On Releasing The Fastest-Selling Debut Album In Icelandic History

Asgeir Trausti Einarsson has had a busy few years. His debut album Dyro i dauoapogn became the fast-selling debut album in Icelandic history when it was released back in 2012. It's estimated that one-tenth of the population of Iceland own a copy, and it even outperformed his fellow Icelandic counterparts Bjork (her self-titled debut) and Sigur Ros' Von. It's something that isn't lost on the 25-old-year.

"I'm just thankful. I don't really know how to feel about it. I'm just really thankful for that, ever so," says Trausti Einarsson. "It gave me a lot. I think I'm much more complete as a musician now than I was when I was starting out. That big kind of stuff, that was kind of a push to go and do all the things I'm doing, and really I'm just thankful for that."

Two years after the release of Dyro i dauoapogn, Trausti Einarsson played a set at Splendour In The Grass and then two sold-out shows at Sydney Opera House the year after. He's back on Australian shores this week to perform once again at the festival and share his new work, Afterglow.

When asked if he thinks he gained a whole lot of new Australian fans on his last Splendour trip, he laughs and shares, "I guess so, I don't really know how to measure it. I just remember that there were many, many people watching the show so I guess we won some over.

"We really love coming there. For all of us [his band], it's one of our favourite countries to tour and it's so different to what we're used to, obviously, and the audience has always been great," he says.

"I think the setlist is a bit stronger now so we can pick the most powerful songs to play at festivals like Splendour In The Grass," he explains. "We have as well - I don't know if we're going to use it, but we have a little bit more production on stage so it's going to be a little bit more visual than before, which I think helps the show a lot. I think that's what you can expect. I think it's just going to be really fun.

"On the sideshows, it will probably be a bit [of a] longer setlist. The sideshows are probably a bit more dynamic."

This time 'round, Trausti Einarsson has invited Aussie artist Gordi to join him for his sideshows. "I discovered her music a few years ago and I think it's great. It's really, really good, and I think our music has something in common. I don't really know what it is but maybe it's just a feeling. I just think it's a good fit."

As for what's on after his Australian stint, Trausti Einarsson and his band plan to continue touring Afterglow for the rest of the year and enjoy some much-deserved downtime. "We'll be touring in the States and we're going to play in Iceland in the autumn. We'll be touring Europe a little bit as well," he says. "Then, in between, I'm just going to enjoy time back home."