Amiina

Amiina (formerly Amína and Aníma) is an Icelandic musical quartet composed of Hildur Ársælsdóttir (born January 31, 1980), Edda Rún Ólafsdóttir (born February 3, 1978), Maria Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir (born September 29, 1980), and Sólrún Sumarliðadóttir (born August 10, 1977). They frequently perform live and in the studio along with Sigur Rós. Back in 2001 violinist Ólöf Júlía was part of the band but has since been replaced by Hildur Ársælsdóttir.

The quartet's music is made with a great number of instruments. It contains elements of minimalistic style, contemporary classical, ambient, and electronic loops.

In their performances, each of them plays from the large range of instruments, moving from one instrument—and side of the stage—to another mid-song, often after sampling.

Before adopting their name Amiina, the group were initially a string quartet: María and Hildur as violinists, Edda as violist, and Sólrún as cellist. As a string quartet Amiina have recorded work with Sigur Rós, notably on the award-winning album as well as its follow-up, Takk....

Their first commercially-available recording was the four-track EP Animamina. This was followed by their first single, "Seoul". Their first full-length album, Kurr, was released March 21, 2007, through the band's own label, Bláskjár. It was re-released by Ever Records in June 2007.

When Sigur Rós ceased touring in July 2006, Amiina followed with their first solo tours of Europe and America in October and November. Following the release of Kurr, they toured North America in March and April and Europe in May.

The song "Hilli" was released on December 10, 2007 as the second single from the album Kurr. It is a collaboration between Amiina and Lee Hazelwood whose vocals (the last recording before his death) are mixed with a reworked version of the original song.

Amiina appeared in the Icelandic movie Brúðguminn, (White Night Wedding) released early 2008.

Prior to their 2009 release of Re Minore Amiina toured with a drummer named Magnús Trygvason Eliassen (usually referred to as Maggi) who, together with Kippi Kaninus, joined the band on the EP. Both are now participating in the recording of Amiina's forthcoming second studio album during spring or summer of 2010.

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