Edward Hancox's Blog, page 22

Discovered Missing

Kris Graves is a photographer from Queens, New York City. He has a plan to produce a book of photography, incorporating three separate trips to Iceland. He shares with me an obsession with Iceland, although Kris expresses his with the most stunning photographs of Iceland, instead of my words.

Kris describes Iceland as: ‘isolated, removed, and independent. Alone in a cold sea, sparsely populated, its volcanic visage is harsh and unrelenting. Volcanic and ever-changing landscapes, barren fields, inhospitable winters, sparse population. Unanticipated landscapes are hidden in plain view.’ I couldn’t have put it better myself.

What is ‘Discovered Missing’ all about?

Discovered Missing is the feeling of going somewhere without any idea of what you will actually encounter; seeing a place that most others will never see.

Can you tell us a bit more about yourself?

I attended Purchase College in New York, graduated with a BFA in Visual Arts. I currently work as associate photographer at the Guggenheim Museum. I also operate a publishing company, act as editor for another publishing company, act as the New York vice president for the American Society of Picture Professionals, amongst numerous other things.

When did you first discover Iceland?

I first discovered Iceland through photographs that a close friend made on his visit in 2009. We were trying to plan a trip there together but things fell through and he went first, drove around the island by himself and came back with some incredible photographs. I was jealous. So I planned a trip the following year to make my own photographs.

I note that the photographs were taken over three trips. What kept you going back?

I kept returning because I felt like I didn’t do the country justice. I made thousands of photographs on five different cameras, and have narrowed down to 40 or 50 photographs that I feel tell the story about discovering a place that most people will never see.

How do you choose which images to take?

I photographed extensively and wanted to show only the most unique landscapes. I chose photographs that were distinctly Iceland. You can find waterfalls, glaciers, and black sand beaches in other parts of the world; I wanted to choose photographs for the series that were unique to this country. I want you to feel the tension of this land.

Which of your Iceland images are your favorite?

It is extremely difficult to think of favorite images. Some of my favorite photographs are of the aurora borealis; because it requires a bit of luck. You have to hope that the sky is clear; and in Iceland that is never a definite. Those long nights under the stars with friends; driving around hunting, climbing hillsides. I hope never to forget those experiences.

I really love the ‘Under Skagaströnd’ image; what was the inspiration for that?

Under Skagaströnd was made one late night where me and a crew of my eight friends were out spending time in the cold looking for northern lights on a rocky hill above the cabins we were staying in. I just loved the sparse population of the place between the mountain and the Greenland Sea. You can also see the faint impressions of northern lights above.

I found Iceland to be utterly inspiring, and found writing about it both easy and a pleasure. Is it the same for you with photography?

Iceland is a pleasure to visit and seems to have a landscape made for photography. I fell in love with the place and felt at home on the island.

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I wish Kris all the best in his venture. The monograph will be limited to 250 copies worldwide, in a delightful cloth-bound hardcover and be specially printed by Oddi in Iceland. Kris is seeking funding via Kickstarter. I know exactly how he feels. A man from another land looking to share his obsession with Iceland’s natural beauty.

Check out Discovered Missing on Kickstarter here.

Unchained Iceland about to start.

Geoff Harper, a fellow Brit, is on his way to start his ‘Unchained Iceland’ challenge.

Unchained Iceland is a five hundred mile traverse of Iceland’s southern beaches from Höfn to Reykjavík on a Fatbike. Whilst many riders have circumnavigated Iceland via the Ring Road this trip is unique.

Geoff will be camping along the route and stopping only in towns to buy food and supplies. Oh, and he is taking Iceland, Defrosted along with him for the ride! This pic was taken on the bus near Vík.

More details here:

Unchained Iceland blog post.

Unchained Iceland website.

Blue Eggs & Tea

 

You know I have a soft spot for Puffins, right? Well, yesterday I met Ruth Allen via Twitter (@BlueEggsandTea). Ruth has an appreciation of all things Icelandic, and is a truly talented illustrator. She has kindly allowed me to use her wonderful Puffin illustration here on the blog and on Twitter. I think he is really handsome!

Anyway, you should check out her Etsy shop here for more bird-themed loveliness.

Discovering Iceland Interview

The following interview is taken from Discovering Iceland.

Edward Hancox is the name of an Englishman who’s now famous in Iceland for writing a book about this otherworldly country in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Not just any book. It’s packed with adventures and anecdotes. It’s been a while since I read a book that’s so funny, educating and well written at the same time. So, if you’re wondering why an englishman would write a book about Iceland, please read on. I got the chance to ask Edward some questions…

Hi Edward, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Yes, sure. I’m from Shropshire, in the UK, and I’ve been bitten by the Iceland bug. I’m obsessive. It’s kind of like an addiction. I wouldn’t describe myself as an author.

Oh don’t get fooled by this answer. Edward is an author, and a really good one too. After reading just a few sentences a was drawn by his writing, adventures and anecdotes!

‘This interest has cost me thousands of hard-earned English pounds, and some strange looks from friends and family. It has turned from a passion into an obsession. I frequently think of it as an addiction, and I’m always looking for the next hit. A book or film about Iceland will quell my longing for a while, but I’ll soon be found looking at the Icelandair website for deals, or trying to blag a ticket to this year’s Iceland Airwaves music festival. An Icelandic beer also helps some, although experience tells me that too much is counter-productive. Music by Sigur Rós, articles in Iceland Review and films by Baltasar Kormákur might keep me going for a while, but the yearning doesn’t really stop until the plane banks over Keflavík and I can see the red, blue and green roofs of Reykjavík in the distance, framed by the snow-covered peaks of Esja.’

Where does your Iceland fascination come from?

Well, I’m fascinated by cold places and the sub-arctic in general. I really loved my time in Alaska, for example. Iceland is top of the list, of course.

When did you decide to publish a book about Iceland?

I needed a way to record my adventures in Iceland. When an Icelandic friend suggested writing a book, I jumped at the idea. It then took about six years to research and write. I didn’t realise at the time that it was such an Icelandic thing to do.

The book is dedicated to your two girls. Do they enjoy Iceland as much as you do?

The two girls referred to are my wife and my daughter. My wife loves Iceland too, and accompanied me on most of my trips. My daughter is only two, but she has already been to Reykjavik and she seemed to like it. We both like puffins.

What’s your favorite place in Iceland and why?

Hmm. Tough question. I love the Snæfellsnes peninsula and the way that it is described as ‘Iceland in miniature’, although this doesn’t do it justice. I was really taken with Stykkishólmur, which seemed to have everything I would need in such a gorgeous, fantastic location.

What’s your fav Icelandic band?

Easy. Sigur Rós. I’ve seen them play more concerts than I can remember, including one from behind an artificial waterfall in Reykjavik, and a really intimate acoustic performance in London.

Okay, I could have guessed that one. Edward talks about Sigur Rós quite a lot in his book. But also other Icelandic bands, artists like Snorri and the very popular Iceland Airwaves Festival caught his attention and earned a mention in the book.

Íris played at your Book Launch. You must be a big fan of her?

Íris is a fantastic performer, and has the most wonderful voice. I found out about her from Karolina Fund, where she was crowd funding her debut album. She played at the Embassy of Iceland in London at my book launch, and then kindly played the Reykavik launch too, at short notice. She is really sweet; she even gave me tips on performing before I made my speech!

Whats your fav Icelandic author and/or book?

Well, you are spoilt for choice with Icelandic literature, as you know. There are many ‘classics’ I could talk about, but recently I really enjoyed The Hitman’s Guide to Housecleaning by Hallgrimur Helgason. It gives such a clear perspective on Iceland today, with a story that it utterly addictive.

Whats your fav Icelandic food?

One word. Skyr.

You could call Edward world’s biggest skyr fan. He even found skyr in New York and went looking for the guy who makes his own skyr in the big apple. Can you imagine?

‘I was in New York for other reasons, but I couldn’t let the opportunity slip by. I had to take the chance to find Siggi Hilmarsson and his Icelandic skyr. I had read about the guy, and was utterly enthralled by his story. Moreover, I couldn’t resist a tub of cool Icelandic skyr in that sultry heat.’

Oh yes, I agree with you on the skyr. It’s absolutely delicious. But I must ask, since I know you’re very fond of puffins.

Did you try puffin?

Yes, I’ve tried puffin. I think it’s an acquired taste – I much prefer reindeer!

In your book your mention you could really live in Reykjavik. Why don’t you live there yet?

Haha! There are many reasons; far too many to list here. They would bore you rigid too. One day though, definitely.

Edward dedicated quite some pages to puffins. He thinks they are great little birds and is fascinated by their appearance and habits.

‘I could spend hours watching these little critters: the way they pop up unexpectedly from holes in the ground, fly past your head making a swishing noise as their wings flap 400 times per minute, and land feet first on the water like a sea plane.’

How’s the book doing so far? And do you receive many reactions from readers?

It’s doing really well, better than I ever expected. The initial print run sold out quickly, and there has been a lot of interest. The best bit though, is hearing from people who have read the book and can relate to it, or just write to say how much it has inspired them to travel to Iceland.

Last but not least, where can people buy your book?

Amazon in all territories, Smashwords, iBooks, and all good book stores. If that fails, my publisher, SilverWood books sells them directly. In Iceland, you can get a copy at Eymundsson.

Do you have any other plans considering Iceland?

Yes, of course. I have plans to visit the east fjords, the interior and just to return to spend time in my favourite country, relaxing in hot tubs whilst drinking beer with friends.

Sounds great Edward! And thanks so much for writing Iceland, defrosted. It’s fun, educating and very well written. Keep up the traveling and the writing.

Photo courtesy of Discovering Iceland.

Úlfur

Úlfur is one of the first Icelandic words that I learnt. My tutor, an eight-year-old Icelandic girl, drew a picture of a wolf and pointed at it. It’s also the name of a really good Icelandic beer, and the first name of Úlfur Hansson.

Úlfur is probably best known for his work on Sigur Rós front man Jónsi’s solo ‘Go’ project and tour, but has been part of the Icelandic music scene long before this association. He was a member of ‘Swords of Chaos’ and has recently been associated with the extraordinary ‘Vessel Orchestra’—composing pieces of music with Lilja Birgisdóttir to be played by the shipping fleet in Reykjavik’s harbor.

Earlier this year, Úlfur released his first album, White Mountain. It was a quiet release on Western Vinyl, but features fellow Icelandic musicians Sigrún Jónsdóttir (Björk collaborator), legendary bassist Skúli Sverrisson, and Mountain Man’s Alexandra Sauser-Monnig. It’s a gentle, haunting album, full of soundscapes, electronic trickery and yearning acoustics. It’s less of a party album, more of a Sunday morning ease-yourself-back-to-life album. Oh, and it has Ewoks.

Photo courtesy of Extreme Chill

I used to have this book as a kid, it was called  The Ewoks join the fight. My fondness for Ewoks evolved into a lifelong love of anything star wars—especially the comics. 

How would you describe your music?

That’s a tough one! I don’t know… intuitive music, I guess. Sometimes when I listen to it afterwards it sounds like I had nothing to do with it in the first place. It kind of emerges in the spur of the moment and after its been realized it has a life of its own. 

How did White Mountain come about? 

I’m constantly collecting sounds and ideas, with an album in mind. The White Mountain release was the last generation of a collection of tracks that kept evolving over four years, and when its finished you kind of just know. 

Does ‘white mountain’ refer to an actual place? Snaefellsjökull comes to mind.

It’s a reference to Jodorowsky’s Holy Mountain and René Daumal’s Mount Analogue. 

René Daumal’s Mount Analogue was mentioned a bit in Jodorowsky’s Psychomagic. He talked about the book being his main inspiration for Holy Mountain, so I immediately sought it out at the local bookstore. 

There was one idea in particular that intrigued me while reading the book—the idea of the peradam—a rare perfectly round crystal, it’s spherical crystallization made possible due to the warped space surrounding Mount Analogue. The fact that it’s perfectly round makes the peradam near invisible to the naked eye—so for those who seek it, it is extremely difficult to find. 

However, every now and then someone’s gaze will drift mindlessly, and at just the right angle catch a glimpse of the brilliant refractions of sunlight emitting from the peradam. This would only be possible when you are not looking. 

That to me is analogous to the way creativity works. Art surfaces when you aren’t trying too hard. 

