In an age of overstimulation and restless ambition, Icelandic singer-songwriter Valborg Ólafs offers something profoundly different; music that exhales. With her new single ‘Breathe With Me’, she invites us into a world where stillness becomes strength, and simplicity reveals unexpected depth.
Blending glacial synths with indie-folk warmth and a touch of avant-pop mystique, ‘Breathe With Me’ is a meditation. Written in a quiet moment of reflection beneath the mountains of Eyjafjöll, the track speaks to the transformative power of nature, love, and surrender. It’s a portrait of a life reoriented, from the noise of city life to the quiet resilience of the Icelandic countryside, where Ólafs now lives and farms alongside her husband.
Known for her gentle yet emotionally resonant voice, Valborg has carved a space that’s distinctly her own; whisper-soft yet full of gravitas, her music radiates intimacy while tapping into something vast and elemental. As she begins 2026 with ‘Breathe With Me’, we sat down with Valborg to talk about songwriting, slowing down, and finding belonging in unexpected places.
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Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
Since I was a little girl, I have been singing a lot, it was the first thing that my mother noticed about me. I started singing before I could talk. I never really learned any instruments in school, but I could play by ear. I started to write my own songs on the piano around 10 years old. I have been in a few bands and that is what brings me a lot of joy. I love writing songs; it’s something about the melodies that keep me going.
Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?
My sound is still growing but when I was in upper secondary school, high school I listened to Mumford and Sons, postal service, Kings of Leon, Eagles, red hot Chili peppers, Silversun Pickups and stuff like that. Then in the last few years I have been listening a lot to PJ Harvey, Bat for Lashes, Phoebe Bridgers, Lizzy McAlpine, Chris Stapleton, Gillian Welch and Fleetwood mac so I name some bands.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to pursue music seriously?
Music is something that I have always known that I need to do. My soul is being a singer, if that says something. There is no special moment that took me into the music industry.
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
My typical songwriting process > The best time for me is to write songs in the morning when I get my first cup of coffee and also the melodies come with some kind of lyrics when I am taking a bath or in the pool. Being in water makes my soul sing. I can hear a sound and then I start to make a melody over it.
The song comes first and then it can take a bit of time to write the lyrics.
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
My inspiration for my music is everything that is around me. We bought land in the countryside of Iceland 2014 and here I feel alive and the beauty of nature takes me to a good place. The people that live in the countryside are amazing and hard-working people. I have learned a lot from them and feel what truly matters.
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
I hope that people get a good feeling when they listen to my music. That there is always something more to be excited about. There is light in all the darkness. Sometimes I feel like I want to help people with my songs, because it helps me.
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
There are a lot of challenges to face in the music industry. It’s the passion for music that keeps you going. It’s expensive to keep your head up and pay for everything around it so your songs can be heard. Financial instability due to high production, marketing costs and low streaming revenue.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
For me the most rewarding aspect of my music journey was November 2019 when I was playing in a music festival with my band in Iceland that is called Iceland Airwaves and straight after we went to a Canadian music festival that is called Indie week. That was a real dream come true.
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
I am an old school person, so I try my best to be true to myself in every way, maybe sometimes too much because of how to keep up with this industry when people don’t know what’s real and what’s not in this IA world. I have a wonderful life, and I believe that everything that I do has a reason for it.
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or tours?
We are releasing our third album in the beginning of May 2026 and after that we will play as much as we can and travel with our music.
Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next five years?
In the next 5 years we will be known as great musicians with great songs that are still creating real stuff from scratch (authentic) and not let the AI take over our instruments or creativity. Just like the old days when bands were rocking and rolling and making the real magic come true.
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Listen to Valborg Ólafs’ new single ‘Breathe With Me’ below.
