Ólafur Arnalds - Sunrise Session III

Information

1. Echoes
2. Þú ert sólin
3. Ashes
4. A Dawning

Ólafur Arnalds, piano & compositions

Date: 2026

Label: Decca

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Ólafur Arnalds has released his latest EP, Sunrise Session III, continuing his semi-regular series that reflects seasonal transitions through intimate, one-of-a-kind performances. Recorded at the end of 2025 on the winter solstice—the darkest and shortest day of the year—the EP captures the unique atmosphere of Iceland’s northern winter. Hosted at Arnalds’ home in Reykjavík, the session brought together family and friends to mark the return of light. Spanning four pieces—“Echoes,” “Þú ert sólin,” “Ashes,” and “A Dawning”—the recording conveys a gradual emergence from darkness into renewal, featuring collaborations with Sandrayati, RAKEL, Salóme Katrín, and a distinguished string quartet.

Ólafur Arnalds (born 3 November 1986) is an Icelandic multi-instrumentalist and producer from Mosfellsbær, known for blending strings and piano with loops and electronic beats to create a sound spanning ambient, electronic, and atmospheric pop. A former drummer in hardcore and metal bands, he later co-founded the experimental techno project Kiasmos with Janus Rasmussen, releasing its debut album in 2014. Arnalds composed the score for the ITV series Broadchurch, earning the 2014 BAFTA TV Craft Award for Best Original Music. He received a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2020 for Defending Jacob and two Grammy nominations in 2021 for tracks from Some Kind of Peace (2020).

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz