Ulpa |
Hailing from Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, Ulpa is a hard-working foursome that serves up a healthy dose of guitar-driven indie rock that somehow manages to mix in elements of their many influences -- everything from heavy metal to theatrical-style ballads -- while keeping it all honest and, more importantly, unique and interesting. Buoyed by the praise of their ever-growing fan base, Ulpa is now working to finish its second album, and embark on several key tour dates.
Although new to many here in the States, by the time the band released its debut album, called Mea Culpa, they had already carved out its rep in the European indie community, opening for artists ranging from Stephen Malkmus to The Fucking Champs, along the way grabbing significant radio play with the release of a limited-edition single.
Now the band, which consists of Bjarni Gudmann, Magnus Leifur, Aron Vikar and Haraldur Orn, is hitting the road -- and the skies -- as they make their way to the States this week for four important gigs from October 29- Nov. 1. The band is playing tomorrow, October 29, with Tweezer at T.T. Reynolds in Fairfax, VA, then moves on to a three-date mini-tour with StarPolish friends Lake Trout. The Ulpa/Lake Trout dates kick off on Oct. 30 at the Starr Hill Club in Charlottesville, Virginia, then move to Ottobar in Baltimore on Halloween evening (Oct. 31) before heading to the New York area for a gig at Maxwell's in Hoboken, N.J. Check the club websites -- and Ulpa's website, www.ulpa.is, for specific details.
Just prior to the gigs, Ulpa's Magnus Leifur responded to a few question from StarPolish editorial director Jim Willcox about playing in the U.S., the Icelandic rock scene, and what they're hoping to achieve.
Ulpa |
STARPOLISH: This isn't your first trip to the States --how does playing here differ from the gigs you do in your native Iceland?
LEIFUR: Well, it's not that different. But... there is one thing [that's different] and that's that the majority of people who come to our shows in Iceland are women but it seems to be more even in the U.S.
STARPOLISH: In the U.S, the five major labels dominate commercial music. Is that also true of Iceland? How vibrant is the indie music scene? Is art -- and music in particular -- subsidized by the government? Is it difficult to get played on radio in Iceland?
LEIFUR: The fact is, Iceland is not that big of a country and we don't have that many labels. There is only one big label or so and they only release crap, though people seem to buy it. The indie rock scene has been going up for the last couple of years and you could say it's really vibrant. But that's not the only scene that has been getting a second wind. For example, rap is getting really big here, and folk music with R&B influences seems to do well with people. So yeah, it's really beginning to flower here in Iceland and young bands such as ourselves have been getting more and more attention -- and also a good radio play. What the government has been realizing for the last couple of years is that music is, in fact, a very good for export, and we think that they have been trying to do everything they can do for artists. But you can always do better.
STARPOLISH: Do bands consider it necessary to break in the U.S. to have a really successful career?
LEIFUR: Not necessarily, but there are bands that fit better there than, for example, in Great Britain.
STARPOLISH: Have CD sales been important to you, or does touring really provide the income for you to survive? Do Icelandic bands look at the whole of Europe as a place for potential gigs, or can you survive just by playing within the country?
LEIFUR: In Iceland you will not make a living just playing your music or selling
your albums. As I said before, the country is too small, with too few people. So when Icelandic bands get the opportunity to play in Europe -- or just anywhere -- they don't think twice.
Ulpa |
STARPOLISH: How important has the Internet been so far to your career? How does the band utilize the Internet?
LEIFUR: We work a lot through the Internet and use email every day to contact anyone who is related to the band in any way. And I think I can say without doubt that the band would be completely paralyzed in the contact department if we didn't have email.
STARPOLISH: What are the band's immediate -- and then long-term -- goals?
LEIFUR: To finish our second album and release it. We are now releasing a single in Scandinavia called "Dinzl," from our first album, and we are going to throw a big party in Copenhagen in the end of November because of the release. Two days before we will be playing at Camden Dublin Castle in London. And don't forget -- we are playing the U.S. this week, which we are really excited to do because we've been there before and liked it a lot. So we'll see you there -- and remember that Jesus and Ulpa love you.
