heyrist í mér? – Elín Hall
Release Date: November 3, 2023
Label: Alda Music
Format: Studio Album | 39 min | 11 Icelandic tracks
Genre: Alt-Pop, Folk, Atmospheric Soundscapes
“I’ve always been occupied with the question of whether I’m being heard.
it’s just a sentence that the musician says before they tap the microphone.
In a feminist context, do the things I’m saying matter? I’ve experienced
that you need to make an effort to be heard. You need to express
things more clearly as a woman. Nobody is handing you the microphone.
You need to go onstage and say it”
– Elín Hall
Það heyrist ágætlega í Elínu – Plata Vikunnar á Rás 2 – RÚV, Tónlist
Can You Hear Elín Hall? – Interview on Reykjavík Grapevine
Hátt og skýrt – Tónlistargagnrýi, RÚV
OMG It’s The 2024 Reykjavík Grapevine Music Awards – Reykjavík Grapevine
from the press:
„Það sem stendur þó mest upp úr við hlustunina er ótrúleg textasmíð Elínar.
Við fyrstu hlustun á heyrist í mér? saup undirrituð bæði hveljur
og fékk kökk í hálsinn yfir berskjölduðum og brútal textum sem lýsa því næstum
of vel hvernig það er að vera ung með kannski aðeins of margar tilfinningar.“
// tranlsation: "What stands out the most when listening to it, however,
is Elín's incredible lyric writing. Upon first listening to Can You Hear Me?,
yours truly may have gotten a lump in my throat over the exposed and brutal lyrics that
describe almost too well what it's like to be young with perhaps a few too many emotions."
– Júlía Aradóttir, RÚV
heyrist í mér?
heyrist í mér? (English: Can You Hear Me?) is the second solo studio album by Icelandic singer‑songwriter and actress Elín Hall, released on 3 November 2023 by Alda Music. The album runs approximately 39 minutes, featuring 11 Icelandic‑language tracks that blend alt‑pop, folk, and atmospheric soundscapes. It received critical acclaim and multiple award nominations, and won Album of the Year at the Reykjavík Grapevine Music Awards in 2024.
Background & Production
Elín Hall began writing the album amid a period of self‑doubt and creative reflection, initially considering quitting music due to being primarily known as an actress. She ultimately transformed the record into her most personal and expressive work yet. The album was co-produced with Reynir Snær Magnússon, who was also her romantic partner at the time; their breakup during production is reflected in the record’s emotional texture. Later, Árni Árnason of The Vaccines contributed additional production and cinematic layering.
Composition & Themes
The title, which poses both a question and a plea, encapsulates the album’s journey from whispered vulnerability to fierce catharsis. The music shifts from sparse piano‑based songs to dynamic, guitar‑driven crescendos, mirroring the emotional evolution of heartbreak, guilt, and self‑rediscovery.
Track listing
All songs by Elín Hall. Duration is 39 minutes and 32 seconds.
he í m
vinir
bankastræti ft. Una Torfa
þegar óttinn deyr
júpíter ft. GDRN
manndráp af gáleysi
rauðir draumar (fyrir kvikmyndina "Kuldi")
blóðsugan
málarinn
eilíft korter
völundarhúsið
Release and singles
The album yielded three No. 1 singles on Icelandic Rás 2’s radio charts: vinir, bankastræti, and manndráp af gáleysi. Critics praised its emotional depth and sonic ambition.
Awards and nominations
Reykjavík Grapevine Music Awards (2024)
Album of the Year – heyrist í mér? (Winner)
Icelandic Music Awards (for 2023 music)
Elín Hall received three nominations, leading as the most‑nominated artists at the ceremony, alongside Laufey and Árný Margrét.
Her nominations are in these categories:
Album of the Year (Pop, Rock, Hip‑Hop & Electronic)
Vocal of the Year (same category)
Lyric of the Year (for her album)
Personnel
Elín Hall – vocals, songwriter, production
Reynir Snær Magnússon – production
Árni Árnason (The Vaccines) – additional production
Legacy
heyrist í mér? solidified Elín Hall’s status as one of Iceland’s leading contemporary artists, melding her talents in music and storytelling into a powerful and poetic work.
