Kaktus Einarsson

About

" Versatility, taking in indie pop or dance floor electronica "

Best known as the frontman of darkwave/rock band Fufanu, Kaktus Einarsson’s career is charting new paths and horizons. As the son of Sugarcubes keyboardist Einar Örn Benediktsson, it comes as no surprise that Kaktus has lived his life surrounded by punk, alternative rock, and electronica. He has worked with his father as a member of the experimental electronic act Ghostigital, and these experiences have no doubt come to influence his own music. That style abounds in his 2021 solo debut album, ‘Kick The Ladder’, but with enough heart and personal storytelling to carve out his mark in the world of Icelandic music.

‘Kick The Ladder’ was developed together with piano experimentalist Thibault Gomez, with whom the idea of instrumental experimentation runs rampant. All the effects on the album were created with an acoustic grand piano: scratched and bowed strings, or played with brooms on the belly of the piano. Through a combination of pulsing basslines and soaring synthesisers, Kaktus gives us an album that multitasks both as easy listening and as a treasure trove of acoustic Easter eggs.

Kaktus’s work is making waves overseas as well, having appeared as a guest artist in two tracks on Booka Shade’s album ‘Dear Future Self’, later nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Immersive Audio Album.

Although he may not yet be a household name, there is no doubt that Kaktus is an expert at his craft and a delight to listen to.