Submarino
magazine 2001
Interview by Iara Crepaldi.
Translation from Portuguese by José Luís Neves.
Múm started 4 years ago and they have already released 4 albums. They
posses a style that can be considered almost amateur and that makes the
band very special. Gunnar Örn and Örvar Smári played together in a guitar
band and decided to start an electronic group in 1997. Two years later
when both were producing the soundtrack for a children's play they meet
Kristin Anna and Gyda Valtysdottir who were also working on the play.
"It was love at first sight and since then we are making music together."
Submarino: Does the word múm have any special meaning in Icelandic?
múm: No. We only chose the name because
it sounds good. Many people pronounce it with an English accent, like
"mam", but you should pronounce it like you pronounce "moon" in English.
Submarino: What are you currently working on?
múm: We did some shows in Reykjavik and
we are also working on other projects, more specifically in a children's
play for the Icelandic National Theatre. We are also writing the lyrics
for our next album, that as no release date scheduled, and we are also
going to perform at the Bataclan in Paris on the 2nd of April.
Submarino: If possible what would you change about "Yesterday was
dramatic-Today is ok"?
múm: The album can't be changed, and we
are very happy with it the way it is.
Submarino: What was the band's highlight so far?
múm: Many important things happened, but
the highlight was the first time we rehearsed in Gunni's bedroom.
Submarino: What makes your music so unique?
múm: We can't answer that because we are
in the middle of it.
Submarino: What kind of music do you listen when you're in the shower?
múm: (After some whispering in Icelandic)
We listen to several kinds of music when we're in the shower, but if we
had to choose something special we would chose mad percussions. Bands
like Mice Parade or Him are perfect for the shower and they stop you from
drowning.
Submarino: Is your music aimed at a specific audience?
múm: It must be good for people in motion,
people running, pedaling or flying.
Submarino: How would you like to see your music described?
múm: We don't think about the way people
perceive our music, because it is very interesting to see what people
feel after they've listened to it. We don't want to influence what comes
from the outside.
Submarino: What is you opinion about the music scene in Iceland?
múm: The scene here is fertile, powerful,
brave and unique. We have one of the best record stores in the world,
12 Tónar. The people that work there are always nice and offer you a cup
of coffee while you go though all the records. They work very hard to
supply us with the worlds best music.
Submarino: Which personality would you not invite to one of your
shows?
múm: Ronald Reagan.