Blue Plate Special: Of Monsters and Men
Of Monsters And Men emerged from the dreamy, windswept landscapes of Iceland as a group of self-described daydreamers crafting enchanting folk-pop with a cinematic flair. From their humble beginnings as a solo acoustic project by vocalist Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, the band blossomed into a six-member ensemble, quickly turning heads after winning the 2010 Músíktilraunir battle of the bands. Their breakout single “Little Talks,” with its jubilant horns and dual vocals, introduced a lush, layered sound that felt both whimsical and deeply human—equal parts fairytale and thunderclap. Visually and sonically, they create a world that lives between the quiet magic of Icelandic folklore and the euphoric surge of arena-ready choruses.
Their music lives in contrasts: delicate acoustic fingerpicking meets crashing percussion, ethereal harmonies soar above lyrics that touch on love, loss, isolation, and imagination. Influenced by both mythical narratives and raw human emotion, the band’s sound blends Nordic melancholy with indie-rock bravado, echoing the narrative complexity of Arcade Fire and the melodic earnestness of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, yet remaining distinctly their own.
Visually, Of Monsters and Men lean into the surreal and storybook-like, often embracing whimsical masks, fog-drenched forests, and dreamlike aesthetics that mirror their lyrical storytelling. Their evolving catalog—from the folk-driven My Head Is an Animal, through the darker, moodier Beneath the Skin, to the electronic flourishes of Fever Dream and their latest release, Television Love—reveals a band unafraid to explore new terrain while holding onto the magic that first catapulted them to international stardom. At their core, they remain modern bards, inviting listeners into a sonic world where the mystical and the melancholic dance together in brilliant harmony.
Some favorites from their catalog:
Little Talks – from the album My Head is an Animal (2012)
Dirty Paws – from the album My Head is an Animal (2012)
Visitor – from the single Visitor (2020)
Empire – from the album My Head is an Animal (2012)
Crystals – from the album Beneath the Skin (2015)
Television Love – from the single Television Love (2025)
Alligator – from the album Fever Dream (2019)
King and Lionheart – from the album My Head is an Animal (The Cabin Sessions) (2022)
