COVER ART: Photographer: Hörður Sveinsson, a long Hörður Sveinsson time collaborator with Stylist: The Reykjavík Grapevine, Edda Guðmundsdóttir met John Grant in a Make Up: studio and took the Ísak Freyr Helgason photo with the help of Assistant: UV light. Ólafur Magnússon Set design: Unnar Ari Baldvinsson 08: JOHN GRANT! 11: Injustice & Art 31: A Hot & Steamy Visit 06: Geldingadalur, The 19: Introducing RAKEL 28: Austurlands Speaks Remix 23: Reading Too Much 27: We Hate Sagas! We First 07: Wolf Riding Hotties Into A Helicopter Want Fantasy Novels! EDITORIAL More Beauty, Less Bigotry The Reykjavík decades according to scientists; histor- interesting artist, but it’s shocking for G r a p e v i n e i s ically, it could go on for centuries. Icelanders to read about his past, his s u r v i v i n g o n e The government still decided to upbringing and the incredible bigotry more month. And open up the borders on May 1st, mean- and spectrum of violence that he had to what a month ing that those that have been vacci- endure for just being who he is. It’s even to survive! The nated or already had the virus can more interesting to read about how he Reykjanes penin- travel to Iceland, no matter if they are deals with this, not only through his sula has awak- from within the Schengen Area or not. art, but also his courageous dauntless- ened, like scientists feared, offering Icelanders will use colour schemes for ness. It reminds one of how important Icelanders the most impressive, and countries when evaluating the danger individual freedom is, and the right for perhaps most beautiful, nature display of travellers to spread the virus. Mean- each and everyone to have their right on earth right now. Not only is there ing if your government is doing poorly to exist in the world. And for us at the one active fissure, but three, and there in fighting the virus, it will be labeled Reykjavík Grapevine, we will fight for could even be more in the same area red, and therefore everyone visiting those rights as long as we exist. within days or weeks. The volcano in from those areas has to quarantine The fear of those who are different the Fagradalsfjalls volcanic system is unless you have a certification that you will never go away. Sadly so. Fortu- a game changer for the greater city have been vaccinated or have had the nately, John Grant found his voice in area, affecting the people nearby in virus before. music, sharing his incredible mind. many ways. The gas pollution adds to But, Iceland is not only about the More beauty, less bigotry. It's as simple other complications like COVID-19, striking nature and volcanos. We also as that. which is still a concern, of course. But have incredible artists. In our issue we it also brings us a lot of opportunity. interview the cover star, John Grant, an Valur Grettisson This could be the best thing that has internationally known musician who Editor-in-chief happened to the travel industry in has been living in Iceland for almost Iceland. This volcano could go on for a decade now. John is not only an John Pearson is a Rey- Hannah Jane Cohen is Pollý is a hard-work- Sveinbjörn Pálsson Catharine Fulton is a Art Bicnick is an Andie Sophia Fontaine Owen Tyrie is a young Valur Grettisson is kjavík resident who based out of Iceland ing journalist by day is our Art Director. writer and editor who international man has lived in Iceland journo straight out of an award-winning combines writing with by way of New York. and an enthusiastic He's responsible for has been involved of mystery. He since 1999 and has Cheshire, England. Af- journalist, author professional back- She's known for her ball-catcher by the design of the with the Grapevine moves like a shadow been reporting since ter studying journal- and playwright. He grounds in music, love of Willa Ford, night. A four-year-old magazine and the for many years, from through the subcul- 2003. They were the ism for three years has been writing for broadcasting, scuba David Foster Wallace, dachshund mix with cover photography. being our online tures and soirees first foreign-born in Leeds, he recently Icelandic media since diving, engineering and other such an IQ of a five-year- When he's not work- news editor to sta$ of Reykjavík, never member of the moved to Reykjavík 2005. He was also a and underwater "intellectuals." Her old human, Pollý has ing here, he DJs as journalist. She is still, o%en ghosting Icelandic Parliament, in order to pursue his theatre critic and photography. He loves visionary work is been the o"cial Terrordisco, hosts now our beloved the scene in a pu$ an experience they dream of becom- one of the hosts of puns, alliteration and known for expand- Chief