Keeping up with Jónsi

"I'm absolutely sublime, thank you for asking." Jónsi is in chipper mood when The Skinny catches him for a chat, despite an arduous day of press calls and photo shoots. When it's noted that he and his Sigur Rós bandmates have a reputation for a certain amount of reclusivity, and that his willingness to chat appears out of character, he responds with a nonchalant "Maybe I'm just getting older and losing my principles somewhat!"

Mr Jón “Jónsi” Thór Birgisson is in the UK in advance of the release of his first solo album, Go, although his primary concern at this point in time is his distinct lack of sartorial options for the aforementioned shoots. "I have a tiny wardrobe. One sweater, one pants and I just wear them all the time. I'm not bothered about it, but maybe I could do with a nice shirt or something."

In the aftermath of rumours which circulated last year that Sigur Rós were putting the finishing touches to a new album, Jónsi is keen to set the record straight. "I've been hearing that rumour a lot myself. We started a few months ago putting some songs together, but I think people have been getting the wrong end of the stick, because we decided to start from scratch again at some point. We got rid of the rehearsal space in our studio because we felt it was time to change, move on and experience a new working environment, do something different." Whilst refusing to divulge what precisely 'something different' entails, he is insistent that his decision to fly solo is not an indication of the demise of Sigur Rós. "I wanted to do one for many years and now turned out to be a good time to do it because there's a baby boom going on in the band, so it's perfect scheduling for me."

So, is this an opportunity to attempt a new approach at music outwith the confines of the band? Apparently not. "There's nothing as such I think I can't do in the band. Mainly, for me, it was an opportunity to clean out the attic a little because I have so many songs that I haven't finished and I wanted to do just that. These are just my songs, not Sigur Rós songs, because, in the band everybody works together. There's nobody who brings a song to Sigur Rós and says 'Play that'. So, in that 16 year period that we've been together – wow, what a long time – I have a shitload of songs I wrote myself at home." Happily conceding a workaholic penchant, he admits however, that this is not likely to be his last solo offering. "I've enjoyed the process, and I like trying new things and keeping busy, so yes, I'd love to make another album by myself."

Of course, Jónsi is quick to recognise that such an undertaking can't entirely be accomplished alone, and is quick to acknowledge his collaboration with classical virtuoso Nico Muhly (who has worked with a disparate group of musicians such as Philip Glass and Björk). Providing the arrangement throughout, Jónsi, without formal music training himself, is keen to give Muhly's learnedness a great deal of credit. He is not, however, convinced of the merits of a formal education. "The less training there is, the better I think it can be. I have strong views on schools... basically I hate them. I'm really into it when people aren't moulded in some ways. I work with a lot of people who are trained of course and it has helped me to get my vision across. For example, Nico is a super genius and very highly trained, so it was very insightful for me to work with someone like that. I wanted the string arrangement to be a little different from Sigur Rós, be more crazy, playful and vibrant and as I can't write a single note it was perfect for me just to say to Nico 'OK, I want this here, can we have this part here, can we have more flying around, more colours?' It was scary but liberating, creative and spontaneous. Really quite exciting!"

This is not the first instance that Jónsi has produced a volume of work outwith his band. Last year, he produced the well-received instrumental album Riceboy Sleeps in collaboration with boyfriend Alex Somers. Openness about his sexuality has never been a problem throughout his musical career, though he does admit that it might have been even easier to have come out earlier. "I came out quite slowly, when I was 21 or so. Of course it's a big relief to tell your family and friends whom you've been keeping a secret from, and maybe even yourself also. But I didn't change at all, I was the same character I had always been. Thankfully, in today's society, it probably is a little easier to come out. Younger kids are more open these days and it's not such a big deal. Society in general is definitely more open than it used to be, but it would be nice to think it would be easier for everyone all the time."

Warming to his task as an observer of contemporary society, he notes the rapid changes that have affected the music industry in particular with the advent of digital downloading. "People have to be inventive and think differently now than before. There are probably a lot of bands around now trying to establish themselves and hoping to live off their music, but it seems to be harder for them now than it might have been ten years ago. But my approach is quite simple, really; I just want to make a shitload of good music and be able to move people in that way and then I'll feel I've done something good with my life."