People in Iceland are not like people on the rest of the planet. Don’t try to understand it, just embrace that we may in fact be living amongst aliens—really, really interesting aliens. You can’t really talk about Icelandic musicians without mentioning Bjork or Sigur Ros, and now that that’s done, let’s discuss Iceland’s Ólafur Arnalds.

The 23-year old composer’s work has been called ” robust yet ethereal, mid-tempo tearjerker” (Pitchfork) and Filter magazine says Arnalds “will only increase in importance.”

Arnalds returns to the US for a winter tour in early 2011. There’s an online contest where fans who “share” show info can win tickets. Check out the info at: http://www.olafurarnalds.com

Ólafur Arnalds On Tour:

Jan 24 – The Modern Theatere at Suffolk University  – Boston, MA

Jan 25 – Highline Ballroom – New York, NY

Jan 26 – St. Andrews Hall – Detroit, MI

Jan 27 – Southgate House Ballroom – Newport, KY (Cincinnati)

Jan 28 – Midtown Scholar Bookstore – Harrisburg, PA

Jan 29 – TBA – Indianapolis, IN

Jan 30 – Preston Bradley Hall @ Chicago Cultural Center – Chicago, IL (3pm)

Jan 30 – Museum of Contemporary Art – Chicago, IL (8:30pm)

Jan 31 – Covenant Fine Arts Center @ Calvin College – Grand Rapids, MI

Feb 1 – Cedar Cultural Center – Minneapolis, MN

Feb 3 – Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA

Feb 4 – Echoplex – Los Angeles, CA