We Do Declare! The Reyka Votes Are In!!

For the second year in a row, Reyka Vodka brings two bands from across the pond to Iceland Airwaves! After months of collecting entries from hundreds of American bands and seemingly endless deliberation, who gets to “Breakthrough at Iceland Airwaves?” We give you Vacationer and Blouse.

Philly-based singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/jack-of-all-trades Vacationer was formed in 2011. A sumptuous blend of escapist dream pop of Beach House with the quasi-mystical electro-pop of Animal Collective, it is rhythmic, heady, hypnotic, yet still heartfelt. Vacationer released its debut EP in 2011, followed by the full-length Gone in 2012, put out by Downtown Records.

With a tangible zeal, there is no doubt Vacationer is going to rock Iceland Airwaves. “It’s always been a dream to get to travel to Iceland; it’s such a beautiful place and there are some truly amazing bands/artists that we admire that have come out of Iceland, and we couldn’t think of a better way to do it by playing Iceland Airwaves,” remarked Vacationer lead singer Kenny Vasoli.  “Vacationing is an underlying theme of our band, and getting to see Sigur Ros play in Iceland and getting to take a dip in the Blue Lagoon as well as playing Airwaves is something that we can barely comprehend. We’d love to thank Reyka Vodka and Iceland Airwaves for making this happen.”

Blouse is a Portland, Oregon trio of master crafters of ethereal, yet driving, electronic pop. Empyrean vocalist Charlie Hilton met Patrick Adams in art school during the summer of 2010, and soon connected with Jacob Portrait. They began laying down track in a warehouse studio and by early 2011 they were signed to the moody Brooklyn-based label Captured Tracks. A slew of singles were released in 2011 and in November of that year, Blouse’s self-titled debut arrived.

“We can’t think of a better way to spend Halloween,” commented Blouse lead singer Charlie Hilton. “Thank you Iceland Airwaves and Reyka Vodka for inviting us. We’ve heard good things about you.”

Both bands have won a weeklong trip to Reykjavik including travel and lodging, and get to perform alongside some of the most exciting and inspired names in music.