You are part of Jonsi’s touring band. Did you enjoy the experience? Would you do it again?



Absolutely—music is my life. I hope I will be fortunate enough to be able to continue travelling and playing music for the rest of my life. 

How much of your music is created in Iceland? I think your music sounds ‘Icelandic’ and couldn’t have been made anywhere else. Would you agree? 

The better half of White Mountain was written on tour buses and hotel rooms all around the world. I have mentioned elsewhere that it serves as a kind of collage of memories for my—field recordings from different parts of the world, spliced together—creating abstract scenarios that are hyper-real, and extra-personal.

Despite the fact that Úlfur clearly doesn’t agree that his music sounds ‘Icelandic,’ I think it does. I agree though that it is hyper-real and extra-personal. If you get chance, give White Mountain a try. For nothing else, it has Ewoks on it. 

 

Original article here.

Pascal Pinon in Grundarfjörður

It seemed that Grundarfjörður was near to nowhere. I had made the mistake of trying to travel to this town/village on the northern edge of Snæfellnes from Reykjavík in an afternoon.

Somehow, I still can’t quite get my head around distances in Iceland. Places that seem relatively near on the map taking forever to get to. Maybe it’s the winding roads, or that vortex that occurs to us Brits when converting kilometres to miles.

Grundarfjörður, home to just under a thousand souls, is the home tonight to Pascal Pinon. Pascal Pinon are an Icelandic band centered around twin sisters, Ásthildur and Jófríður, and little to do with the twentieth century Tex-Mex freakshow act.

They make sublime, exquisite music—the sisters, not the two headed fella—that is both sweet and engaging at the same time. I was in Iceland, they were in Grundarfjörður; there was nothing to consider. I’d be at the concert.

Grundarfjörður sits prettily on a bay, beneath mountains still flecked with the last of winter snow. The sea is relatively calm, with no hint of the herring tragedy that happened here only a few months ago. The arresting sight though is the hulking Kirkjufell (‘Church Mountain’), towering above the towns pretty and colorful houses. It’s 463m tall, and might just be Iceland’s prettiest mountain. It has deep horizontal striations, and the summer has flecked it with shots of green.

Pascal Pinon are performing at Grundarfjarðarkirkja, a delightful church perched on a small knoll above the town. It’s a really lovely building, with white walls, red roof and a spire pointing up to the aqua blue sky. I am starting to feel that the journey was well worth it. I was right.

Pascal Pinon are not alone on this jaunt of Iceland, which has already taken in other beautiful churches around the country. Tonight, they are accompanied by Blásaratríó, a woodwind trio of girls that apparently attended the same music school as Pascal Pinon.

Blásaratríó are first on stage, in front of the audience of all of thirty people. I was a little concerned, to be honest, that their music may be classically perfect, but completely inaccessible. This was particularly the case during the first piece, which included the church organ. I found myself checking my watch. I needn’t have worried, the trio went on to combine bassoon, clarinet and flute to produce beautiful music totally attuned to the surroundings of the church. Furthermore, they don’t outstay their welcome.

Pascal Pinon are soon on stage, and appear relaxed, clearly benefiting from their recent Europe wide tour with Sin Fang. They start off with gentle, melancholic tunes that remind me of Mazzy Star, although the exception to this would be the album opener ‘Ekki Vanmeta,’ which benefits from a fuzzy backing loop that makes it stand out as one of their best songs.

The woodwind trio join them back on stage, and add depth and warmth to the sisters songs, making them ring out into the early evening. In between songs, children can be heard playing outside, and gulls cawing as they wheel around the church. Highlights for me included the sublime ‘One Thing’, ‘I wrote a Song,’ and ‘Babies’ and the songs that were written for—somewhat bizarrely —Fernando Torres, and even stranger, Kanye West.

Jófríður’s voice is extraordinary; sweet, soft and yet full of character. I feel myself falling in love with Pascal Pinon’s music with every song they play.

The evening sun is shining through the stained glass windows, and ricocheting from the brass candles in the church. By the time they are singing the delicious ‘Bloom’, now replete with flute solo and that lovely ‘oh,oh,oh’ refrain from Jófríður, my heart has melted.

