Sigur Ros on NPR's Bryant Park Project

Let's establish one thing right out of the gate: We love the band Sigur Ros.
Their music is beautiful and moving, so much so that it doesn't matter that they're singing in a totally made-up language. Sigur Ros is four lads from Iceland, and recently, they were in New York to screen a new concert film Heima at the New Yorker Festival. Their P.R. folks called and asked if we wanted them on the show, to which we quickly replied, "hells yeah".
Anyway, last Friday the band showed up promptly at 11am (EDT) and commenced to give what is possibly the worst interview in the history of electronic media.
Seriously.
It was that bad.
We're not sure if they were tired, or if it was a language thing, or what... but wow.
Whereas most shows would just bury an interview like that, we've decided to actually show it to you. It certainly made us laugh. We hope you'll enjoy it too.
And to repeat, we love this band. We are going to be the first people to buy their new album "Hvarf / Heima" when it comes out this November. And the concert documentary is beautiful -- please go see it if it comes to your town.
Just never invite them on your radio show.

[@SteveHuffer]

It's like trying to get a toddler to talk on the phone to their grandparents.

[@silverkitty2503]

some kids like grandparents

[@yinoveryang4246]

…And the interviewer is the toddler. Grandparents are embarrassed into silence "is this kid really this stupid?

[@anders7050]

Sigor Rós, a band with few words

[@debonaire_nerd]

The guys were so still and quiet I seriously thought my internet connection had died or I forgot I hit the pause button.

[@andrefjbernardo]

From time to time I love to rewatch this interview.

[@AlexVivamMusic]

I see many comments telling that they are rude or uninterested, but we don't take account that they come from Iceland and it's a different culture. I've met a couple of Icelanders once and they can be quite difficult to meet, also many friends can tell me the same experience and it's not bad it's just different. Because of their culture they are not really so much easy to be really open, but of course they can be open when they want, specially if they consider you a person to trust. That's the reason of those very simple answers, it's because they don't want to reveal too much of their process, of course they have their own process of making music because they play really precisely. Maybe it's too personal to reveal how they make music, maybe they don't overthink it but always there's a way that we musicians make our music even if it's personal or if it's simple. It's not like "we simply create it" they have their ideas and processes but maybe they are not fancying to tell everyone about it.

[@ShadyRonin]

The questions are just fake typical bullshit. Icelandic culture does not open up or respond to people asking fake questions. Ask fake questions get fake answers.

[@forman208]

Then don't do a fucking interview if you're not going to speak. This really shouldn't have to be explained to you lol.

[@FuriousMuze]

Georg is all like. "oh okay, I'll answer it" hahha

[@mavs2147]

Can't believe people are actually blaming the interviewer. It's like the band went out of their way to sound disinterested and rude. At least be professional.

[@mohanidzhd]

"how do you guys create a song" WTF is that question??? how the fk does someone answer that??

[@mohanidzhd]

Also its not the band job to make the interview better. They simply supposed to answer the questions, and he gave retarded questions.

[@lazybonez1059]

mohanidzhd How about you dissect the question some and not take it for face value? Explain your thought process, where you draw influences and inspiration from, what programs and instruments you use. Use your brain a bit.

[@mohanidzhd]

Jason Jones Its not their job to give a good interview. They could have handled it better but they just answered like any human being. Here's analysis if you have the time www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2011/01/developing-your-interviewing-skills-part-i-preparing-for-an-interview.php

[@DoubleTen95]

Obviously they speak English but I think there is somewhat of a language barrier and if not that just a cultural barrier in general. It's worth noting that the interviewer was really pushy and couldn't get the hint to stop bombarding them with the same question

[@forman208]

How are idiots blaming the interviewer? These guys were giving one sentence, often even one word answers, for every question he asked. I just don't understand why they'd do an interview if they had no interest in talking

[@lxworld]

They behaved arrogantly in my opinion

[@gillianwray9051]

Yeah. Rude. And disrespectful, not just to the interviewer but also the listeners, some of whom were presumably fans.

[@yinoveryang4246]

Okay here's your answer: It's because the questions are profoundly, profoundly stupid. The band are likely EMBARRASSED for the interviewers sake.

[@ShadyRonin]

The questions were insulting. He treated these guys like they were children instead of adults

[@pipleehk]

If you ever play music or create music, you would know these questions are stupid. We don’t discuss when we make music. Just jam together and try interact and feel the sounds and get inspiration along the way. All work out naturally. Or sometimes it doesn’t work then we will stop playing together. Not that we have any plan to do anything or achieve a certain product beforehand. We cannot explain in a few words how to create it.

