Björk is currently in Paris with her old laptop camera not working, but she doesn’t mind as she prefers not to replace it for environmental reasons. She jokes and teases during our conversation, even though she feels a bit weird about video calls, preferring audio for a more authentic connection. She reveals she is currently in a hotel room wearing a bathrobe, with the sound of a plumber working in the background.
Her recent tour, Cornucopia, was an ambitious project that spanned five years and produced two albums. It featured a cave on stage to replicate the acoustics of singing alone in nature. Björk describes the tour as over-the-top and flamboyant, a departure from her usual style.
She reflects on her career, mentioning her shift to musical residencies instead of constant touring and her efforts to create a more balanced and inclusive work environment. Despite her optimistic outlook, she acknowledges that everyone has shadows and light within them.
Björk recently turned 59 and has settled in Iceland full-time after selling her Brooklyn apartment. She continues to push boundaries in her music and performances, always striving for something new and innovative. Her daughter, Ísadóra Bjarkardóttir Barney, is now 22 years old, while her son, Sindri Eldon þórsson, is 38 years old. Reflecting on her time in Brooklyn, she mentioned, „Every year I was a little bit less in Brooklyn. It was a gradual fade, like 10 years, or something.“ When asked if Reykjavik is now her forever home, she responded, „I mean, I think so. I’ve always lived there 60%, so for me, I’ve never moved away from that. When I’m there, I don’t do any press or I don’t go to any openings. I just live a very quiet sort of low-key life. So people usually don’t know I’m there, as well.” She also shared that while she finds other places tempting, she believes that the UK and Iceland are not the most appealing during winter months.
Björk is known for her activism alongside her artistry. From protesting against commercial whaling in Iceland to supporting various causes through her music, she remains dedicated to making a difference. Despite her activism, she prefers to keep her music and activism separate.
Growing up in a commune-like environment, Björk learned to separate her music from her political beliefs. However, she enjoys breaking her own rules at times, like with her song „Declare Independence.“ She also revealed that her sense of humor is often hidden but evident in her work.
With a diverse discography of 10 studio albums, Björk prides herself on not creating music solely for commercial purposes. She believes that music is a celebration and aims to capture various aspects of her character through her songs. Recently, she has been remixing her old albums for Dolby Atmos, exploring new ways to experience her music. „Dann haben Sie Lieder, die in irgendeinem Klo oder so aufgenommen wurden“, lacht sie. „Manchmal finde ich es ein wenig verwirrend, wenn Leute denken, ich war wirklich poppig und dann hörte ich plötzlich auf, poppig zu sein. Das ist nicht der Fall.“
Wenn Björk sich heute den Mainstream-Pop ansieht, frage ich mich, ob sie jemanden sieht und sich in den 1990er Jahren wiedererkennt, als sie ein Mainstream-Popstar war, wenn auch nicht ganz beabsichtigt? „Ich habe zum Glück einen Blinden Fleck bei mir selbst. Die meisten Leute können sich nicht sehen, was sie sind, im Kontext der Welt. Also ist es für mich wirklich schwer, mich mit anderen zu vergleichen. Ich sehe ein altes Foto von mir und denke, ‚Oh, wow!‘ Ich bin genauso überrascht wie jeder andere. Ich weiß, wie es sich von innen nach außen anfühlt, nicht umgekehrt, wenn das irgendwie Sinn macht?“
Ein Telefon klingelt laut, diesmal ein echtes. Björk spricht über Smekkleysa (Bad Taste), ein Plattenlabel und einen Laden in Reykjavik, das sie als Teenager mitbegründet hat, und die neue Generation, die daraus hervorgeht. „Sie helfen uns mit viel Energie und Spaß und allem Genialen“, sagt sie. „Es ist immer noch DIY, Plakate von Hand machen, oh Entschuldigung, ich muss…“ Das Telefon klingelt weiter. „Ja, ich muss gehen“, sagt sie. „Es tut mir leid.“ Und schon ist das schwarze Quadrat verschwunden.
Björks Cornucopia, 60 £, ist jetzt erhältlich (shop.bjork.com)