Rising Icelandic DIY-pop duo BSÍ have confirmed the release of their two part debut album, ‘Sometimes depressed… but always antifascist’ - due for release on Friday 21st May.
One of the most unconventional bands to break out of Iceland in recent years, BSÍ began under the premise of trying instruments they didn't know how to play. Silla Thorarensen (drums & vocals) and Julius Pollux Rothlaender (bass guitar & toe-synths) understand their band as a playground for simply being who they are; two best friends, rumbling and rolling through life, not taking themselves too seriously and struggling with self-doubts and imperfection while trying to see these as empowering virtues, unafraid to just do and be what, or however they feel.
When it comes to their upcoming debut album, the title pretty much states how Silla & Julius have felt during the time of writing and recording it, or more programmatically, what they feel BSÍ has been about so far: 'Sometimes depressed ... but always antifascist'.
Directing sorrow and the raw energy of joy and anger to two distinctly different sides, they created an album that might as well be a twin EP, five songs low key heartbreak melancholy, five songs riot grrrl lofi-cute-punk.
BSÍ's debut album touches equally upon the endless fall, vulnerability and intimacy of loss and leaving – while on the other side celebrating sunny summer days, salty knees and the idea of a feminist world revolution.
The album's title was inspired by a slogan that the band discovered at a punk festival. Manoeuvring through the crowd they spotted a t-shirt of a football fanclub promoting the importance of mental health. 'Sometimes depressed … but always antifascist' will be released 21st May digitally and on recycled vinyl with the help of BSÍ's friends at Tomatenplatten (Berlin), Why Not? Plötur (Reykjavík) and post-dreifing (Reykjavík). The album was recorded together with Alison MacNeil in Reykjavík, Thomas Götz in Berlin, mixed by Francine Perry in London and mastered by Sarah Register in New York City.
BSÍ usually has more questions than answers, is sometimes sad, sometimes happy, has been through heartbreaks and great love, likes trúnó and tahini sauce with dill, spends its little savings on going to psychotherapists and would like to join you in your fight of smashing kyriarchy, that is: smashing sexism, racism, ableism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia and all other social systems based on oppressive, hierarchical and patriarchal structures.