Greta Salóme and Jónsi are seemingly a match made in heaven. Both artists have distinctly different musical backgrounds, but fit each other perfectly when performing their entry Never Forget.
Greta Salóme Stefánsdóttir was born in 1986 and grew up in Mosfellsbær. She was heavily influenced by music from an early age, with her mother, Kristin Lilliendahl and her grandfather, Karl Lilliendahl having strong connections to the music industry. In 1991, at the age of four, Greta Salóme undertook violin studies which would eventually lead her to enrol in the Reykjavík College of Music aged just thirteen. At eighteen, she was accepted into the Iceland Academy of Arts, graduating in 2008. She has continued her studies and is presently working towards a master’s degree, specialising in advanced vocal technique.
Alongside her studies, the busy musician also holds a position as violinist with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, performing with them on a regular basis.
Jón Jósep Snæbjörnsson or Jónsi as he is otherwise known, is probably a familiar face to most Eurovision fans. He first made an appearance at the contest for Iceland in 2004 singing the haunting ballad Heaven, which mystically went largely unnoticed by the televoters, only managing to scrape into 19th place. What many probably aren’t aware of is that Jónsi is a respected vocalist outside of the Eurovision bubble in his native Iceland, both as a solo artist and as part of the band Í Svörtum Fötum (Dressed in Black).
The singer with the jaw dropping bone structure hails from the north of Iceland, born in Akureyri in 1977. His interest for music and song began at an early age, but it wasn’t before he took the plunge and moved to Reykjavík in 1997 that things started to happen career wise. In 1999 he joined the band Í Svörtum Fötum which propelled him to stardom with their breakthrough hit Nakinn (Naked) in 2001. The group have become one of the most well known and popular groups in Iceland, with a loyal fan base and with 6 albums to their name: Verkefni 1 (Project 1, 2000), Í Svörtum Fötum (2002), Tengsl (Connection, 2003), Meðan Ég Sef (While I Sleep, 2004), Orð (Words, 2006) and Tímabil (Period, 2010). Some of their biggest hits have garnered the band critical acclaim, including Dag Sem Dimma Nátt (A Day like the Darkest Night), Paradís (Paradise) and the Christmas evergreen Jólin Eru Að Koma (Christmas is Coming).
The multi talented vocalist has also tread the boards, appearing in amongst other things, a national production of the musical Grease, starring alongside fellow Eurovision entrant Birgitta Haukdal (2003), who played Sandy opposite Danny, played by Jónsi.He has also tried his hand at being a television presenter, hosting the popular shows Singing Bee and Skolahreysti.
During his career he has been nominated for various awards, including best live performer and vocalist of the year in 2003. Following his appearance at the 2004 contest in Istanbul, he released his first and only critically acclaimed self-titled solo album in 2005. Since then, Jónsi has tried once more to represent Iceland, performing his entry Segðu Mér (Tell Me) in the 2007 national selection Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins, where he failed to reach the final three. Jónsi still lives in Reykjavík today where he has made his home together with his wife and two children.
