Sundlaugin (, ''the swimming pool'') is a
recording studio
A recording studio is a specialized facility for sound recording, mixing, and audio production of instrumental or vocal musical performances, spoken words, and other sounds. They range in size from a small in-home project studio large enoug ...
located near
Álafoss in the town of
Mosfellsbær in
Iceland known for being the recording and rehearsal location of
post-rock
Post-rock is a form of experimental rock characterized by a focus on exploring textures and timbre over traditional rock song structures, chords, or riffs. Post-rock artists are often instrumental, typically combining rock instrumentation with ...
band
Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós () is an Icelandic post-rock band from Reykjavík, active since 1994. The band comprises singer and guitarist Jón Þór "Jónsi" Birgisson, bassist Georg Hólm, and keyboardist Kjartan Sveinsson. Known for their ethereal sound, fron ...
. The location was originally a swimming pool built in the 1930s which had been abandoned when Sigur Rós purchased it in 1999 and converted it and adjacent buildings into a studio.
The band originally intended to record their third album, entitled ''
( )'', in an abandoned
NATO tracking base in the northernmost mountain in Iceland, but after inspection decided it was too impractical. Shortly after they found the abandoned pool lot in a rural neighborhood in Mosfellsbær. They bought the lot and transformed it into a studio. In order to fit the massive
mixing console into the building, part of the roof was opened up and the console was lowered with a crane.
Much of the band's photography and artwork is taken from the surrounding landscape, such as the art found on the first album recorded in the studio, ''( )''.
The recording studio has also been used for recording, mixing and mastering (usually assisted by the studio's sound engineer Birgir Jón "Biggi" Birgisson) by a wide group of mainly Icelandic artists and bands, including:
*
Agent Fresco
Agent Fresco are an Icelandic band that combines pop, alternative, art, metal, and math rock. They formed in 2008, just weeks prior to winning the M%C3%BAs%C3%ADktilraunir. Their first release was the EP ''Lightbulb Universe'', which won at the ...
*
The Album Leaf
The Album Leaf is an American musical project founded in San Diego, California, in 1998 by Jimmy LaValle. He is known for his use of electronics, synthesizer, and Rhodes piano. His performances often feature projected visual art.
History Inc ...
*
Alcest
*
amiina
*
Amusement Parks on Fire
Amusement Parks on Fire are a British rock band from Nottingham.
The band was established by Michael Feerick in 2004, who wrote and performed all the instruments for the self-titled debut album.
History
The band began as the solo project of M ...
* Andŕum
* Beneath
* Benni Hemm Hemm
*
Bubbi Morthens
*
Flying Hórses
Flying Hórses is the stage name of Canadian musician Jade Bergeron. She grew up in Sainte-Thérèse and now lives in Ottawa, Ontario.
In 2013, Bergeron began writing the music that would form her debut album, ''Tölt'', released in 2015. Recor ...
*
For a Minor Reflection
For a Minor Reflection is a post-rock band from Reykjavík, Iceland. Their self-produced debut album ''Reistu þig við, sólin er komin á loft...'' (which translates as "Rise and shine, the sun is up") featuring six songs lasting an hour in t ...
*
Jakobínarína
Jakobínarína were an Icelandic six-piece indie-punk band from Hafnarfjörður near Reykjavik.
Jakobinarina were formed by Ágúst Fannar Ásgeirsson, Björgvin Ingi Pétursson, Gunnar Bergmann, Hallberg Dadi Hallbergsson, Heimir Gestur Vald ...
*
Julianna Barwick
* Kira Kira
*
Langi Seli og Skuggarnir
Langi Seli og Skuggarnir is an Icelandic rock band formed in 1988. The band plays exclusively from its catalogue of original music, which can be characterised as powerful rockabilly, with a particularly modern approach.
Langi Seli og Skuggarnir's ...
*
*
Mugison
Örn Elías Guðmundsson, known professionally as Mugison (born 4 September 1976), is an Icelandic musician.
Early life
In 1977, Guðmundsson and his family moved from Reykjavík to Ísafjörður. In 1982, his family moved from Iceland to C ...
*
Múm
*
Ólöf Arnalds
* Pétur Ben
*
Retro Stefson
*
Seabear
Seabear is an Icelandic seven-piece indie-folk band from Reykjavík. Although hailing from Iceland, they sing primarily in English. They are signed to the Morr Music record label.
History
Formation
Seabear started as a one-man project of Sind ...
*
Self Defense Family
Self Defense Family (shortened to Self Defense and previously known as End of a Year) are an American rock band with members from across the United States and England. The band has released six full-length albums and several EPs and splits. Thei ...
*
Sin Fang
Sin Fang is the stage name of Sindri Már Sigfússon, an Icelandic musician and member of the band Seabear.
History
Sindri founded the band Seabear in 2000, signing with the label Morr Music. Seabear was initially conceived as a solo project, b ...
*
Ske
Ske is an Icelandic band whose origins can be traced back to 1992, when a band called ''Skárren ekkert'' was founded by Eiríkur Þorleifsson, Frank Hall and Guðmundur Steingrímsson, and joined by Hrannar Ingimarsson in 1998.
History
In 1999 ...
*
Slowblow
Slowblow is an Icelandic musical duo consisting of Orri Jónsson and Dagur Kári Pétursson, formed in the early 1990s.Sullivan, Paul (2003) ''Waking Up in Iceland'', Sanctuary, , p. 216 Their music is an aesthetic of home-made, lo-fi analog ti ...
*
Steindór Andersen
Steindór Andersen (born 1954) is an Icelandic musician.
Steindór is noted for his Rímur chanting and is most widely known for his collaborations with the band Sigur Rós. Other collaborations include with Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson and rapper ...
*
Stórsveit Nix Noltes
* Trevor Geir
As of 2020, Sundlaugin is owned by Sigur Rós keyboardist
Kjartan Sveinsson
Kjartan "Kjarri" Sveinsson (; born 2 January 1978) is the keyboardist for the Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós. He joined the band in 1998. A multi-instrumentalist, he has also played such instruments as the flute, tin whistle, oboe, guitar a ...
.
References
{{Authority control
Sigur Rós
Recording studios in Iceland