The band’s music was also used in television shows, and it was played at weddings, at parties, and at gatherings of friends. The songs had a warmth that made people want to share them, and sharing is the best kind of success for a band. A song that is shared becomes a part of people’s lives, and it is remembered long after the charts have forgotten it. Of Monsters and Men made songs that people wanted to share, and that is why their music has lasted.
The band also played on the world stage in a literal sense, performing at festivals in many countries, from America to Australia, and from Britain to Japan. Each festival was a chance to meet new listeners, and the band took those chances with joy. They played in the rain, they played in the sun, and they played in front of crowds that did not speak Icelandic, but the music spoke for them. A good song does not need a shared language, and the band proved that again and again.
The band’s success also meant a great deal for Iceland, because it showed the world that a small island could produce music that spoke to everyone. Iceland has a strong tradition of music, and Of Monsters and Men became one of its best known exports, alongside other Icelandic artists. The band carried the name of Iceland with them on every tour, and they were proud of it. They did not hide where they came from. They celebrated it, and the world celebrated with them.
Today, the band’s songs are still heard in films, on the radio, and on streaming services, and new listeners still discover them for the first time. A young person who hears Little Talks today feels the same joy that listeners felt in 2011, because the song has not grown old. That is the mark of a good song, and it is the mark of a good band. The music lives on, even when the band is quiet, and it waits for the next listener to find it.
What the Band Means for Iceland
Of Monsters and Men means a great deal for Iceland, because they showed that a band from a small country could reach the whole world without changing who they were. Iceland has a population smaller than many cities, but it has produced music that is known everywhere, and this band is one of the best examples of that. They sang in English so the world could hear them, but the feeling in their music was Icelandic, with the open land, the cold sea, and the long nights in every note.
The band also gave hope to young musicians in Iceland, who saw that a local contest could lead to a world tour. The band’s win at Músíktilraunir showed that the contest mattered, and that a young band could be noticed if they worked hard and wrote good songs. Many young Icelandic musicians have followed that path since then, and the music scene in Iceland has grown stronger because of it. The band opened a door, and others have walked through it.
The band’s music also carries the Icelandic tradition of storytelling, because their songs are full of tales about animals, about kings, and about journeys. Iceland has a long history of sagas, of stories told around a fire on long winter nights, and the band’s songs feel like a modern version of those sagas. They are not old stories, but they have the same feeling, of adventure, of wonder, and of a world that is larger than the one we see every day. That connection to the past is one reason the band’s music feels so deep.
The band has also shown that a group of friends can build something lasting if they trust each other and if they keep working. The members have stayed together for more than a decade, through fame, through hard tours, and through quiet years, and they have done it by caring for each other as well as for the music. That is a lesson for any group of people who want to build something together, whether it is a band, a business, or a family.
Today, Of Monsters and Men is remembered as one of the most loved bands to come from Iceland, and their songs are still a part of the country’s story. When people think of Iceland, they think of volcanoes, of waterfalls, and of music, and this band is a part of that picture. They sang their songs, they travelled the world, and they came home to Iceland, and that is a full and honest story.
The Sound of Two Voices Together
The sound of Of Monsters and Men is built on the harmony of two voices, and that harmony is the heart of the band. Nanna and Ragnar do not sing the same line at the same time. They sing different lines that fit together, like two people telling the same story from different sides, and the result is richer than either voice alone. That way of singing is old, and it comes from the folk tradition, where people sang together because it was more joyful than singing alone.
The band’s instruments also work together in a gentle way. The acoustic guitars, the trumpets, the drums, and the keyboards do not fight each other for attention. They take turns, they support each other, and they build a sound that is warm and open, like a room full of friends. That gentleness is rare in modern music, where many bands try to be loud all the time, and it is one reason the band’s music feels so calming to listen to.
The band’s songs are also built like stories, with a beginning, a middle, and an end, and the listener is taken on a journey. Dirty Paws tells a story about animals and about a journey through a forest, and King and Lionheart tells a story about a king and a lion, and Little Talks tells a story about love and memory. These stories are simple, but they are told with care, and they stay in the listener’s mind long after the song has ended. That storytelling is a gift, and it is one of the band’s greatest strengths.
Over the years, the band’s sound has changed, from the bright folk of the first album to the darker sound of Beneath the Skin and the electronic colours of Fever Dream, but the harmony of the two voices has stayed at the centre. That steadiness is a choice, and it is a good one, because a band that keeps its heart can change its clothes without losing itself. The band has changed, but they have not lost the thing that made them special, and that is why their fans have stayed with them.
The sound of Of Monsters and Men is, in the end, the sound of friends singing together, and that is a sound that never grows old. It is the sound of a group of people who enjoy being in the same room, who listen to each other, and who make music because they love it. That is a simple thing, but it is a rare thing, and it is the reason this band will be remembered for a long time.
