Silja Rós (Iceland) – Love and Affirmation (single)

When I was a regular visitor to Iceland back in the day I recall everyone had two jobs, sometimes three. You had to have when a pint cost ten quid (and that was in the 1990s).

So it was of no great surprise to read that Silja Rós has more than one employment. She isn’t Sigur’s brother by the way.

It seems she’s an actress and TV scriptwriter, well known for the 2024 show SKVĺZ, which she wrote and starred in. According to IMDB it’s “a tale of three women who rent an apartment and try to navigate their way through work, relationships, and everything in between.”

A sort of Reykjavik version of Friends, without the blokes. Who needs them, anyway?

And she has the reputation of being “an extreme extrovert”. I can’t remember anyone from Iceland who isn’t.

She competed in Söngvakeppnin, the Icelandic pre-selection fest the Eurovision Song Contest, last year. If I remember the eventual entry, which was quaint but not exactly dynamic, I’m not sure where she went wrong there.

She’s happy to mix her styles and genres when writing for others – right across the spectrum from rock to EDM – and is a bone fide jazz vocalist.

But none of that with ‘Love and Affirmation’, which, as the title suggests, is a slinky, sexy and soulful chilled out little R&B number, with double bass drum and one on the snare sound underpinning flirty piano that so suits romantic last dances at events like weddings and engagement parties.

For all its charm the most engaging part of the song is her vocal contribution. It’s very sensual and the way she sings “you, you, you, you” will convince you she’s showering just you and you alone with that love and affirmation.

Definitely one for when the last glass of wine has been sunk, the last after dinner mint tongued and caressed and the lights are dimmed.

Then you discover that the song is actually about self love and “how important it is to let go of the pressure that we tend to put on ourselves.” Hey ho. Get the light back on. (Only joking).

‘Love and Affirmation’ was co-written with her best friend, Bergrós, and was released on her birthday -July 29^th – in Copenhagen where she is currently based.”

Find her on:

Website: https://www.siljaros.com/