Airwaves : Sævar Jóhannsson

Sævar Jóhannsson is an award-winning pianist and composer based in Reykjavík, Iceland. His music blends introspective piano melodies with warm string arrangements, exploring the fullness of humanity; sometimes melancholic, but at the same time playful and hopeful. His latest album Quiet Presence (2025) received widespread acclaim, earning three nominations at the Icelandic Music Awards and winning Album of the Year. A deeply personal reflection on home, belonging, and identity, ‘Quiet Presence’ is inspired by a childhood shaped by frequent relocations. Through organic piano textures, strings and subtle electronics, the album searches for ground in a shifting world.

“For every grammy-nominated, internationally-touring, Ólafur Arnalds there’s a Sævar Jóhannsson: quietly putting out beautiful music.”
-Reykjavík Grapevine Music Awards 2023