Band of the Month: Bloodgroup
For the Icelandic electro-pop quartet, it’s all in the family
By Carlye Wisel
Published: July 2nd, 2007 | 2:40pm
WHO IT IS
Lilja Jonsdottir on vocals, Janus Rasmussen on vocals, electronic percussion, and synths, Halez Jonsson and Raggi Jonsson on synths and samplers
LOCATION
Egilsstadir/Reykjavik, Iceland
FILE UNDER
Easy-to-groove-to electronic dance music with poppy melodies and punching drum beats
IN A NUTSHELL
Despite its sibling members, participation in musical contests and the familial reference in its band name, don’t expect Bloodgroup to be an Icelandic version of the Partridge Family. While the latter was a premeditated collaboration of tactful children in tacky clothing, Bloodgroup’s poppy electronic dance stylings were formed nearly on accident.
In 2004, lead singer Lilja Jonsdottir entered a singing contest and received musical help from her brother, Raggi Jonsson. They felt as though something had “clicked,” and after winning the contest, decided to keep playing together. Later, their brother Halez Jonsson and longtime friend Janus Rasmussen were added, and the group was born.
Oddly enough, three of the musicians were raised in the same household but never officially collaborated with one another until a year and a half ago. “We all love music and have been doing it separately for most of our lives,” Jonsdottir says. “There is a pretty big age difference between us all, so that’s probably the reason. But my brothers influenced me into loving music and enjoying it.”
With influences of pop, dance music, and a bit of rocknroll, it’s interesting that Bloodgroup’s Jonsdottir — whose sweetly melodic vocals are laid over punchy, digitized drumbeats — has a background in classical music. What began with casual singing and cello lessons at the age of 7 has led her far from Bach and Beethoven and straight to front woman position of the heavy-synthed electronic band. While the entire experience is new and exciting — “I’ve never been in a band before, so this is my first time,” she says — it seems as though she’s had no difficulty rising to the occasion. “I love singing, dancing, and going crazy in front of people,” she says. “It’s like letting out this monster inside you when you go on stage and start screaming your lungs out.”
Jonsdottir credits Bloodgroup’s performance at Iceland Airwaves festival in Reykjavík as one of her fondest memories but wouldn’t consider it the band’s greatest accomplishment. Even though the festival has previously featured Hot Chip, one of her favorite groups, Bloodgroup’s musical growth is what she finds most remarkable. “We sucked when we started out,” Jonsdottir says. “I mean, really sucked. For some reason we didn’t give up — there was some kind of a spark, and we kept going.”
GOALS
August 2007 not only marks the tentative release date for Bloodgroup’s first CD, it will also be Lilja, Janus, and Raggi’s first visit to the U.S. Both excited and nervous for a trip taking her far from her small-town home, Jonsdottir looks forward to shopping a little, playing a few gigs, and experiencing a new culture. “I think the coolest thing will be seeing what Americans are really like and how big everything is,” she says.
As for the album, Bloodgroup is hoping to finish it up and keep on moving forward. “I guess we will just keep playing some more, write more songs, and hopefully travel a bit around to play in some other countries,” Jonsdottir says.
In the same way that Bloodgroup’s pieces fell into place at the beginning, Jonsdottir hopes the same will happen in the future. “When you’re doing music, you don’t really know what’s coming next, so you’ve just got to go with the flow, enjoy whatever it is that you are handed, and hope for the best!”
MORE INFO
Bloodgroup's Web site
Bloodgroup's MySpace
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This is the second installment ofVenus Zine's "Band of the Month" feature, which is published on the first day of each month. Visit our Sonic Bids page to submit your profile for coverage consideration.
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