Daði Freyr Pétursson (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈtaːðɪ freiːr̥ ˈpʰjɛːtʏr̥sɔn]; born 30 June 1992), known professionally as Daði Freyr or simply Daði, is an Icelandic musician living in Berlin, Germany. As the frontman of Daði & Gagnamagnið (Icelandic: Daði og Gagnamagnið[1][2] [ˈtaːðɪ ɔɣ ˈkaknaˌmaknɪθ]), he was due to represent Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song “Think About Things“,[3] before the event was cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, he represented Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song “10 Years“, finishing in fourth place.[4]
Daði Freyr | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Daði Freyr Pétursson |
| Born | 30 June 1992 Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Website | dadifreyr |
Daði was born in Reykjavík but grew up in Denmark until the age of nine, then his family moved to Iceland and settled in the Southern Region, first in Laugaland and later in Ásahreppur. Daði graduated from Fjölbrautaskóli Suðurlands (“College of the Southern Region”) in 2012. In 2014, he moved to Berlin, where he received a BA in music management and audio production at the Catalyst Institute for Creative Arts and Technology in 2017.[5][6]
In his youth, Daði practiced drums and studied piano and bass guitar. He co-founded the band RetRoBot with his friend Kristján Pálmi. Later, singer Gunnlaugur Bjarnason and guitarist Guðmundur Einar Vilbergsson, whom he had met at the South Iceland Multicultural School, joined the band. In 2012, the band RetRoBot won the Músíktilraunir (“Music Experiments”) and Daði was chosen as the best electronic musician of the year.[7] RetRoBot released one album, Blackout, a year later.
![[en] | Daði Freyr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eurovision_2023_-_Jury_Final_-_Interval_Act_-_Liverpool_Songbook_(06).jpg)
2017–2019
In 2017, Daði participated in Söngvakeppnin (competing to represent Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017) with the song “Is This Love?” (Icelandic: Hvað með það?). In performances, he was supported onstage by a group known as Gagnamagnið, consisting of his sister Sigrún Birna Pétursdóttir (backing vocalist), wife Árný Fjóla Ásmundsdóttir (dancer), and friends Hulda Kristín Kolbrúnardóttir (backing vocalist), Stefán Hannesson (dancer), and Jóhann Sigurður Jóhannsson (dancer). They were characterized by their signature teal green sweaters, which have pixel art portraits of themselves printed on them, as well as their faux “instruments” made of household items and discarded objects that Stefán, Jóhann, and Árný utilize.[8][9] Daði came in second after Svala Björgvinsdóttir, who performed the song “Paper“.[10]
In June 2019, Daði released his debut album, & Co., an avant-garde pop record that has drawn comparisons to French electronic duo Daft Punk for its retro disco sound.[11]
2020–2021
Daði took part in the 2020 Söngvakeppnin with the song “Think About Things” (the alternate Icelandic version also titled “Gagnamagnið”), about his newborn daughter. As in Söngvakeppnin 2017, he performed with his group Gagnamagnið, now collectively credited as Daði & Gagnamagnið. The music video for the song went viral on YouTube, with actor Russell Crowe sharing it online.[12]
They won the 2020 Söngvakeppnin competition and were set to represent Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Several countries that would have participated in the 2020 contest held their own alternative competitions, broadcasting the entries and crowning a winner. Daði & Gagnamagnið won six such competitions, in Austria (Der kleine Song Contest), Australia, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.[13]
On 23 October 2020, it was announced that Daði & Gagnamagnið would remain as Icelandic representatives at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.[4] They performed the song “10 Years“, the lyrics referencing the length of Daði’s relationship with his wife and Gagnamagnið member Árný.[14][15] They were forced to use a prerecorded performance from the second rehearsal during the semi-final and final, due to a member of the group testing positive for COVID-19.[16] After qualifying for the final, they finished fourth, with 378 points, equaling Iceland’s best performance at the competition.[17]
Following Eurovision, Daði toured Europe and the United States. He collaborated with Australia’s 2021 Eurovision representative Montaigne on their single “make me feel so…” and with German metal band Tokio Hotel on the single “Happy People”.[18]
In 2023, he performed a cover of Atomic Kitten‘s “Whole Again” as an interval act during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, held in Liverpool, alongside a large number of look-alikes as well as his wife.[19]
The same year, he released his second studio record I Made an Album.[20]
On 1 August 2024, he performed at Lollapalooza in Chicago.[21]
Daði is married to musician Árný Fjóla Ásmundsdóttir. Their daughter, Áróra Björg, born in 2019, was the inspiration for the lyrics of the song “Think About Things”.[22][23] The couple’s second daughter, Kría Sif, was born in 2021.[24]
Daði is 2.08 metres (6 ft 9.9 in) tall.[25] He has his own app called “Neon Planets”.[26] His father was a bongo player for Katla Maria in Söngvakeppni 1993, where they placed ninth out of ten contestants with the song “Samba”.
