Daði Freyr

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Daði Freyr
Daði Freyr performing in 2022
Daði Freyr performing in 2022
Background information
Birth nameDaði Freyr Pétursson
Born (1992-06-30) 30 June 1992 (age 31)
Reykjavík, Iceland
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
  • bass
  • guitar
  • drums
Years active2012–present
Websitedadifreyr.com

Daði Freyr Pétursson (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈtaːðɪ freiːr̥ ˈpʰjɛːtʏr̥sɔn]; born 30 June 1992), known professionally as Daði Freyr or simply Daði, is an Icelandic musician living in Berlin, Germany. As the frontman of Daði & Gagnamagnið (Icelandic: Daði og Gagnamagnið[1][2] [ˈtaːðɪ ɔɣ ˈkaknaˌmaknɪθ]), he was due to represent Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song "Think About Things",[3] before the event was cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, he represented Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "10 Years", finishing in fourth place.[4] He performed a cover of Atomic Kitten's "Whole Again" during the intermission of the 2023 competition.

Early life

Daði was born in Reykjavík but grew up in Denmark until the age of nine, then his family moved to Iceland and settled in the Southern Region, first in Laugaland and later in Ásahreppur. Daði graduated from Fjölbrautaskóli Suðurlands ("College of the Southern Region") in 2012 and received a BA in Music Management and Audio Production in Berlin in 2017.[5]

Music career

In his youth, Daði practiced drums and studied piano and bass guitar. He co-founded the band RetRoBot with his friend Kristján Pálmi. Later, singer Gunnlaugur Bjarnason and guitarist Guðmundur Einar Vilbergsson, whom he had met at the South Iceland Multicultural School, joined the band. In 2012, the band RetRoBot won the Músíktilraunir ("Music Experiments") and Daði was chosen as the best electronic musician of the year.[6] RetRoBot released one album, Blackout, a year later.

Söngvakeppnin and Eurovision

Daði performing in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool as part of an interval act

In 2017, Daði participated in Söngvakeppnin (competing to represent Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017) with the song "Is This Love?" (Icelandic: Hvað með það?). In performances, he was supported on stage by a group consisting of his sister Sigrún Birna Pétursdóttir (backing vocalist), wife Árný Fjóla Ásmundsdóttir (dancer), and friends Hulda Kristín Kolbrúnardóttir (backing vocalist), Stefán Hannesson (dancer), and Jóhann Sigurður Jóhannsson (dancer)—known as "Gagnamagnið". Gagnamagnið, while translated to English as "the Data", literally means "the amount of data", and is the Icelandic word for "data plan". They were characterized by their signature teal green sweaters, which have pixel art portraits of themselves printed on them.[7] He came in second place after Svala Björgvinsdóttir, who performed the song "Paper".[8] In June 2019, Daði released his debut album, & Co., an avant-garde pop record that has drawn comparisons to French electronic duo Daft Punk for its retro disco sound.[9]

Daði took part in the 2020 Söngvakeppnin with the song "Think About Things" (the alternate Icelandic version also titled "Gagnamagnið").[10] As in Söngvakeppnin 2017, he performed with his group Gagnamagnið, now collectively credited as Daði & Gagnamagnið. They won the 2020 Söngvakeppnin competition and were set to represent Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Several countries that would have participated in the 2020 contest held their own alternative competitions, broadcasting the entries and crowning a winner. Daði og Gagnamagnið won six such competitions, in Austria (Der kleine Song Contest), Australia, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.[11] On 23 October 2020, it was announced that Daði & Gagnamagnið would remain as Icelandic representatives at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.[4] They performed the song "10 Years",[12] but a prerecorded performance from the second rehearsal was broadcast during both their semi-final and the final, due to a member of the group testing positive for COVID-19.[13] Having qualified for the final, they finished fourth, with 378 points.[14] He performed a cover of Atomic Kitten's "Whole Again" as an interval act during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, held in Liverpool.[15]

Personal life

Daði is married to musician Árný Fjóla Ásmundsdóttir. Their daughter, Áróra Björg, born in 2019, was the inspiration for the lyrics of the song "Think About Things".[16][17][18] The couple's second daughter, Kría Sif, was born in 2021.[19]

Daði is 2.08 metres (6 ft 9.9 in) tall.[20] He has his own app called "Neon Planets".[21] His father was a bongo player for Katla Maria in Söngvakeppni 1993, where they placed ninth out of ten contestants with the song "Samba".

