Stina Agustsdottir is considered one of Iceland’s best jazz artists and nowadays she’s just as established in Sweden. She is known for her energetic live performances, not only in Scandinavia, but also in her previous home of Montreal. She has been nominated for the Icelandic music prize a few times, for her album, Jazz á íslensku (2017), The Whale (Smekkleysa, 2021) and Drown to Die a Little (Prophone/Naxos 2022). 

Stina studied music at the Reykjavik vocal academy, Vocaletech in London and at Concordia University in Montreal. She has worked with some of Iceland’s, Sweden’s and Canada’s best jazz musicians and is a highly skilled lyricist and songwriter.

 

The album, Drown to Die a Little, is a journey within, from a state of crisis towards acceptance and contentment. It was recorded at the legendary Sigur Rós studio, Sundlaugin, in July 2021, with some of the best musicians Scandinavia has to offer. Henrik Linder the bass phenomenon from the power trio Dirty Loops, guitar player and songwriter extraordinaire Mikael Máni Ásmundsson, the rising piano star, Magnús Jóhann Ragnarsson, on piano and the busiest drummer in Iceland, Magnús Trygvason Elíassen. 

 

Stina’s music can be described as dancing on the outer edge of jazz, dipping her toes into pop, soul and rock without falling in. She is extremely dynamic and expressive with the ability to make the audience go from one extreme emotion to another. 

 

“This Stockholm-based Icelandic singer-songwriter shows both a touch and a tender side to her character on a new album, the first with English lyrics, with influences that range from musical theatre, 1970s acoustic folk-jazz and faint echoes of adventurous female pop icons such as Kate Bush and fellow compatriot Björk. “

• SH/JAZZWISE

 

"Captivating music in the sign of dualism: either exposed fragility or a proud statement of strength."

• Orkesterjournalen/Jazz

 

“A brilliant voice on a musical carousel” 

“...but everything revolves around a stable center, Stína Ágústsdóttir’s voice: rarely firm, full, warm, focused and complete. The Icelander, and now Stockholm resident, also writes good songs."

• Sydsvenskan