Ragga

"Icelandic singer Ragnheiður Gröndal is one of these remarkable voices of Iceland." Eelco Schilder, www.folkworld.de
Ragnheiður Gröndal (Ragga) is a four-times winner of the Icelandic Music Awards and her albums have sold over 35,000 copies in Iceland.
Ragga has been exploring Icelandic folk music in its various forms since 2003 resulting in the album "Þjóðlög" (Folk Songs) released on the 12 Tónar label in 2006. The album received critical acclaim in highly competitive music market of Iceland.
"Þjóðlög is without a doubt one of the best albums of the year. It respects the uniqueness of the Icelandic music tradition without being stuck in it.
I haven't heard such a truly Icelandic album for many years;
not since Björk made Homogenic."
***** Helga Þórey Jónsdóttir, Morgunblaðið (The Morning Paper)
In early 2009 she expanded the project, putting together The Icelandic Folk Ensemble, in collaboration with her brother Haukur Gröndal and renowned guitarist Guðmundur Pétursson.
The project the focused on rearranging, in as many colorful ways as possible, the beautiful stories found in Icelandic folklore, with a special emphasis on the rhythmic elements in the music. With the use of two percussionists, a guitarist, folk clarinetist and Ragga's special interpretation of the ancient lyrics and folklore melodies, the group has found a fresh new sound inspired by the deep-rooted, mysterious and entrancing folk traditions of her home country.
Ragga Gröndal and The Icelandic Folk Emsemble released their debut album "Tregagás" in October 2009 on the Reykjavik based label Sena. When "Tregagás" reached the hands of Womex's 'seven samurai' an invitation to showcase at Womex 2010 quickly followed.
Ragga is currently based between Reykjavík and Berlin.
www.rgrondal.com