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details
& Co.
  • Released: 12 June 2019[22]
  • Format: Digital download, CD
  • Label: Samlist ehf
I Made an Album
  • Released: 25 August 2023[23]
  • Format: Digital download, CD, vinyl
  • Label: AWAL

EPs

Title Details Peak chart positions
FIN
[24]
Næsta skref
  • Released: 26 October 2017[25]
  • Format: Digital download, CD
  • Label: Self-released
Welcome
  • Released: 21 May 2021[26]
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
  • Label: AWAL
23
I'm Making an Album 1/3
  • Released: 17 March 2023[27]
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
  • Label: AWAL
I'm Still Making an Album 2/3
  • Released: 26 May 2023[28]
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
  • Label: AWAL

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
ICE
[29]
BEL
(FL)

[30]
BEL
(WA)

[31]
IRE
[32]
NLD
[33]
NOR
[34]
SCO
[35]
SWE
[36]
UK
[37]
"Seinni tíma vandamál"[38] 2018 Non-album singles
"Skiptir ekki máli"[39]
"Allir dagar eru jólin með þér"[40]
"Heyri ekki"[41]
(featuring Don Tox)
2019 & Co.
"Endurtaka mig"[42]
(featuring Blaer)
"Ég er að fíla mig (Langar ekki að hvíla mig)"[43] Non-album single
"Think About Things"[44]
(as Daði og Gagnamagnið)
2020 1 53 [A] 3 [B] 10 33 34 Welcome
"Where We Wanna Be"[46] [C] Non-album singles
"Every Moment Is Christmas with You"[47]
"Feel the Love"[48]
(with Ásdís)
2021 18 Welcome
"10 Years"
(as Daði og Gagnamagnið)
1 [D] 38
[49]
15 33 23
[50]
43
"Somebody Else Now"
"Something Magical" Non-album singles
"Sabada"
(with Filous)
2022
"I'm Fine" I Made an Album
"Whole Again" 2023 2 Non-album single
"Moves to Make" I Made an Album
"I'm Not Bitter/Outside" 2024 TBA Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.

As featured artist

Title Year Album
"Make Me Feel So..."
(Montaigne featuring Daði Freyr)
2022 Making It!
"Happy People"
(Tokio Hotel featuring Daði Freyr)
2001

Remixes

Title Original artist Year Album
"I Thought I'd Be More Famous by Now" Special-K 2018 Non-album singles
"Eye of the Storm" Millie Turner 2020

Awards and achievements

Award Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Icelandic Music Awards 2018 Pop Song of the Year "Hvað með það" Nominated [51]
2021 Best Pop Song "Think About Things" Won [52]
Hlustendaverðlaunin Best Music Video Won [53]
Singer of the Year Himself Won
Eurovision Awards Best Dressed Himself (with Gagnamagnið) Nominated [54]
Most Iconic Prop Runner-up
Best Choreography Nominated
Best Official Video "10 Years" (with Gagnamagnið) Runner-up
Reykjavík Grapevine Music Awards 2024 Artist of the Year Himself Runner-up [55]

Notes

  1. ^ "Think About Things" did not enter the Tipparade of Walloon, but did enter the Bubbling Under.[30]
  2. ^ "Think About Things" did not enter the Top 40 of Netherlands, but did reach number 16 in the Tipparade.[31]
  3. ^ "Where We Wanna Be" did not enter the Tipparade of Flanders, but did enter the Bubbling Under.[30]
  4. ^ "10 Years" did not enter the Flemish Ultratop 50, but did peak at number six on the Ultratip chart.[30]

