Some musical partnerships happen instantly. Others prove their strength over time. For Icelandic trio MONORA, the story behind their debut EP 99 stretches back more than two decades, making this first release feel less like a beginning and more like the arrival of something that has been patiently waiting for the right moment.
Released on March 27, 99 introduces a band that may be new in name but is built upon years of experience, creative chemistry, and shared musical history. The project brings together Einar Valur Sigurjónsson, Guðbjörg Elísa Hafsteins—better known as Gugga Lísa—and Guðmann Sveinsson, combining seasoned musicianship with deeply personal songwriting.
What makes 99 particularly compelling is the story behind its creation. Many of the songs were originally conceived more than twenty years ago when Einar and Gugga first began writing music together. From their earliest collaborations, they discovered a natural creative connection that continues to shape their work today.
“The first time we sat down and wrote together, something just clicked,” the duo has reflected. That sense of connection remains evident throughout the EP. Rather than feeling like a collection of songs assembled from different periods, 99 unfolds as a cohesive and emotionally honest body of work.
The songwriting draws heavily from lived experience. While many of the tracks are rooted in personal emotions and memories, they also reflect the stories and struggles of people around them. Relationships, longing, growth, and human connection emerge as recurring themes, giving the EP a universal quality that allows listeners to find pieces of their own lives within the music.
At the center of the project is Gugga Lísa’s expressive vocal performance. Having already established herself as a respected artist in Icelandic music, she brings both emotional depth and maturity to these songs. Her voice carries the weight of the material naturally, allowing even the most intimate moments to feel relatable and sincere.
Musically, MONORA embraces atmosphere and melody over unnecessary complexity. The arrangements serve the songs rather than compete with them, creating space for the emotional narratives to unfold. There is a timeless quality to the music that reflects the long journey these songs have taken from their original conception to their final release.
What stands out most about 99 is its authenticity. In a music landscape often driven by immediacy, MONORA presents a collection that has been allowed to evolve organically over many years. The songs do not feel rushed into existence. They feel lived in, refined by experience, and strengthened by the passage of time.
The result is a debut that carries unusual emotional depth for a first release. Rather than introducing a band still searching for its identity, 99 presents artists who already know exactly who they are and what they want to communicate.
For MONORA, these songs may have begun twenty-three years ago. For listeners discovering them today, 99 is the beginning of a story well worth hearing.