Örn Elías Guðmundsson, aka Mugison, is one of Iceland's hippest musicians. His thundering voice and roaring blues guitar propel listeners to crank up the volume, as they fall in love with his no-nonsense attitude and experimental sound.
As is perhaps evident from his bearded sailor-like appearance, the acclaimed rock'n'roll sensation Mugison is born and raised in the Westfjords of Iceland, more specifically in the fishing town of Isafjordur. He now calls the nearby village of Sudavik home, staying true to his Westfjords roots.
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Moving to Iceland's bustling capital Reykjavik at the age of 17, Mugison attended high school and became influenced by the rugged sounds of the 1990s, including rock sensations Nirvana and Sonic Youth, as well as Icelandic virtuoso Björk.
- See also: The Björk Saga
The would-be artist then moved to London to study Recording Art, where he started experimenting with generating music on computers. This eventful period eventually resulted in his beginning work on his debut album Lonely Mountain.
Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Hreinn Gudlaugsson. No edits made.
One of the main turning points in Mugison's career would be his live performance at the music festival Sónar in Barcelona, 2003, where he allegedly became the talk of the festival. After this monumental gig, he was booked for shows around Europe, as well as performing with acclaimed Icelandic band Múm.
- See also: The Top 10 Festivals in Iceland
There’s something different about the music this cool cat generates: soulful tracks that range from head-bangingly rowdy to sensationally romantic. His second album, Mugimama Is This Monkey Music? was released to both critical and commercial acclaim.
Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Hreinn Gudlaugsson. No edits made.
Since then, Mugison has recorded several soundtracks for acclaimed Icelandic films, released five studio albums, toured around the world, and collaborated with both local and international musicians.
The small-town boy was also the brainchild behind one of Iceland's most outlandish music festivals, Aldrei fór ég suður, along with his father Guðmundur (nicknamed “Muggi”), whose moniker inspired Mugison’s stage name.
The Discography of Mugison
Mugison has five studio albums to his name. These are:
- Lonely Mountain (2003)
- Mugimama, Is This Monkey Music? (2004)
- Mugiboogie (2008)
- Haglél (2011)
- Enjoy! (2016)
Upon its release in 2011, Haglél became Iceland’s best-selling album of the year and moved close to 30,000 copies in just three months, also winning Album of the Year at the Icelandic Music Awards. In addition, Mugison wrote songs for the soundtracks of Icelandic films Niceland (2004), Little Trip to Heaven (2005) and Mýrin (Jar City, 2007).
- See also: The Story of Icelandic Cinema
Aldrei fór ég suður Music Festival
The name of the music festival Aldrei fór ég suður translates to “I Never Went South” and references a song by local folk legend Bubbi Morthens. In Westfjords parlance, “going south” means leaving the region for Reykjavik, the festival’s name is a proudly Westfjords reply to that pull.
Mugison, along with his father Guðmundur Kristjánsson, came up with the idea for the event after playing together at the 2003 Rough Trade festival in London. The idea is a music festival by the people, for the people (with up-and-coming artists getting equal stage time to the headliners and no ticket fees).
This romantic notion of a free festival instantly took flight, where even internationally acclaimed Sigur Rós performed, along with the likes of local church choirs and indie garage bands from Isafjordur.
- See also: Sigur Rós | 18 Seconds Before Sunrise
The festival has taken place in Isafjordur every Easter weekend since 2004. The house rules are famous: no one gets a soundcheck, and every act, big or small, has 20 minutes on stage. In recent years the shows have also been broadcast live nationwide, and during the pandemic the festival went ahead as special broadcast-only editions.
- See also: Music of Iceland
The event takes place in fish-processing factories and warehouses by the edge of the small fishing town, which fills up over the Easter holiday with visitors from all over the country.
Where to Hear Mugison's Music
If you want to rock out with Mugison, you can listen to his songs or purchase his albums on his official website and on Bandcamp. If you're already a fan, you can also keep up with him on his Facebook page or follow him on X (formerly Twitter).
It comes highly recommended to make your way to Isafjordur over Easter and become embedded in local culture at the music festival sensation that is Aldrei fór ég suður, where Mugison performs most years in his hometown.
- Check out the best cultural tours in Iceland
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