Of Monsters and Men

Of Monsters and Men are an Icelandic indie folk band formed in Keflavík in 2010. The lineup is built around co-lead vocalists and guitarists Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson, alongside guitarist Brynjar Leifsson, drummer Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson and bassist Kristján Páll Kristjánsson. Their sound blends anthemic folk-pop with orchestral flourishes, group vocal harmonies, horns and driving percussion, drawing comparisons to acts like Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers while retaining a distinctly Icelandic, windswept character.

The band broke through internationally with their 2011 debut album My Head Is an Animal, propelled by the single «Little Talks», which became a global hit and a defining song of the early-2010s indie folk wave. Other favourites from that record include «Dirty Paws» and «Mountain Sound». Their 2015 follow-up, Beneath the Skin, pushed the sound toward a moodier, more atmospheric register while still delivering singalong choruses on tracks like «Crystals».

Of Monsters and Men have continued releasing music and touring extensively worldwide, cementing their place as one of Iceland's most successful musical exports and a fixture of festival lineups across Europe and North America.