Those living outside of Iceland may not be familiar with Ásgeir Trausti, now widely known simply as Ásgeir, the singer-songwriter whose intimate blend of folk and electronics has captivated audiences at home and abroad for more than a decade. His international breakthrough came with ‘King and Cross’ and ‘Going Home’, and he has continued to expand his sound with each release.
Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Kim Matthäi Leland. No edits made.
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With the May 2017 release of his second studio album in English, Afterglow, Ásgeir stepped confidently out of hibernation and into the wider world. In the years since, he has kept moving, writing, recording, and touring, while quietly reshaping his sound.
Ásgeir’s 2012 debut, Dýrð í dauðaþögn, became the fastest-selling debut album in Icelandic history, a remarkable feat for a young musician from the tiny hamlet of Laugarbakki. It placed him in conversation with national icons like Björk and Sigur Rós from the very start.
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Ásgeir grew up in Laugarbakki, a tiny village two and a half hours north of Reykjavik. A promising javelin thrower in his teens, a back injury nudged him toward music, a world where success came swiftly. He left the countryside at sixteen for Reykjavik and soon began shaping the sound that would carry him across continents.
Music was always close at hand. Ásgeir learned piano and guitar from an early age; his mother played church organ on Sundays; his brother plays guitar with Ásgeir and in the reggae outfit Hjálmar. The family thread remains central to his work.
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On record, Ásgeir’s music interweaves hushed folk with warm electronics (think a Nordic conversation between Bon Iver and The Shins, with a Reykjavik breeze). He is, in short, an artist comfortable crossing borders, linguistic, stylistic, and emotional.
Offstage he remains grounded and soft-spoken, which only sharpens the focus on the music itself.
Dýrð í dauðaþögn, Album (2012)
Ásgeir’s debut single, ‘Sumargestur’, reached Number 2 on the Icelandic chart Tónlist. Follow-up single ‘Leyndarmál’ then spent six weeks at Number 1, propelling his 2012 debut album, Dýrð í dauðaþögn (“Glory in Dead Silence”), to record-breaking success at home. The lyrics, rich with Nordic imagery, were largely penned by Ásgeir’s father, poet Einar Georg Einarsson.
A seasonal left-turn with rapper Erpur Þórólfur Eyvindarson produced the tongue-in-cheek Christmas hit ‘Hvítir skór’, which sat atop the Icelandic Singles Chart for nine consecutive weeks. In 2013 he toured Europe with Of Monsters and Men and picked up a coveted EBBA Award for success beyond Iceland’s borders.
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In The Silence, Album (2014)
To reach new listeners, Ásgeir re-recorded his debut in English as In The Silence. He collaborated with John Grant (then living in Reykjavik) on lyric translations, while keeping his pledge to sing in Icelandic at home. The release came via the label now known as One Little Independent Records.
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Critics praised the melodies and electronic textures while debating the necessity of switching languages. Ásgeir nonetheless proved he could travel light or lush: two sold-out shows at the Sydney Opera House and headline dates in London underlined his appeal.
Afterglow, Album (2017)
Afterglow tilted further toward electronics and atmosphere. Long-time collaborator Guðmundur Kristinn Jónsson returned to the producer’s chair, and Ásgeir’s father again contributed lyrics, keeping the family imprint clear.
Bury the Moon / Sátt, Album (2020)
Recorded partly at Hljóðriti Studios, Ásgeir’s 2020 project arrived in two versions: the Icelandic Sátt and the English Bury the Moon. The songs lean into solitude and renewal, pairing finger-picked folk with icy synth washes. Standouts from the era include the single “Youth.”
The Sky Is Painted Gray Today, EP (2021)
This four-track EP finds Ásgeir in a reflective register. “Sunday Drive” revisits a childhood accident with moving restraint, while the title track folds gentle guitar into a mist of electronics. It bridges the path from Bury the Moon to the fuller palette that followed.
Time On My Hands, Album (2022)
Released October 28, 2022 via One Little Independent Records, Time On My Hands layers brass, vintage synths, and Ásgeir’s diaphanous vocal into expansive, late-night pop. Singles like “Snowblind” and “Borderland” highlight his ear for melody, while a companion Time On My Hands (Lo-Fi Version) appeared in 2023 with hushed, cassette-warm reworkings.
Julia, Album (2025–2026)
Ásgeir’s fifth studio album, Julia, ushers in a new chapter. For the first time he writes all lyrics himself, opening the door to even more direct storytelling. The first single, “Ferris Wheel” (September 2025), looks toward change and quiet optimism. Julia is slated for a digital release on December 13, 2025, with physical formats following on February 13, 2026.
Recent & Upcoming Tours (2025–2026)
Through autumn 2025 Ásgeir appears across Europe as special guest on Eivør’s tour, with dates in Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Scandinavia and more, culminating in the Nordics in late October. For the latest schedule and tickets, visit Ásgeir’s official website. His Reykjavik calendar in 2025 has also included intimate church and garden-concert appearances, underscoring his comfort in both grand halls and close-up settings.
Expect more live news around the release of Julia in early 2026.
Written by Mike Chapman