My Take:
When I think about Of Monsters and Men, the first thing I feel is warmth, because their music feels like sitting with friends around a fire on a cold night. The two voices singing together, the guitars, and the trumpets all make me feel welcome, as if the band is inviting me into their world. I admire that warmth, because much of modern music feels cold and distant, made by people who never meet each other. This band makes music together, in the same room, and you can hear the togetherness in every song.
I think Little Talks is a perfect song, and I do not say that lightly. It is bright, it is joyful, and it is about something sad, about growing old and losing memory, and yet it makes people smile. That mix of joy and sadness is hard to get right, and the band got it right on their first try. I have heard the song many times, and it still makes me want to sing along, and it still makes me think about the people I love. A song that can do both of those things is a rare and precious thing.
I admire Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, because her voice is clear and strong, and because she writes songs that feel like stories. She does not sing about herself in a loud and showy way. She sings about animals, about kings, and about journeys, and she lets the listener find their own meaning in the words. That is a generous way to write, because it gives the listener room to think and to feel. I also admire the way she shares the stage with Ragnar, because sharing is harder than leading alone, and she does it with grace.
I also admire Ragnar Þórhallsson, because his voice fits Nanna’s so well, and because he brings a warmth and a depth to the songs. A harmony only works when both singers listen to each other, and Ragnar listens well. He does not try to be louder than Nanna, and he does not try to take the song for himself. He sings with her, and the result is better than either of them could do alone. That is a lesson for any partnership, in music and in life, because the best work is often done together, not alone.
What I love most about this band is that they stayed true to Iceland. They could have moved to London or to Los Angeles, and they could have changed their sound to fit a bigger market, but they did not. They stayed in Iceland, they recorded in Iceland, and they sang about the things that mattered to them. That loyalty to home is rare, and it is brave, because the world often tells artists to leave home if they want to succeed. This band proved that you can succeed from home, and that home can be a strength, not a weakness.
I feel sad when I think about how fast their fame came, because sudden fame is hard for any young band. One day they were playing small shows in Iceland, and the next day they were playing at Coachella in front of thousands of people. That kind of change can break a band, because it brings pressure, tiredness, and attention that no one is ready for. The band handled it well, but it must have been hard, and I respect them for staying together through it. They did not let the fame break their friendship, and that is a real achievement.
I think about the second album, Beneath the Skin, and I admire the courage it took to make it. The first album was bright and joyful, and the second album was darker and more serious, and some fans might have wanted more of the same. The band did not give them more of the same. They gave them songs about fear and loss, and they trusted the fans to follow them. That trust was rewarded, because the album was strong, and the fans stayed. A band that trusts its audience is a band that respects its audience, and I think that respect is one reason the fans have stayed loyal.
The third album, Fever Dream, is another example of that courage, because the band tried electronic sounds that were new for them, and they did it after nearly ten years together. Many bands stop trying new things after a few years, because they are afraid of losing their fans. This band kept trying, and they kept growing, and that is a sign of a healthy band. I may not love every song on Fever Dream as much as I love Little Talks, but I love the fact that the band made it, because it shows they are still curious.
I think about the films that used their songs, and I am glad, because a song in a film reaches people who might never hear it otherwise. When Dirty Paws played in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, it gave the film a feeling of adventure, and it gave the band a new audience. That is a happy meeting, because the film and the song fitted each other well. I think the band’s music works well in films because it already tells stories, and a film is a story too. The two fit together naturally, and the result is beautiful.
There is a lesson here for young musicians, and it is a simple one. You do not need a big record company to reach the world. You need a good song, and you need people who love it enough to share it. Of Monsters and Men reached the world because people shared Little Talks, not because a company spent a fortune on it. That is a hopeful lesson, because it means that a good song from a small place can still find its audience. The internet has changed music, and this band is one of the best examples of that change.
I also think about Iceland, and I feel grateful for the music that comes from that small island. Iceland has given the world so much music, from Björk to Sigur Rós to Of Monsters and Men, and each artist sounds different, but each one carries the feeling of the land. That is a remarkable thing for a country with so few people, and it tells me that a place does not need to be large to be important. It needs to be honest, and Iceland’s musicians are honest about where they come from.
If I have one regret, it is that the band has been quiet in recent years, and I miss their new music. I understand why they took time to rest, because touring and recording for a decade is tiring, and the world changed in ways that made touring hard. But I hope they come back with a new album, because their songs bring joy to many people, and the world needs more of that joy. I will wait patiently, because good music is worth waiting for, and this band has never rushed a song.
