Jófríður Ákadóttir, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for her solo project JFDR as well as her work with Samaris, Pascal Pinon and numerous other musicians and musical groups. Her father is Icelandic composer and musician Áki Ásgeirsson.
Career
Pascal Pinon
In 2009, Jófríður, her twin sister Ásthildur, Halla Kristjánsdóttir and Kristín Ylfa Hólmgrímsdóttir formed the band Pascal Pinon when they were only 14. They released their self-produced first album, Pascal Pinon in 2009 which was re-released by the Morr Music label in 2010. It was described by Allmusic as “a truly lovely record.” Morr released their second albumTwosomeness in 2013 as well as their third albumSundur in 2016. Both albums received positive reviews.
Samaris
Jófríður, Áslaug Rún Magnúsdóttir and Þórður Kári Steinþórsson formed Samaris in 2011. The group won the 2011 Icelandic Músíktilraunir competition and followed this success by self-releasing the EPHljóma Þú EP, which then won a 2011 Icelandic Kraumur award. A further self-released EP, Stofnar falla, followed in 2012. The group signed with One Little Indian Records and their self-titled debut album was released in July 2013 to generally favourable reviews. The album combined their compositions with lyrics taken from 19th-century Icelandic poems. Samaris released Silkidrangar in 2014, Silkidrangar Sessions in 2015, and Black Lights in 2016.
Gangly
In 2014, Jófríður was involved with the conceptual project Gangly with Sindri Már Sigfússon and Úlfur Alexander Einarsson with the track Fuck With Someone Else. Gangly went on to sign to UK label and released a series of video singles.
JFDR
In 2017 her solo albumBrazil was released. She was named Iceland's 2018 "Artist of the Year" by The Reykjavík Grapevinetabloid magazine. JFDR - White Sun Live. Part I : Strings, an EP of her songs reworked with a string section, was released in 2018. Gravity, a special EP, was released during the 2018 Iceland Airwaves in the form of a bar of chocolate with a download code. In 2020, for the album release of New Dreams, she gave a concert with her four sisters to an empty hall in Reykjavík.
Other Projects
Jófríður also collaborated with Low Roar on the single Bones and Brainfeeder producer Lapalux on 2 singles from his album Ruinism. She has also performed with Daníel Bjarnason, Aaron Roche, Nini Julia Bang, Strange Boy, Damien Rice and Penelope Trappes. Jófríður has also composed music for film and television including Dakota Fanning's short Hello Apartment and Silja Hauksdóttir's feature Agnes Joy.
