Watch This Face

Bergur Ebbi Benediktsson is a singer and guitar player in Sprengjuhöllin, a local Reykjavík band that has recently started playing venues in the city.

What type of your music do you play?

We play popular music.

What are your lyrics about?

The themes are fairly classic: romance, freedom, youth, etc. One does not really need to re-invent the wheel there. On the other hand our lyrics are fresh in style and we try to use clever comparisons, innuendo and spot-on examples to create something everyone can relate to. We like our lyrics to be heard. We don't despise our lyrics unlike 99 percent of rock groups who turn up their guitar amplifiers to the extent that no voice is heard. And there is one other thing. I am on a personal crusade against irony. That means that all lyrics I write are "irony-free". Irony is the adolescent's weapon against a world he does not understand and is too scared to face. It may seem arrogant but I don't consider the world to be chaotic and unfair, and I have no need to turn everything upside down to find the essence of it. The truth is that only poets can describe things as they really appear. I want to describe things as they appear.

How did you guys come up with the name Sprengjuhöllin?

Originally it was approved as "Stjörnuhöllin" ("Hall of Stars"), a term used by Einar Benediktsson in his extremely ambitious poem "Útsær" ("Ocean"). Following an exceptionally long and dramatic dialogue with the ocean, Einar says, "Alone I dwell in the Hall of Stars of my Dreams". I've always thought of this line being the most dramatic statement one could ever pose. Still I think it's funny, I constantly picture the situation. Einar Benediktsson wearing 19th-century clothes wandering around aimlessly in a dark, cold and luxurious palace, most likely drunk. And this palace is up in the night sky that is in his own head. This is so tragic and funny, yet it is so basic. I've always liked that line. "Stjörnuhöllin" was changed into "Sprengjuhöllin" ("Hall of Explosions") for numerous reasons, none of which are dominant to the other.

Who are your greatest influences?

I'm a hero worshiper. At first I thought it was a juvenile thing, but now I see that it truly lies in the essence of me to worship big personas, who as a consequence become my greatest influence. Among larger-than-life characters I have been completely and utterly obsessed with are: Lord Byron, Napoleon, Einar Benediktsson, John Lennon, John F. Kennedy, Bob Dylan and Beethoven.

Are "looks" important in music?

The music is always the most important thing in music. If you forget that you're on thin ice. Appearance, attitude, clothes and such is important but come second.

Who is your style icon?

My cat. He always wears the same fur, but still he's always cool. This is not a joke.

Do you make an effort to look good or is it all natural?

Well, my cat has a pretty "natural" look, and I like that.

How do you picture your future?

I'm optimistic.

Where do you intend to take Sprengjuhöllin?

To the top-o-most of the pop-o-most! This is John Lennonesque for "top of the pops".

Are you making a statement musically or otherwise?

Yes. We have perhaps not earned a right to make big statements about the Icelandic music scene, but we believe there is a huge gap to fill and our object is to do just that. And this gap is not located on any extreme wing of the scene but on the contrary right in the middle. The art world is so messed up. Some people are so busy trying to be special that they literally end up crapping on the floor. How sad is that? We want to make music and lyrics that people can relate to.

Are you a rock star?

If I were to read an interview with a man in my position claiming that he's a rock star, I would absolutely erase him out of my census.

What's your favourite thing about Reykjavík?

My favourite thing about Reykjavík is that it's my hometown. Any other statement would be a lie. My advice to a tourist in Reykjavík would be to talk to people. No place is more interesting than its people.

hannabjork@reykjavik.com Photo Anton Brink