Olafur Arnalds on stage at Salon
The Icelandic musician started out as a drummer for local heavy metal bands. After German band Heaven Shall Burn heard some solo demo material, they asked him to provide piano-and-strings pieces for their 2004 album “Antigone.” The Erased Tapes label subsequently heard the album, was impressed with Arnalds’ contributions and contacted him about recording a full album of material – a request that ultimately produced the concept album “Eulogy for Evolution.” A trio of EPs followed in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, Arnalds provided the scores for the 13-minute short “Blinky TM” and the feature-length “Oroi” (Jitters). He later released “…And They Have Escaped the Weight of Darkness,” as well as his third album, “For Now I Am Winter,” featuring a full orchestra. Icelandic singer Arnor Dan features on four tracks of the album.