References

  1. ^ "Daði Freyr - Think About Things (Daði og Gagnamagnið)". YouTube. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Eurovision 2020: in Islanda trionfano Daði Freyr e i Gagnamagnið con "Think about things"". Eurofestival News (in Italian). 29 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Iceland chooses Daði & Gagnamagnið!". Eurovision.tv. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Daði og Gagnamagnið return for Iceland". Eurovision.tv. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Daði Freyr ætlar ekki að flytja aftur til Íslands á næstunni". DV (in Icelandic). 24 April 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  6. ^ inporter (8 May 2013). "Hljómsveitin RetRoBot frá Selfossi sigraði Músíktilraunir 2012". Reykjavíkurborg (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Iceland: Daði & Gagnamagnið release the music video for "Think about things" ahead of semi-final 2 of Söngvakeppnin 2020". wiwibloggs. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Svala fulltrúi Íslands". www.mbl.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  9. ^ Dwek, Joel (25 May 2021). "Iceland: & Co. – Daði Freyr". 200worldalbums.com. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Daði Freyr snýr aftur í Söngvakeppnina". www.mbl.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  11. ^ "10 countries have decided: This song should have won Eurovision 2020". Eurovisionworld. 17 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  12. ^ Farren, Neil (27 January 2021). "🇮🇸 Iceland: Eurovision 2021 Entry to Be Revealed on March 13". Eurovoix. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  13. ^ Morris, Woody (10 May 2021). "Eurovision 2021: Covid upsets Iceland's live shows". Newsbeat. BBC. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Grand Final of Rotterdam 2021 – Eurovision Song Contest". eurovision.tv. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  15. ^ Aubrey, Elizabeth (14 May 2023). "Eurovision 2023: Fans love Daði Freyr's "epic version" of Atomic Kitten's 'Whole Again'". NME. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Daði Freyr og Árný Fjóla eignast stúlkubarn - Vísir". visir.is. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  17. ^ "Daði Freyr: "I originally wrote the song in English to me that is the real version of the song"". ESCBubble. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Daði Freyr: "I originally wrote the song in English to me that is the real version of the song"". Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  19. ^ Ásmundsdóttir, Árný Fjóla (25 September 2021). "17.9.2021". www.instagram.com. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  20. ^ "JúróDaði - Daði Freyr plays Eurovision songs". YouTube. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  21. ^ Kristjans, Kristin (29 April 2020). "10 Facts about Dadi - gagnamagnid". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  22. ^ "& Co. by Daði Freyr on Apple Music". Apple Music. 12 June 2019. Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  23. ^ "I Made An Album by Daði Freyr on Apple Music". Apple Music. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Albumit 21/2021" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  25. ^ "Næsta Skref - EP by Daði Freyr on Apple Music". Apple Music. 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  26. ^ "Welcome - EP by Daði Freyr on Spotify". Spotify. 21 May 2021. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  27. ^ "I'm Making an Album 1/3 – EP by Daði Freyr on Apple Music". Apple Music. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  28. ^ "I'm Still Making An Album 2/3 – EP by Daði Freyr on Apple Music". Apple Music. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  29. ^ Peak chart positions for singles in Iceland:
  30. ^ a b c d "Discografie Daði Freyr" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  31. ^ a b "Discographie Daði Freyr" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  32. ^ "Discography Daði Freyr". irish-charts.com. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  33. ^ "Daði Freyr | Top 40-artiesten". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  34. ^ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single 2021-21". VG-lista. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  35. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  36. ^ "Discography Daði Freyr". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  37. ^ "DADI FREYR | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  38. ^ "Seinni Tíma Vandamál (Áramótaskaupið 2017) - Single by Daði Freyr". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  39. ^ "Skiptir Ekki Máli - Single by Daði Freyr". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  40. ^ "Allir Dagar Eru Jólin Með Þér - Single by Daði Freyr". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  41. ^ "Heyri Ekki (feat. Don Tox) - Single by Daði Freyr". Apple Music. 8 February 2019. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  42. ^ "Endurtaka Mig - Single by Daði Freyr & Blaer". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  43. ^ "Ég Er Að Fíla Mig (Langar Ekki Að Hvíla Mig) - Single by Daði Freyr". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  44. ^ "Think About Things - Single by Daði Freyr". Apple Music. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  45. ^ "British single certifications – Dadi Freyr – Think About Things". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  46. ^ "Where We Wanna Be - Single by Daði Freyr". Apple Music. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  47. ^ "Every Moment Is Christmas with You - Single by Daði Freyr". Apple Music. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  48. ^ "Feel the Love - Single by Daði Freyr & ÁSDÍS". Apple Music. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  49. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  50. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 21". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  51. ^ Fontaine, Andie Sofia (27 February 2018). "The Icelandic Music Awards Nominees Are Here". grapevine.is. The Reykjavík Grapevine. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  52. ^ Ćirić, Jelena (19 April 2021). "Three Wins for Pop Star Bríet at Icelandic Music Awards". Iceland Review. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  53. ^ Granger, Anthony (11 April 2021). "🇮🇸 Iceland: Daði Freyr Picks Up Two Awards at the Hlustendaverðlaunin". eurovoix.com. Eurovoix News. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  54. ^ "Eurovision Awards 2021: The Winners". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  55. ^ Fulton, Catharine; Bjarkason, Jóhannes (5 February 2024). "It's the 2024 Reykjavík Grapevine Music Awards". grapevine.is. The Reykjavík Grapevine. Retrieved 14 March 2024.

External links

Preceded by Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest
2020 (cancelled)
(as Daði og Gagnamagnið)
Succeeded by
Himself
with "10 Years"
Preceded by
Himself
with "Think About Things"
Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest
2021
(as Daði og Gagnamagnið)
Succeeded by