[@deathdealer8185]

Silence is gold.

[@mikekell920]

let the cringe flow through you

[@nimaetminai]

mike hunt LMFAO! good one!

[@downtown82]

This is so painful. I love their music though...

[@ColeDaNerd]

I love how silent they are after the first question

[@suegha]

This is one of the funniest things that I have seen for a very long time, fantastic!

[@santanasbananas]

This is gold.

[@ThatOneScienceGuy]

Exactly, if I was the interviewer I would have cut the interview short and walked out of the studio.

[@KittenFlower66]

Phenomenon....These motherfuckers are artists, dude. I like the silence between the asked questions and the answer.

[@JaimeChinchilla]

"fascinating interviews like this" 2:34 LMAO

[@jeffmurray6219]

The greatest interview ever. Totally captivated by the silence.

[@NikhilBapat]

a nightmare for the interviewer xD

[@barrywonderdog]

I've done similarly distressing interviews. Everyone fears dead air and if the people won't answer your questions, you tend to follow up with either a leading question or polar questions, which invariably end up with the interviewee responding with a 'yes' or a 'no' and more dead air. The worst one I had was discovering I was the 15th person to interview someone that day and no-one told me until 10 minutes before that the person I had been expecting to interview had been taken ill!

[@theswaks]

Best interview I have ever saw! I love them even more now.

[@evesaidah]

this was FUN to watch ...... they are so much FUN:-) am crying.....

[@jacksonharden21]

"How do you guys create a song?" "We just sit down.... and create a song."

[@philthepower11]

Why does Jónsi have to be so incredible even when he's being so awkward?!! Love it, and him

[@staticguy]

Thanks for posting this! It's everything you said it would be.

[@tjtoonz]

lol one word answers. this legit killed me, because they are so taleneted u would think from the sound of their music they would be very expressive about the music they make lol

[@brandonpotoczek7583]

That interview was perfect.

[@usernameaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Sounds like one of my college classes I'm in rn, just silence for nearly a minute after the professor asks a question, it's painful.

[@sophia66]

that's the most hilarious interview I've ever seen!!!

[@AngryHippyRants]

Brilliant interview, in my opinion, on the band's part; showed me that they don't take themselves or the socalled 'business' of music too seriously. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me they just want to make beautiful music and videos. And that's good enough for me. Thanks Sigur Ros!!

[@pappynj]

Why is it such a surprise that primarily lyric-less musicians would give a primarily wordless interview? They're doing what they always do, and that is so refreshingly beautiful and soul cleansing to me. Gling glo.

[@labbern]

This is my favorite interview in the universe!

[@netwuv3399]

ASMR interview?

[@aileenslo]

wow I feel so bad for the interviewer!

[@lukosius1221]

This was a very nice interview. They were polite yet completely professionals, and most importantly people who love what they do, and all of the questions were, sorry, but complete bullshits. They were regular, superficial questions that every celebrity is asked and everyone always answers: oh no, of course not, I did not expect that, it was absolutely AMAZING, i mean to get that much appreciation, it really inspired us to work on our music bla bla....you could say: no as they did n it's enough

[@breno2342]

They aren't very interview-friendly... The questions weren't amazing or anything, but it's just common courtesy to indulge them.

[@CesarCepeda2014]

They just play Love.......my favourite band..love them.

[@ChipZilla69]

wow, Iceland must be a blast, that looked like a lot of fun.

[@javimiami92]

It’s like Hawaii in British weather, and without any vegetation. Pretty dreadful.

[@81Mace81]

@@javimiami92 Pretty sure they don't get heat waves like Britain does.

[@erindonovan]

This is truly funny, they really don't give the interviewer a break at all.

[@YellowJerseyProdt]

The questions are boring and unimaginative, Sigur Ros completely shoved them right back in his face

[@noskme]

best interview i ever seen!

[@mep31]

This interview made me know about Sigur Ros 5 years ago... Best decision of my life was to search for their music... not their interviews

[@niggafromthahood6926]

"you guys just thought you wanted to make music? what about motivation?" "yeah we just wanted to make music"

[@zulhilmi50]

i love this video description. BANG!

[@jeniocon]

How funny are Sigur Ros!! lol Love it :) :)

[@BabsJohnson111]

I like how Jonsi turns his head after the first question and the awkward silence and looks as if he immediatly realized that this gonna be terrible

[@cambees]

Good on the interviewer for remaining polite, and good on you guys for publishing this! Well handled.

