Sundlaugin (Icelandic pronunciation:[ˈsʏntˌlœyjɪn], the swimming pool) is a recording studio located near Álafoss in the town of Mosfellsbær in Iceland known for being the recording and rehearsal location of post-rock band Sigur Rós. 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.[1][2]
The band originally intended to record their third album, titled ( ), in an abandoned NATO 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 into the building, part of the roof was opened up and the console was lowered with a crane.[3]
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, ( ).[4]
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:[5][6]
Agent Fresco
The Album Leaf
Alcest
amiina[7]
Amusement Parks on Fire[8]
Björk[9]
Bubbi Morthens[7]
Emmanuel De La Paix[10][11]
Flying Hórses
For a Minor Reflection
Jakobínarína
Julianna Barwick[12]
Langi Seli og Skuggarnir[13]
Mammút[13]
Mugison[7]
Múm[14]
Ólöf Arnalds[15]
Retro Stefson
Seabear[13]
Self Defense Family
Sin Fang[13]
Ske
Slowblow[16]
Steindór Andersen
Stórsveit Nix Noltes
As of 2020, Sundlaugin is owned by Sigur Rós keyboardist Kjartan Sveinsson.[1]
^"Sundlaugin Studio Clients". Sundlaugin - "The Backbone of Icelandic Music Production". Retrieved 2017-06-10.
^ abc"Biggi - Engineer at Sundlaugin Studio talks about recording and mixing Sigur Rós and more". sundlaugin.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-28. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
^"Amusement Parks On Fire - 'magical and intense' - Galway Advertiser - January 29, 2009". advertiser.ie. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
^Tingen, Paul (April 2015). "Inside Track: Björk's Vulnicura". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on 28 June 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
^"Fifteen Questions Interview with Birgir Jón Birgisson (Sigur Rós)- October 29, 2020".
^"Emmanuel De La Paix discusses the makings of 'Terre Brûlèe'- November, 2021".
^"Julianna Barwick: Nepenthe Album Review | Pitchfork". Pitchfork.
^ abcd"sundlaugin studio" (PDF). sundlaugin.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-13. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
^Summer Make Good (liner notes). Múm. Fat Cat. 2004.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Við Og Við (liner notes). Ólöf Arnalds. 12 Tónar. 2007.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Nói Albínói (liner notes). Slowblow. 12 Tónar. 2004.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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