Known for her distinctive music style and unique videos, Björk has left a remarkable artistic footprint over the past decades. As a singer, artist, and songwriter, she is without doubt one of the most famous Icelandic entertainers of all time and has achieved worldwide notoriety.
Born in Reykjavik in 1965, she entered the music world at the age of 6 by attending classical piano and flute classes for children. But her career really started few years later at the age of 11. One of her teachers sent a tape to the leading radio station in the country, where her recording was then nationally broadcasted. As a result, she landed a recording contract which led to a self-titled album, which was successful in Iceland.
She later joined several bands, the most famous one being Iceland’s premiere art-rock band Sugarcubes, before moving onto a solo career in London in 1993. Her first solo album ‘Debut’ included many personal songs written as a teenager and helped kickstart her international popularity.
Over the course of her career, she has developed a wide-ranging musical style with deeply intimate lyrics. Integrating electronic and organic sounds, her music frequently explores her lifelong interest in nature and technology.
“In order to actually have a touchscreen in front of me and somehow still be connected to nature, I needed to be able to incorporate natural elements into the song structures. Because that's always been my song-writing accompaniment: nature,” she once explained.
With each album she recorded, she immersed her fans in her own designed universe, always sticking to her unique vision. “With a small-town mentality, you make a decision very early on as to whether you are going to do everything by the book or just go your own way and not care,” she said.
The accolades she has received prove that marching to the beat of her own drummer was the right move. She has earned BRIT Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, a MOJO Award, U.K. Music Video Awards, and Icelandic Music Awards, always staying true to her avant-garde style.
Beyond her musical talent, she has also been involved in philanthropic endeavors and political movements, such as the fight for independence for Kosovo. With her career far from over, Björk continues to prove that forging your own path can be the best way forward.