Piano Works by Gabríel Ólafs

Following the release of last year’s mesmerising ‘Absent Minded’, Gabríel Ólafs returns with his stripped-back yet beautifully intricate ‘Paino Works’, a collection of reimagined arrangements released as part of an ambitious deconstructive series by One Little Indian Records.

The Icelandic pianist wrote his debut ‘Absent Minded’ at just 14 years old and piqued interest for his deft appreciation for ambience and space, creativity and a musical story-telling ability far beyond his years. Masterful compositions ebb and flow seamlessly and depict epics from pure imagination, as Ólafs small-town isolation means he draws his inspiration from the smallest things; a poster of a French cyclist, his mother gardening or the harbour down the road.

Regarding 'Birta', the first single from this wonderful acoustic album Gabriel says:

"Even though we recorded it during a very dark and stormy night in Reykjavík, Birta means 'shining light' in Icelandic. It's relevant now as it was recently our holiday of First Summer's Day, the day we finally get a little sunlight.It's also the name of my dog that spends a lot of time with me in my studio."

Gabriel began playing the piano at age 5, studying classical and jazz piano, but always preferring to veer away from traditional teachings, playing by ear and making up his own miniature melodies and musical phrases.