Gabriel Olafs 'Absent Minded'

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Last Show: Thursday 23 rd May 2019

The Pheasantry (Chelsea)

Gabriel Olafs possesses an exceptional talent for telling a stirring symphonic story through instrumental music. At just 19, the composer and pianist wowed viewers and a live audience on Icelandic TV during his first ever live performance, where he was discovered by Björk’s manager Derek Birkett, announcing a record deal with One Little Indian Records shortly after. April 2nd will see Gabriel perform his debut headline show in London.

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“My favourite thing is to compose a ‘theme’ for somebody – a character or even a place. A memorable melody that instantly takes you somewhere else” the young musician elucidates. At just 14 years old he wrote ‘Absent Minded’ – an imagined theme tune and subsequent lead single from his forthcoming debut album of the same name, out __ on One Little Indian. “I am very visually-minded, and I often compose to an imaginary story or character. You could say my album is a score to a non-existent film.”

Olafs is expert in the art of tension, creating a lingering breath in between the gaps – something he observes about good movies. Single ‘Absent Minded’ expresses those lost-in-thought moments, the daydreams, the imaginary worlds we create in our quietest hours. Called so, because people have always referred to Olafs as ‘absent minded’; “I like to imagine things and let my mind drift off” he says. “The piece is very personal to me - I've had this melody in my head ever since I was 14, and I finally completed the piece this year.”

The teenage pianist would admit to being somewhat isolated growing up in his small Icelandic hometown, creating cinematic moments in his head from mundane things he sees around and nearby the house; a poster of a French cyclist, his mother gardening, the harbour down the road, a female friend who is named after an Icelandic bird, ‘Lóa’. His home studio is his world, his family home his universe.

April 2nd will see Gabriel perform his debut headline show in London. 

https://gabrielolafs.com/