[@turningonfans]

amazing as usual

[@brophy62]

wow, what a brutal interview.. i have seen many other interviews.. this is rough to watch, but they are great no matter what

[@debonaire_nerd]

They need Shia LaBeouf in there

[@krrristaaa]

ok. hands down best interview ever.

[@rackzor]

Best interview ever.

[@MagnumEvolved]

"How do you create a song?" He wanted to know if they had a specific writing process/method. They could have told him a multitude of things in response to each question, but instead they created an extremely awkward environment that neither benefited the interviewer, the show's audience or themselves.

[@fordism.01]

They did that beautifully well to. How to kill an interviewer live on air 8n spectacular fashion. It's an art form they truly mastered

[@terenceflynn5125]

I completely disagree. I’m here ten years later because this interview is still being mentioned. It’s hilarious. People like cringeworthy comedy now.

[@MagnumEvolved]

@@terenceflynn5125 ahaha yeah looking at my comment today it feels overdramatic. They seem like pretty chill guys who just like music and don't overthink it. The interviewer probably should have just dropped the script and tried to have a more simple conversation or something

[@JohnSmith-yd5wq]

@@terenceflynn5125 imagine thinking it's cool to make someone else's job harder. You would think they would want to promote their music. Which what was the interviewer was trying to do. But they were to cool to do so

[@kosapeti]

:D what a great interview!

[@Ataraxian666]

Some people just want to watch the world cringe.

[@cuedotfilms4427]

What I love about them is there not up them selves. They simply make fantastic music and are genuine good people.

[@joshualuke7003]

That's what you got from this? Because I got the total opposite. They seemed so up themselves that they couldn't treat the interview like a fellow human worthy of acknowledgement and basic courtesy and seemed to go out of their way to be standoffish and rude.

[@weronikaaleksandra879]

@Joshua Luke The interviewer broke almost every rule of interviewing, so yeah, it's not really their fault 😅

[@Phriendship]

The members of Sigur Ros are painfully quiet.

[@danhealy79]

Wow, riveting questions and commentary...

[@Myself6M]

You guys are the best! I love your honesty.

[@Abril507]

I know is boring but I just LOVED it! Sigur rós is just so down to earth, so not in the type of "entertainers", they are just the most simple and humble human beings! I just love them!

[@maynordj]

No one is at fault here. there is no cringe. Its just the differences in Culture. Americans like to talk about themselves and are there to sell something. Europeans are less egocentric and just more straightforward.... I loved this Very refreshing.

[@timtopsnav]

Hahaha love these guys

[@Gqgeorge1453]

Why do an interview if you dont want to be interviewed

[@Metal-Possum]

If you worked in the music business, you'd soon understand how little control you have other these things...

[@jimmygrey6848]

Its called a press junket and it's usually part of every entertainment industry contract...

[@benjamincasey6617]

Have to meet mutual obligations with labels

[@spambotful]

Alex Paulsen don’t work in the music business if you can’t cope with something as basic as a radio interview

[@shiobuzz3724]

@@spambotful That's bullshit and stupid

[@krrristaaa]

"It's no lyrics . . . it's just blah blah blah . . . la la la" haha such an outstandingly awkward interview.

[@beauzammusic]

It's like they are purposely trying to give as short and vague responses as they possibly can 😂

[@wafflesmakemylife]

hahahaha that was SO AWKWARD. I love them.

[@kmarie2362]

I wish I had never seen this interview. It was completely disenchanting. Pulled me out of my Sigur Ros themed fantasies right back to reality. What is up with you guys? I felt so bad for the interview. Still love Sigur Ros, what can I say?

[@MarcosJ-mq4lk]

The media creates Golden Calf's , you just experience the reality that THESE people are just that....People!

[@maynordj]

No one is at fault here. there is no cringe. Its just the differences in Culture. Americans like to talk about themselves and are there to sell something. Europeans are less egocentric and just more straightforward.... I loved this Very refreshing

[@mraymond77]

@@maynordj lol yeah we Americans, always out to sell something. This is quite a broad brush you paint with.

[@maynordj]

@@mraymond77 I was speaking to the culture as opposed to Icelandic culture. Should've clarified. Apologies

[@rebeccabalzanibarrow]

@@maynordj - I'm European, and they come across as rude AF.

[@qlHlp]

Woww... What an incredibly exciting interview! But seriously I get where they're coming from but give a little!!! Fans watch your interviews to learn about you

[@Dave222122]

man those guys look like a lot of fun to be around.

