Björk studied classical music, including the flute and piano, and learned to sing, at the children’s music conservatory in Reykjavík. Björk's first recording was at the age of 11. The self-titled album "Björk" consists of Icelandic children’s songs and some translated Beatles and Stevie Wonder songs.
At 14, she formed an all-girl punk band in the spirit of the Sex Pistols, under the title "Spit and Snot". Björk - with orange hair and shaved-off eyebrows - took the position as drummer and rebelling against cute sissy feminist girls who don't have the guts to DO things. After a while, the quite limited range punk offered bored Björk and she moved on to join the next band sensation to offer her the next thrill.
She became part of the Bad Taste group that produced art, poems, performances and music. A number of the group went on to form The Sugarcubes, often namechecked as being one of the best Euro pop groups. At 19, Björk gave birth to her son Sindri, while with The Sugarcubes.
The Sugarcubes did many collaborations with DJs and other musicians who would remix their work, something that has been seen to great effect in Björk's later work. After The Sugarcubes split in the early 1990s, Björk released a small album of jazz musings entitled "Gling Gló", recorded mostly in Icelandic with the Guðmundur Ingólfssonar trio.
But the album that launched her new solo career was "Debut", an unpredictable album grooving with beats that reflects her collaborations with notables in the London dance scene of the time. "Debut" marked the path for her vibrant career.
Her second album, "Post" samples a wide variety of sounds, from the industrial techno of "Army of Me" to the big band cover "It's Oh So Quiet" to the quivering crash of "Hyper-ballad" to the lush strings of "Isobel". It's a wild ride of an album, full of changing tastes, but all coming together for a satisfying listen. She later released the remix album "Telegram", changing the moods of many of her songs from "Post".
Her third album she titled with a word she made up to convey the sense of the songs on the album. “Homogenic” symbolizes the unity and thread of minimalism in the songs, which consist of beats, strings and Björk's voice. While “Debut” was songs she gathered upon herself though her life and “Post” was about breaking free and taking a step towards the present; “Homogenic” was absolutely right now. Tainted by her daily life, the songs were more darker and more confrontational than before, a taste of what she just had gone through.
In 1999, Björk offered her musical skills to Danish director Lars von Trier - famous for movies such as "Breaking The Waves" and "The Idiots". The next masterpiece was to be a musical, and Björk agreed to write all the songs for it. Lars wouldn't settle for that though, and eventually convinced Björk into taking the star role in the movie as well. The resulting film “Dancer in the Dark” won critical acclaim for her portrayal of a Czech immigrant going blind and her exceptional soundtrack album, “Selmasongs” set new standards for film music.
Feeling as though she was cheating on music, Björk set herself to creating what critics consider her best album to date, “Vespertine”. Delicate harps, sparkling music box chimes, breaths and coos are laid over cricket beats from duo Matmos. She sings vulnerably about love and joy, and takes the listener to a cool and secretive atmosphere, as though we are watching nighttime snow fall outside a frosty window, curled up with a mug of cocoa.
Björk is a profoundly innovative musician in today’s world of recycled pop. She brings a creative approach to musicmaking, leaving us with delightful, unexpected jewels of sound that stick out in your head. Björk is a consummate musician, and as she says: I'm still learning, but I've got 55 years to live, so I am hoping to get it sorted out by the year 2050.”
With The Sugarcubes: “Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week” “Lifes Too Good” “It’s It” “Stick Around For Joy”
Solo: “Debut” “Gling-Glo” “Post” “Telegram” “Homogenic” “Selmasongs” “Vespertine”
Björk's homepage: http://www.bjork.com/unity/
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