On the way back to Reykjavík, I wonder briefly if Kanye has ever heard of Grundarfjörður.

Probably not.

 

Original article on Iceland Review online.

Are Samaris the next big thing?

Samaris have been receiving a lot of attention recently. Not only have they signed to One Little Indian, they have also been played on UK radio and Góða tungl was Lauren Laverne’s track of the day.

Here is an interview with Jófríður from the band from last summer.

I recently took a flight to Grímsey in the north of Iceland. Actually, I took several, and with stops, so it took a good few hours. Not that I minded; it gave me time to myself, and time to listen to music.

As I flew towards Iceland’s most northerly inhabited island, and the point where Iceland crosses the Arctic, it’s Samaris that I’m listening to. Samaris are a new band consisting of three students from Reykjavík; Jófríður Ákadóttir (vocals), Þórður Kári Steinþórsson (computer programmer), and Áslaug Rún Magnúsdóttir (clarinet player). Formed only last year, Samaris have already won awards, and are highly anticipated to be the next big thing in the Icelandic music scene.

Somehow, the sounds of Samaris through my headphones fit neatly with the slow moving cloud formation I can see through the window of the Twin Otter. The trip hop rhythms rise and fall against gentle electronic beats, before the unexpected sunlight of Áslaug’s clarinet breaks through.

I’m hooked. I decide to find out more from Jófríður.

How would you describe your music? When do you think is best to listen to it?

Our music is dark and sometimes very sad. It’s electronic and very melodic. We get inspiration from classical, indie, house and punk music. It’s best to listen to it when you don’t know what to listen to.

How did you all meet? Are you just good friends?

Áslaug (clarinet) and Doddi (computer) went to school together for many years. Áslaug and I have been friends for a long time since we both play the clarinet. We wanted to make new music so we talked to Doddi and the result is Samaris.

Where does the name Samaris come from?

It’s totally random. We had to find something to apply to músíktilraunir (a music competition in Iceland) and we thought Samaris was nice, and easy to remember.

How did Áslaug become involved with her clarinet? It seems an unconventional choice of instrument.

We both study classical clarinet so we know the instrument very well. There’s a lot more to it than most people seem to think.

Are you sick of Sigur Rós and Björk comparsions yet?

No, it’s completely fair since these are the biggest musicians from Iceland. I think both Björk and Sigur Rós invented the link between nature and music in Iceland and Samaris isn’t linked with it like that. We are in many ways linked to Icelandic literature and history because of our lyrics (which are old Icelandic poetry from the 19th century) but the music is just the result of our creativity and we all live in the city, get inspirations from a lot of different things, and nature is not the majority of it.

How did it feel to win awards for your music? What does it mean to be an ‘award winning’ band?

It is a great honor. We didn’t expect it at all. It feels good to have won but the main reason we signed up for the competition was to play our music on a stage, and see how it would turn out. We never focused on winning and we are sure that our music would have found its way through even if we hadn’t entered at all but it has been a great help and we are really glad that it happened.

How does it feel to be one of the hotly tipped bands at this years Airwaves festival?

It’s great! We can’t wait!

What’s next for Samaris?

We will hopefully release a new single in the summer and then a full-length album in 2013. We’ve all just been so busy!

On arriving in Grímsey, I set foot across the Arctic Circle. I don’t feel any different. Nothing changes. There are no fireworks, no trumpets. It feels somehow hollow. I reach for my headphones, and fill my ears with Samaris. Everything feels alright again. I’m looking forward to my return flights.

The Lovely Rökkurró

Rökkurró kindly suggested to their Facebook fans and Twitter followers yesterday that they check out my book.

To return the favour, I thought I’d post some music from this delightful Icelandic band, and the interview with singer Hildur, which is taken from Iceland, Defrosted.

Oh, and then you should definitely check out their Facebook page (where you can ‘meet’ each member) and join me in looking forward to their forthcoming album.

 

Tim Burgess, lead singer for UK band The Charlatans, has recently, and somewhat inadvertently, created a new breakfast cereal, improbably named Totes Amazeballs, posh London slang for “totally amazing”, this breakfast cereal contains shortbread, raisins and soft marshmallow.

Personally, I prefer something a little more refined for by breakfast. And always accompanied by some decent music, usually of the Icelandic variety.

