O Holandês Voador

OF MONSTERS AND MEN - THE JOURNEY SO FAR 10-year anniversary video

Of Monsters and Men was formed in March 2010, specifically to participate in the Icelandic battle of the bands, Músíktilraunir. They won the competition, kick-starting a whirlwind career that is still going strong.

The history of OMAM started with Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir’s solo project, Songbird. As a teenager, Nanna started writing songs and playing on her own in her home town of Garður and neighboring communities (e.g., Keflavík). She was joined by her friend Brynjar Leifsson, and later by Ragnar Þórhallsson. The three of them continued playing as Songbird, mostly performing songs written by Nanna.

In early 2010, they decided to participate in Músíktilraunir. Ragnar’s friend Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson joined the band weeks before the competition, and they changed their name to Of Monsters and Men. During the competition, they performed songs that had been written for Songbird (“Phantom,” “Love Love Love,” and “Sugar in a Bowl”).

The award for winning the competition included studio time. The four-piece added two more members - Kristján Páll Kristjánsson and Árni Guðjónsson (both of whom had previously played with Arnar in various rock bands), and used the studio time to record two new songs, “From Finner” and “Little Talks.” The band thought that the former might get some airplay, but it was indeed the latter song that paved the way to stardom and continued success.