[@tslug]

That is such an awesomely lifeless interview, but poor Bryant handled it with aplomb!

[@keyboardqueen98]

You still rock in my book, boys!

[@lordaizen2684]

God I love this! 😂😂

[@Howdidyoudie]

Dude the interviewer doesnt even let them talk he just jumps from question to question lol

[@josephrcharo]

I love this band have have them tattooed on my chest. To me this interview was hilarious. This band doesn't need to explain their process.

[@syncopath]

great interview !! 10x. a brilliant example 4 the futile questions commonly used by interviewers .... and yes, the cold affiliation of Sigur Ros to verbal articulation .... seems they are made 2 make music !!

[@Iewkas]

haha, so funny. "and take part in FASCINATING interviews like this" LOL

[@AnalogCabinRecording]

best interview ever

[@JaneDoe-qf1kk]

Best comment ever

[@dstarr3]

Thank you for pronouncing "Sigur Ros" for me. I can now talk about them with my friends.

[@ozdogan76]

My impression is creating their music is SO NATURAL PROCESS for them and they do not take themselves TOO SERIOUSLY; which might result an unusual interview experience forviewers like us... I might be totally wrong though.

[@birdshapes]

hahaha this is so beautiful \m/

[@rufusslothrop1356]

I put the blame on the youtube comment section.

[@zeitgeistry]

Not at all surprised by how this interview went. Songs that they create are just as abstract and minimalist.

[@cluelessbeats]

these guys are completely mindful.

[@ErasedTapes]

flawless.

[@buckleygeneration]

Georg's voice + accent is fantastic in combination.

[@zayanalove1274]

Icelandic people seem to be very evolved, highly conscious and mostly quiet. I spent 8 days in Iceland and found myself in one too many an awkward situation when i tried to tell stupid american jokes or make small talk. I love Iceland and its' people with all my heart! Land of Magic and Beauty! And Sigur Ros' music captures IT!

[@achilleous]

props to the interviewer, not his fault that the members of sigur ros ONLY know how to make music, NOT socialize and interact with other people...

[@iamcornelia]

Good to know: Before the interview, Sigur Ros had about an hours chat with the interviewer. He seemed to be at level, asking them relevant stuff, being truly interested. Then, when live and on air he started asking these terrible, stupid questions. They were stunned at his behaviour, and probably got pretty pissed off.

[@rebeccabalzanibarrow]

How are his questions 'terrible' or 'stupid'? He's asking questions that a lot of their audience might be interested to hear. They just sound super pissed off all round.

[@ShadyRonin]

@@rebeccabalzanibarrow his questions are extremely typical boring generic garbage. Paparazzi ask these types of questions. These dudes wanted to have a *real* conversation, talking about real shit, things you talk about at 2am after a drink when you’re out on a balcony and trying to really get to know someone a bit and understand their struggles. The dude pivoted from being a thoughtful introspective person to this cardboard cutout interviewer and the guys were thrown off by the fakery of it all.

[@iammaryly]

Loll. This was funny! Hahaha ❤️🎙

[@Abril507]

Why have they posted my comment as spam?! Why are Sigur Rós haters even watching this??? I will repeat it: I DON'T CARE IF THIS INTERVIEW IS BORING, I LOVE THAT THEY ARE SO DOWN TO EARTH, SO NORMAL, SO HUMAN BEINGS! I JUST LOVE THEIR MUSIC AND THE WAY THEY HAVE HANDLE "FAME"! Annie Lynn agrees with me!

[@greatsea]

Nice revision of the old "whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you".

[@GeraltinWoW]

Holy shit. I feel bad for the interviewer, being in this situation must be seriously frustrating and nerve wracking

[@johnmondo]

Best. Interview. Ever.

[@themagdalenx]

... my God, these questions make me wince.

[@biancachen]

HAHA! I love them. They weren't rude. They are just over the answering the same mundane questions.

[@jonnybyrne989]

They were pretentious at best an arrogant dickheads at worst

[@pappersark]

hahaha. Omg I love these guys!

[@Thereisnosp00000n]

At around 5:20 I woke up with a jolt. This is not a video, it's a knockout-pill.

[@SeeSarahGo]

This is so hilariously awkward and we're the ones with a visual. Imagine what the people were thinking who had been listening that day.

[@spoiledrottengreatdane9580]

4:03 hahahaha!!! Yeah, you tell him Jonsi! XD

[@gargh]

A clip of this interview is in their new film, Inni. It's kinda hilarious!