For a while now, it’s been Rökkurró, an Icelandic folk/rock five-piece from Reykjavík. Rökkurró have produced an EP and two albums, my favorite of which is their latest offering, Annan Heim(“In Another World”).

This record is all opulent strings, haunting vocals and being gently insistent in getting into your head. Rökkurró, I’m reliably told, is formed from the Icelandic words for twilight rökkur and quiet or calm ró. Makes sense to me.

More recently, it’s been Lily and Fox that have been accompanying me at breakfast time, which is ostensibly the current side project of Hildur Kristín Stefánsdóttir, the lead singer of the aforementioned Rökkurró.

The band is currently on hiatus, as Hildur has temporarily relocated to Japan. No matter though, her cover versions of Interpol and Kavinsky are more than enough to keep me enthralled.

Sweet, breathy vocals accompany a quietly plucked koto harp. She also has her own material, which too is something well worth a listen. It goes well with a croissant and strong coffee, I find.

I decided to contact Hildur, to see if she could tell me more.

I start off by asking where the Lily and Fox moniker come from?

“It is so confusing to explain—but I’ll try! Basically I’m a huge animal lover so wanted it to have animals in the name but I also wanted it somehow to be connected to Japan because my connection to Japan is such a big part of me.”

“Foxes or kitsune are thought of as mythical creatures in Japan, that have magical abilities and appear in many folklore stories, which made my love of them even stronger.”

“And from that on I started forming a story in my head of these characters, Lily and Fox. Lily is a human in my mind but the name was based on my favorite flower… Well, and my mother’s name! See how confusing this is? Haha!”

I ask if it was difficult to leave Iceland, and Rökkuró.

“Yes, it was extremely hard. I had always had this dream of going, but I couldn’t bear the idea of leaving the band for such a long time. But then I changed my mind as I felt afraid that if I wouldn’t go now I would never go!”

“But saying bye to friends, family and the band at the same time was really tough. Rökkurró is taking a break while I’m here so I know it’s hard for the others in the band as well.”

Hildur goes on to explain that she hopes to record an EP as Lily and Fox, and hopefully, even go on tour. I certainly hope that this comes to fruition.

I’m intrigued, though, to know how Hildur chooses which songs to cover.

“It’s kind of random. Apart from the fact that I have to really love the song,” she says. “When I covered Interpol, that was like a challenge I made for myself. I had just been talking to a friend on how some songs are so heartfelt to you that you don’t want anyone to ‘ruin’ them by covering them. So I decided to take one of my all time favorite songs, try not to ruin it and see if I could be happy with it!”

It seems to have turned out ok, if you ask me.

Hildur recently took part in something truly special. In February, Japan played Iceland at football at Nagai Stadium in Osaka.

Hildur, surely after skipping breakfast due to nerves, stood and sang the Icelandic national anthem before a crowd of 50,000 people. Oh, and it was broadcast live in Iceland and Japan, just to add to the pressure.

“The Icelandic National anthem is also one of the hardest songs to sing that I know and with its very broad range, it is even more nerve racking.”

“But of course it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and also a great lesson for me in seeing how stress affects your body. Because for those 90 seconds it took to sing the song, I stood so ridiculously tense and stiff that actually when I woke up the day after, my whole body was sore!”

From singing with a band with a caliber as high as Rökkurró, to producing intimate cover versions of her favorite songs, to singing in front of 50,000 football fans. That takes some doing.

Totes Amazeballs as they say in London. Time for some breakfast, I say.

 

 

Tungulending

Martin Varga is a 35-year-old man with a plan. Originally hailing from Germany, Martin wants to breathe life into a disused fish factory near Husavík in North Iceland.

He plans on turning it into a hotel and café bar in order to share his love of Iceland with visitors. It’s an ambitious project, and one for which Martin has turned to crowd-funding to assist with.

My own crowd-funding experience was wonderful and overwhelming (for my book, Iceland, Defrosted), but Martin’s is on a different scale.

To add to this, his work schedule is over a period of years not months. The work required is no small task. It’s huge.