Of Morale at the Funkþátturinn copywriter. Outside of blue smoke—the recommend for ing Icelandic. He’s a the cultural program, lists that have three ing the definitions of the Grapevine for radio show, or sits at of dealing with our exhaust fumes of the anyone who wants film fanatic, gaming 'Djöflaeyjan' at RÚV. things in them. emotion, introspec- eight months and is a table in a Laugarda- writers turning in elusive, well-travelled to experience a enthusiast and most Valur is not to be tion, and above all a regular contribu- lur café, drinking work late, she also Bicnick Mini. workplace where of all, ginger. Oh, and confused with the else, taste. Hannah is tor to the Grape- copious amounts of has two extremeley colleagues work tire- he loves tea. dreadful football club also the current Drag vine Newscast on co$ee and thinking cute kids. lessly to undermine that bears the same King of Iceland, HANS. YouTube. Woof. about fonts. each other. name. ARTISAN BAKERY & COFFEE HOUSE OPEN EVERYDAY 6.30 - 21.00 LAUGAVEGUR 36 · 101 REYKJAVIK Made for life In the Westfjords of Iceland, what we call “downtown” others might refer to as “the Arctic.” Call it what you will. We just live here. Shop at 66north.com Keeping Iceland warm since 1926 Follow us on Instagram @66north The Reykjavík Grapevine 4 First Issue 04— 2021 Since my baby le# me, I found a new place to dwell... Oh yeah, the volcano in Gelding- adalur is still erupting—in fact, What Are Icelanders two new fissures have opened up about 500 m from the original Talkin! About? eruption site — and the antics of people trekking to see the volcano Shake, rattle and roll has been worrying Civic Protection and health authorities. Some visi- Words: Andie Sophia Fontaine Photos: Art Bicnick tors seem to think the hike to the volcano is a short, pleasant jaunt, NEWS The biggest contro- slower than expected. Minister rather than the hours-long hike THE HOME versy shaking Iceland of Health Svandís Svavarsdóttir through challenging conditions it right now is the new quarantine told reporters last February that is in reality. This has led to some hotel. That is, anyone coming to some 190,000 Icelanders would be minor injuries, and in at least one the country—whether tourists or vaccinated by the end of June— case necessitating rescue. Civic OF ICELANDIC Icelandic citizens—had to spend ”numbers we can stand by”, as she Protection has reminded people five days in an upscale hotel, with put it—yet at the time of this writ- to dress for freezing temperatures the room and food mostly covered ing, only just over 24,000 people and wet weather, to equip their SEAFOOD by the state. This was done because have been fully vaccinated (bear- boots with spikes, pack food and asking those arriving in Iceland to ing in mind that “fully vaccinated” to have a fully-charged phone. You quarantine themselves between means a person has received both would also do well to remember AND LAMB COVID-19 screenings apparently shots and a grace period of about that there is still a pandemic going wasn’t working, with some disre- two weeks has elapsed). At this rate, on, so masking up and maintaining garding quarantine altogether. by the end of June authorities will social distance is still a must. And if APOTEK Kitchen+Bar is a casual-smart This new policy was, however, in only be about halfway to their goal. Civic Protection staff on the scene a legal grey area, and has led to While authorities quietly updated tell you that the dangerous volcanic restaurant located in one of Reykjavíks some Icelanders challenging the their vaccination schedule, the gases have shifted and you must most historical buildings. hotel quarantine in court. Lawyers public has taken notice, and opposi- leave, by all means do so—evacua- representing these people have tion MPs have asked what the hold tion is not an optional thing. We specialize in fresh seafood described this five-day hotel stay in up is. Despite this, Prime Minister and local ingredients terms like “worse than prison” and Katrín Jakobsdóttir has insisted the “gulag” and “North Korea.” Interest- government fully intends to meet prepared with a modern twist. ingly, none of these lawyers have their stated goal. Only time will tell. said a word about asylum seeker shelters, which have been covered extensively by the media for years now as being demonstrably worse than Icelandic prisons. The chal- APOTEK KITCHEN+BAR Austurstræti 16 101 Reykjavík apotek.is lenge in Reykjavík District Court led to the court finding that the Icelan- dic government did not have the authority to put people in this hotel if they already had a legal address in Iceland, or otherwise had a place to quarantine in.