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| & Co. |
|
| I Made an Album |
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| FIN [29] | ||
| Næsta skref |
| — |
| Welcome | 23 | |
| I’m Making an Album 1/3 |
| — |
| I’m Still Making an Album 2/3 |
| — |
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICE [34] | BEL (FL) [35] | BEL (WA) [36] | IRE [37] | NLD [38] | NOR [39] | SCO [40] | SWE [41] | UK [42] | ||||
| “Seinni tíma vandamál”[43] | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
| “Skiptir ekki máli”[44] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| “Allir dagar eru jólin með þér”[45] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| “Heyri ekki”[46] (featuring Don Tox) | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | & Co. | |
| “Endurtaka mig”[47] (featuring Blaer) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| “Ég er að fíla mig (Langar ekki að hvíla mig)”[48] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| “Think About Things“[49] (as Daði og Gagnamagnið) | 2020 | 1 | 53 | —[A] | 3 | —[B] | — | 10 | 33 | 34 | Welcome | |
| “Where We Wanna Be“[51] | — | —[C] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
| “Every Moment Is Christmas with You”[52] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| “Feel the Love“[53] (with Ásdís) | 2021 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Welcome | |
| “10 Years“ (as Daði og Gagnamagnið) | 1 | —[D] | — | 38 | 15 | 33 | — | 23 | 43 | |||
| “Somebody Else Now” | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| “Something Magical” | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
| “Sabada” (with Filous) | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| “I’m Fine” | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | I Made an Album | ||
| “Whole Again” | 2023 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| “Moves to Make” | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | I Made an Album | ||
| “I’m Not Bitter / Outside” | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
| “Fuck City / Together” | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| “—” denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released. | ||||||||||||
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| “make me feel so…” (Montaigne featuring Daði Freyr) | 2022 | Making It! |
| “Happy People” (Tokio Hotel featuring Daði Freyr) | 2001 |
| Title | Original artist | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| “I Thought I’d Be More Famous by Now” | Special-K | 2018 | Non-album singles |
| “Eye of the Storm” | Millie Turner | 2020 |
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icelandic Music Awards | 2018 | Pop Song of the Year | “Hvað með það” | Nominated | [54] |
| 2021 | Best Pop Song | “Think About Things” | Won | [55] | |
| Hlustendaverðlaunin | Best Music Video | Won | [56] | ||
| Singer of the Year | Himself | Won | |||
| Eurovision Awards | Best Dressed | Himself (with Gagnamagnið) | Nominated | [57] | |
| Most Iconic Prop | Runner-up | ||||
| Best Choreography | Nominated | ||||
| Best Official Video | “10 Years” (with Gagnamagnið) | Runner-up | |||
| Reykjavík Grapevine Music Awards | 2024 | Artist of the Year | Himself | Runner-up | [58] |
- ^ “Think About Things” did not enter the Tipparade of Walloon, but did enter the Bubbling Under.[35]
- ^ “Think About Things” did not enter the Top 40 of Netherlands, but did reach number 16 in the Tipparade.[36]
- ^ “Where We Wanna Be” did not enter the Tipparade of Flanders, but did enter the Bubbling Under.[35]
- ^ “10 Years” did not enter the Flemish Ultratop 50, but did peak at number six on the Ultratip chart.[35]
- ^ “Daði Freyr – Think About Things (Daði og Gagnamagnið)”. YouTube. 14 February 2020. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ “Eurovision 2020: in Islanda trionfano Daði Freyr e i Gagnamagnið con “Think about things”“. Eurofestival News (in Italian). 29 February 2020. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ “Iceland chooses Daði & Gagnamagnið!”. Eurovision.tv. 29 February 2020. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ a b “Daði og Gagnamagnið return for Iceland”. Eurovision.tv. 23 October 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ “Daði Freyr ætlar ekki að flytja aftur til Íslands á næstunni”. DV (in Icelandic). 24 April 2017. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ “My Berlin: Daði Freyr”. Berliner Zeitung. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ inporter (8 May 2013). “Hljómsveitin RetRoBot frá Selfossi sigraði Músíktilraunir 2012”. Reykjavíkurborg (in Icelandic). Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ “Iceland: Árný’s Father Creates Gagnamagnið Props & Instruments”. Eurovoix. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ Dwek, Joel (25 May 2021). “Iceland: & Co. – Daði Freyr”. 200worldalbums.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ “Svala fulltrúi Íslands”. www.mbl.is (in Icelandic). Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ Dwek, Joel (25 May 2021). “Iceland: & Co. – Daði Freyr”. 200worldalbums.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ “Eurovision: Icelandic band Daði Freyr goes viral with Russell Crowe-approved video”. The Independent. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ “10 countries have decided: This song should have won Eurovision 2020”. Eurovisionworld. 17 May 2020. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ ““How does it keep getting better?” – Daði og Gagnamagnið’s “10 Years” lyrics are a love letter to a long and fruitful relationship”. Wiwiblogs. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ Farren, Neil (27 January 2021). “Iceland: Eurovision 2021 Entry to Be Revealed on March 13”. Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ Morris, Woody (10 May 2021). “Eurovision 2021: Covid upsets Iceland’s live shows”. Newsbeat. BBC. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021.