For a reader who has never heard the band, I would say this. Start with Little Talks, and listen to it with someone you love. Sing along to the chorus, and feel the joy of two voices singing together. Then listen to Dirty Paws, and imagine a journey through a forest with animals running beside you. Then listen to Crystals, and feel the sadness and the beauty of it. If those songs speak to you, then you have found a band that will stay with you for a long time, and you will be glad you met them.
In the end, I think Of Monsters and Men teaches us that togetherness is a kind of music. The band sings together, they play together, and they travel together, and that togetherness is the heart of their sound. In a world where people often work alone and feel alone, this band shows that making something together can be joyful, and that sharing a song can bring people closer. That is a simple lesson, and it is a true one, and it is one I will carry with me.
I keep thinking about the green valley in the cover image, with the waterfalls and the wildflowers, and I think it is a good picture for this band. Their music feels like that valley, open, green, and full of light, with a river running through it. It is a place where a person can breathe, and where a person can feel small in a good way, small next to the mountains and the sky. That feeling is what the band gives me, and I think it is what they give to all their listeners.
One more thought stays with me, and it is about the name of the band. Of Monsters and Men sounds like the title of a story, and it is a good name for a band that tells stories. The monsters in their songs are not frightening. They are part of the story, part of the adventure, and part of the world the band has built. I like that, because it tells me that the band does not see monsters as enemies. They see them as friends, as part of life, and as part of the music. That is a kind and wise way to see the world.
I also want to say that I respect the band for not chasing fame after their first success. They could have made an album every year, they could have toured without stopping, and they could have tried to stay on the charts at any cost. They did not. They took their time, they made albums when they were ready, and they rested when they needed to. That is a healthy way to live, and it is a healthy way to make music. A band that takes care of itself will last longer, and this band has lasted.
Finally, I want to say that I hope young musicians in small countries hear this story and feel brave. You do not need to be from a big city to make music that matters. You need good songs, good friends, and the patience to keep going. Of Monsters and Men had all three, and they reached the world from a small island in the north. That is a hopeful story, and it is one that belongs to everyone who has ever dreamed of making music from a small and quiet place. I am glad they exist, and I am glad their songs are still being sung.
I also think about the way the band’s songs make me feel about nature, because their music is full of animals, forests, and mountains, and it reminds me that the world is larger than our daily worries. When I listen to Dirty Paws, I imagine a forest full of animals running free, and for a few minutes I forget about the noise of the city. That is a gift, because modern life is full of noise, and a song that can give a person quiet is a rare and valuable thing. The band’s music gives people that quiet, and it does so without preaching or lecturing.
Another thing I notice is how the band treats its listeners. They do not talk down to their fans, and they do not try to be cleverer than them. They sing simple stories, and they let the listener find their own meaning. That respect for the listener is rare, and it is one reason the fans have stayed loyal. A band that respects its audience will always have an audience, because people can feel respect, just as they can feel its absence. Of Monsters and Men respects its listeners, and the listeners know it.
I will end with a wish for the band’s future. I hope they make a new album, I hope they tour again, and I hope new listeners keep finding their songs. The world needs more music that is warm, honest, and made by friends who love to sing together. Of Monsters and Men gave the world that music, and I believe they still have more to give. I will be listening, and I think many other people will be listening too.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Of Monsters and Men form and where are they from?
Of Monsters and Men formed in Iceland in 2010, when Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson began making music together and won the Icelandic music contest Músíktilraunir. The band grew into a group of six, and they built their sound on folk music, harmonies, and stories.
What is Of Monsters and Men’s most famous song?
Little Talks, released in 2011, is the band’s most famous song, and it became a hit in Iceland, America, Britain, and many other countries. Other well known songs include Dirty Paws, King and Lionheart, Mountain Sound, Crystals, and Alligator.
What is the band’s first album called?
Their first album is called My Head Is an Animal, released in Iceland in 2011 and around the world in 2012. The album includes Little Talks, Dirty Paws, and King and Lionheart, and it showed that the band could write many strong songs, not only one hit.
What are the band’s other albums?
The band released Beneath the Skin in 2015, with songs like Crystals and Empire, and Fever Dream in 2019, with songs like Alligator and Wild Roses. Each album has a different sound, from bright folk to darker songs to electronic colours, but all of them keep the band’s harmonies at the centre.
Were Of Monsters and Men’s songs used in films?
Yes, their song Dirty Paws was used in the film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and their song Silhouettes was used in the film The Hunger Games Catching Fire. Their music has also been used in television shows, because it has a feeling of adventure and wonder that fits stories well.
Is Of Monsters and Men still active?
Yes, the band is still active, and they have continued to play shows and festivals in recent years, after a quieter time following Fever Dream. Their songs are still played on the radio and on streaming services, and new listeners continue to discover Little Talks and their other music.
