Johann G. Johannsson has remained Iceland
most prolific and successful songwriter for over three decades. His songs have been recorded by many of the countries most successful recording artists and become evergreens in the field of Icelandic pop music. The lack of publishing companies and activity has been an obstacle for his music to travel to international markets. It is only a matter of time until the word (and songs) gets out. Steinar Berg Isleifsson/ Steinar has been a leading figure of Icelandic music business and exploiting local talents internationally for many years as owner of local record companies and license for international Majors such as Sony Music and Warner Music.
JohannG web sites:
www.myspace.com/jogjo
www.art-iceland.com/johanng
www.johanng.is
Take a look at the video 3Pyramids/Present:
www.art-iceland.com/keilir-johann-g-tonlist.html
JOHANNG web awards site:
www.songoftheyear.com/webawards/j/johanngjohannsson

Latest News

My new album is out now "JohannG In English", a double album were 30 top Icelandic artists along with me performing 28 song and lyrics written by me. It is for the world market and you can buy the song on my Broadjam site. You can go to albums or songs and listen to all the songs there. Let me know what you think ;-)Best regards, JohannG

Johann G Johannsson from Iceland

Johann G Jóhannsson Musician/Painter from Iceland

In the relatively obscure tradition of Icelandic songwriters, Jóhann G. Jóhannson is emerging as one of the country?s best kept secrets.
He is revered by his prodigious Icelandic composers come international contemporaries such as Daniel Agust of Gus Gus and Emiliana Torrini, and artists from Björk to Sigur Rós could surely recall his number one hits on Icelandic radio throughout the years. In 1988, he received an Icelandic gold record for hissong ?Help Them? or ?Hjálpum theim? which he performedwith a chorus of the country?s premier artists as Iceland?s contribution to the Live Aid relief movement. As with diamond in the rough songwriter Nick Drake, Jóhann G. Jóhannson?s 30-year discography has just begun its steep ascent into the ears of music listeners and collectors the world over. His masterpieces include ?Hard To Be Alone,? ?One Wish,? and the recently covered ?Don?t Try to Fool Me? which has gone on to become a hit single for the second time. The latest version by Icelandic pop singer Regina Osk sprung to the top of the Scandinavian charts last summer. The prolific and timeless Jóhann G. Jóhannson has written over 200 songs in the last four decades. Thirty-seven of his most important compositions have been published in the ?Gullkorn,? or songbook, together with a CD of 19 songs with piano accompaniment from that collection, published by Skífan (IS) in 1991. Throughout his tenure as a mastermind of pop, rock and tender ballads in both English and Icelandic, Jóhann G. Jóhannson has founded several influential bands such as Straumar, Ódmenn, Music Prima, Náttura and Poker. They have left an imprint in the lexicon of Iceland?s art-driven, often considered avant-garde, musicians. Ódmenn?s music has been re-released on a double album entitled Ódmenn II as its predecessor reached collectors status in fetching $400.00 USD a copy in Europe. Several musicians have lauded Jóhannson for his craftsmanship as a songwriter. Ken Thomas, producer of Sigur Rós, likened him to Paul McCartney for his sense of melody and hooks. Thomas called the solo project and 1974 album titled ?Langspil? one of the finest Icelandic pop records he?s heard. Jakob Frímann Magnússon, the first Icelandic recording artist to secure a major international record deal in 1979 with Warner Brothers (US), and later Affinity and Capitol Records, says "Jóhann G. Jóhannsson is without doubt one of the most successful and influential songwriters in the history of Icelandic popular music. His soulful and distinguished songwriting has secured him a status unlikely to be matched by anyone for years to come. With all this in mind, Johannson?s discography is a treasure chest waiting to be explored by listeners, artists and publishers in search of eternal songs and sounds. His music is the harmony of creativity we strive for in our daily lives, and discovering it is like finding that treasure that will forever fill your soul with riches.

Paul Weil
Homepage: http://thelastthingtheysaidwas.com/paul/index.html

The painter
First exhibition 1971. Since then , numerous exhibitions on his own as well as with other artists. His work has been bought by many Icelandic institutions (e.g. art galleries, municipal and state offices, banks and other enterprises).

Memberships of professional Societies:
STEF (the performing Rights society of Iceland), FTT (The society of Composers), FIH (The Icelandic Music Union), FIM (Society of Icelandic Visual Artist), Sim (Assonciation of Icelandic Visual Artists).
Symopsis from the Dictionary of Icelandic Composers by Marek Pokhajski Akademia Muzyczna im. Fryderyka Chopina Warsaw 1997