- ^ “Grand Final of Rotterdam 2021 – Eurovision Song Contest”. eurovision.tv. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ “What has Iceland’s Daði Freyr been up to since Eurovision 2021?”. Aussievision. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ Aubrey, Elizabeth (14 May 2023). “Eurovision 2023: Fans love Daði Freyr’s “epic version” of Atomic Kitten’s ‘Whole Again’“. NME. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ “I Made an Album by Daði Freyr on Apple Music”. Apple Music. 25 August 2023. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
- ^ “Lollapalooza announces 2024 lineup with SZA, Megan Thee Stallion, Blink-182”. Melodic Mag. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ “Daði Freyr og Árný Fjóla eignast stúlkubarn – Vísir”. visir.is. 19 April 2019. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ “Daði Freyr: “I originally wrote the song in English to me that is the real version of the song”“. 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ Ásmundsdóttir, Árný Fjóla (25 September 2021). “17.9.2021”. www.instagram.com. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ “JúróDaði – Daði Freyr plays Eurovision songs”. YouTube. 15 May 2020. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ Kristjans, Kristin (29 April 2020). “10 Facts about Dadi – gagnamagnid”. Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ “& Co. by Daði Freyr on Apple Music”. Apple Music. 12 June 2019. Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ “I Made An Album by Daði Freyr on Apple Music”. Apple Music. 25 August 2023. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
- ^ “Albumit 21/2021” (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ “Næsta Skref – EP by Daði Freyr on Apple Music”. Apple Music. 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ “Welcome – EP by Daði Freyr on Spotify”. Spotify. 21 May 2021. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ “I’m Making an Album 1/3 – EP by Daði Freyr on Apple Music”. Apple Music. 17 March 2023. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ^ “I’m Still Making An Album 2/3 – EP by Daði Freyr on Apple Music”. Apple Music. 26 May 2023. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
- ^ Peak chart positions for singles in Iceland:
- “Think About Things”:“TÓNLISTINN – LÖG – Vika 12 – 2020” (in Icelandic). Tonlist. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- “Feel the Love”:“TÓNLISTINN – LÖG – Vika 4 – 2021” (in Icelandic). Tonlist. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- “10 Years”:“TÓNLISTINN – LÖG – Vika 20 – 2021” (in Icelandic). Tonlist. 25 May 2021. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- “Whole Again”:“TÓNLISTINN – LÖG – Vika 21 – 2023” (in Icelandic). Tonlist. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d “Discografie Daði Freyr” (in Dutch). Ultratop. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ a b “Discographie Daði Freyr” (in French). Ultratop. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ “Discography Daði Freyr”. irish-charts.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
- ^ “Daði Freyr | Top 40-artiesten”. Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ “VG-lista – Topp 20 Single 2021-21”. VG-lista. Archived from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ “Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart”. Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ^ “Discography Daði Freyr”. swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ “DADI FREYR | full Official Chart History”. Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 21 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
- ^ “Seinni Tíma Vandamál (Áramótaskaupið 2017) – Single by Daði Freyr”. Apple Music. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ “Skiptir Ekki Máli – Single by Daði Freyr”. Apple Music. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ “Allir Dagar Eru Jólin Með Þér – Single by Daði Freyr”. Apple Music. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ “Heyri Ekki (feat. Don Tox) – Single by Daði Freyr”. Apple Music. 8 February 2019. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ “Endurtaka Mig – Single by Daði Freyr & Blaer”. Apple Music. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ “Ég Er Að Fíla Mig (Langar Ekki Að Hvíla Mig) – Single by Daði Freyr”. Apple Music. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ “Think About Things – Single by Daði Freyr”. Apple Music. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ “British single certifications – Dadi Freyr – Think About Things”. British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ “Where We Wanna Be – Single by Daði Freyr”. Apple Music. Archived from the original on 17 December 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ^ “Every Moment Is Christmas with You – Single by Daði Freyr”. Apple Music. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
- ^ “Feel the Love – Single by Daði Freyr & ÁSDÍS”. Apple Music. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ Fontaine, Andie Sofia (27 February 2018). “The Icelandic Music Awards Nominees Are Here”. grapevine.is. The Reykjavík Grapevine. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ Ćirić, Jelena (19 April 2021). “Three Wins for Pop Star Bríet at Icelandic Music Awards”. Iceland Review. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ Granger, Anthony (11 April 2021). “🇮🇸 Iceland: Daði Freyr Picks Up Two Awards at the Hlustendaverðlaunin”. eurovoix.com. Eurovoix News. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ “Eurovision Awards 2021: The Winners”. eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 31 December 2021. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ Fulton, Catharine; Bjarkason, Jóhannes (5 February 2024). “It’s the 2024 Reykjavík Grapevine Music Awards”. grapevine.is. The Reykjavík Grapevine. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.