Martin is used to challenges; he has been a wildlife cameraman in the inhospitable Antarctic and Greenland, for example. I have a theory that anything is possible in Iceland. Icelanders have a knack for making things work, for turning the impossible into the possible. Lets hope that Iceland can do something for Martin. Intrigued by his plans, and maybe a little jealous, I spoke to Martin to find out a bit more.

What is Tungulending?

Tungulending is a small abandoned fish factory in the north of Iceland. It is located in a wonderful bay below the steep cliffs of Tjörnes peninsula right next to the North Atlantic Ocean. Even though the factory building is at one of the most spectacular places and in a very special and beautiful surroundings, this spot has not been in use for the last 15 years.

What did it used to be, and what happened?

Tungulending was used to process salt fish, and later, lumpfish caviar. Fishermen from Tjörnes used the pier to land their catch and used the building to work and to store the fish products and their fishing nets. Tungulending was shut down about 13 years ago and since then the building has been waiting to get a new function.

What are you raising funds for?

My plan is to get Tungulending alive again. I will open a guesthouse and café in Tungulending and will make this wonderful spot more attractive again for all visitors and locals. My vision is to offer the most beautiful view over Skjálfandi Bay and create a place for everyone to enjoy a pleasant time with nature and fresh food in a relaxed atmosphere, outdoor activities, cultures events and workshops. I want Tungulending to become a place to get inspired, work in a creative surrounding, or just somewhere to meet people from all over the world.

The crowd-funding campaign ’Welcome to Tungulending’ is running to share this project and get support from everyone who likes the idea of Tungulending. It is an opportunity for everyone to work together to help to get it started.

What if you don’t meet your funding total? Is that it?

If the ‘Welcome to Tungulending’ campaign does not reach the funding goal of USD 26,000, then me and the team around Tunguleding will have to work even harder to get the guesthouse aand café open in June 2015. There is no doubt that we will do this project, because it is a dream of ours. We have already found so many people who think the same as we do and fell in love with Tungulending.

What are your links to Iceland? And how did you get involved in Tungulening?

I have been living and working in Iceland since 2006. First it was only a visit, but I realized immediately that Iceland has so many great opportunities to offer.

The nature is beautiful and Icelandic people became friends of mine from day number one. I became involved in film productions about nature, wildlife, science and outdoor adventures and also I could get a lot of experience while working with visitors from all over the world. Since 2009 it has been my dream to have a beautiful house to live in and to open my own guesthouse and café. Tungulending is the perfect location and building to make this dream become true. Iceland is special and I want everyone to discover why it is so special.

What is your experience with crowd-funding so far?

I think this alternative way of financing a project is great. It is amazing to know how many people like the idea of Tungulending and support this project as much as they can. I am in contact with all the contributors and I am sure to meet a lot of these open and motivated people again in Tungulending as soon as we open.

What can we do to help?

Everyone can help with a donation. Every single dollar is important and very much appreciated, but it is also helpful to spread the word and make sure that Tungulending gets a lot of attention. Please tell your friends about the crowd-funding campaign and invite everyone to join and get involved in the project. You can find out more, and track progress at www.tungulending.is.

I wish Martin all the best. I have no doubt that he will achieve his goal and revive Tungulending into a special place once again. He has a sheer determination and drive that will see him through. If that fails, Iceland has a way of making everything turn out just fine.

Original article on Iceland Review online.

Send me your Iceland, Defrosted snaps!

Ok, this is how its going to work.

Inspired by the kind actions of a few of my friends and Kickstarter backers, I’ve decided to set up an Iceland, Defrosted competition. It might work, it might not, but either way, I think its going to be a lot of fun.

Becky takes Iceland, Defrosted on her hols!

All you need to do is take a quick photograph of Iceland, Defrosted (e-book or old fashioned paperback) and send it to me via Twitter (@EdHancox, and use #icelanddefrosted) or via my Iceland, Defrosted Facebook page.

Maria found the only Puffin in Brittany, France.

If you can include a location, landmark or something Iceland related in the photo, then that would be awesome. Something daft? Even better. I’ve had photographs from Egypt, Holland, Australia and Scotland so far. I’d love to put them all on a page together, and track my little book as it travels the globe.

For the very best ones, I’ll send you a little something. How does that sound?

I hope to see your snaps soon!