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 Álafoss (; ''eel falls'') is a waterfall on the river Varmá in Mosfellsbær, Iceland. In culture A wool factory of the same name has adjoined the waterfall since 1896, when a local farmer imported machinery to process wool using the energy f ...

in the town of

Mosfellsbær Mosfellsbær (, colloquially Mosó) is a town in south-west Iceland, east of the country's capital, Reykjavík. The town of Mosfellsbær is a 15-minute drive from midtown Reykjavík. The district includes the Leiruvogur cove, which forms part of ...

Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...

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 The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...

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 A mixing console or mixing desk is an electronic device for mixing audio signals, used in sound recording and reproduction and sound reinforcement systems. Inputs to the console include microphones, signals from electric or electronic inst ...

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 th ...

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 Alcest is a French post-black metal band from Bagnols-sur-Cèze, founded and led by Neige (Stéphane Paut). It began in 2000 as a black metal solo project by Neige, soon a trio, but following the release of their first demo in 2001, band membe ...

amiina Amiina (formerly Amína, stylized in lowercase) is an Icelandic band composed of members Maria Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir, and Sólrún Sumarliðadóttir, Magnús Trygvason Eliassen and Guðmundur Vignir Karlsson. In the past they have frequent ...

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 260 px, Bubbi Morthens, Laugardalsvöllur, Iceland (2007) Bubbi Morthens (full name ''Ásbjörn Kristinsson Morthens''; born 6 June 1956) is an Icelandic-Danish-Norwegian singer and songwriter. Aside from a lengthy solo career, he has been a me ...

* Flying Hórses *

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 Julianna Barwick is an American musician who composes using electronic loops. Her first album, '' The Magic Place'', was released in 2011. Music career Barwick has said that her music is influenced by her participation in church choir while gro ...

* 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 ...

Mammút Mammút is an Icelandic rock band based in Reykjavík. Formed in 2003 as ROK,Record Records: Mammút b ...

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 Múm (stylized in lowercase) () is an Icelandic indietronica band whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch beats and effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments. History The band was formed in 1 ...

Ólöf Arnalds Ólöf Arnalds (born 4 January 1980) is an Icelandic singer/songwriter and indie musician who has been active within the Icelandic music scene since the early 2000s. She was a touring member of múm for five years from 2003 before launching he ...

* Pétur Ben *

Retro Stefson Retro Stefson was an Icelandic alternative/pop-band formed in Reykjavík, active from 2006 to 2016. The band was signed to Vertigo-Berlin/Universal. Retro Stefson released their debut album '' Montaña'' exclusively in Iceland in October 2008 and ...

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 *

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 * 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, guita ...

References

{{Authority control Sigur Rós Recording studios in Iceland