Further Information

About the album

Whenever You're Ready is Sævar Jóhannsson's debut album that came out 6. May 2022.
To celebrate it's 5 year anniversary we're releasing a limited batch of 150 Vinyls.

Album Cover by Rachel Jutka

Seigla, Kulnun, Hvíld are the icelandic words for Perseverance, Burnout, Rest. These are the three keywords Sævar used to compose this music. The artwork, by artist Rachel Jutka, captures the core of the album especially well. The chair symbolising rest but at the same time the chair is empty and withering.

The 41 minute album features 10 instrumental pieces compiled of Piano, Strings and electronics.

2023 the album won the “You Should Have Heard This” award at the Reykjavík Grapevine Music Awards. The Panel had this to say:

“There’s a neo-classical movement sweeping Iceland these days. And yet, for every Grammy-nominated, internationally-touring Ólafur Arnalds, there’s a Sævar Jóhannsson: quietly putting out beautiful music, but only receiving a fraction of the glory. For now, that is - we think he has a bright future ahead of him. 2022’s ‘Whenever You’re Ready’ is a sparse, emotional and hauntingly beautiful collection of instrumental pieces. The title is apt - it’s as if he’s acknowledging himself that you might not know him yet, but whenever you’re ready: he’s there for you to discover. His mastery of his craft is sure to bring his name to the forefront of the world of Icelandic composers in years to come.”

Credits

Release concert, Iðnó 2022
Photo credit: Rakel Ýr Stefánsdóttir

Music written and arranged by Sævar Jóhannsson

Piano/electronics - Sævar Jóhannsson

Violin - Sigrún Harðadóttir

Viola - Karl James Pestka

Cello - Unnur Jónsdóttir

Additional drums/electronics on track 4 - Höskuldur Eiríksson

Recorded by Eðvarð Egilsson / Studio Hljómandi

Mixed&Mastered by Mikael Lind

Artwork by Rachel Jutka

This album was supported by Rannís

Sævar Jóhannsson

Sævar Jóhannsson is an award-winning pianist and composer based in Reykjavík, Iceland. His music, consisting of introspective piano melodies embraced by warm string arrangements, explores the full spectrum of human emotion and experience; at times melancholic, but also playful and warm.

His latest album ‘Quiet Presence’ (2025) got three nominations at the Icelandic Music Awards and won Album of the year. Sævar has also made a name for himself as a theatre/film composer, Workshop leader (where he mainly works with adults in recovery) and a prominent music director for the grass root opera scene in Iceland. His opera group ‘Óður’ won performers of the year at the Icelandic Music Awards.