The performers behind Saga Musica

A household name in the thriving Icelandic music and culture scene for decades, Valgeir has now produced a long-awaited dream project.

In college he made friends who shared his passion for music. Together they formed two bands, Stuðmenn and Spilverk þjóðanna, both hugely popular in the 1970s. In just five years they wrote and produced nine albums.

Stuðmenn produced the film Með allt á hreinu (On Top), still one of Iceland's most-watched and beloved films. Valgeir has been a fisherman, teacher and composer, earned a degree in Social Work in Norway, and worked as a lyricist, stage performer, radio and TV personality, novelist and film composer.

Valgeir's works are known, performed and sung by all generations in Icelandic society. What more can an artist ask for?

Ásta is the pioneer of professional student counselling in Iceland and a master of many trades. She studied Latin and Greek in France, French and Psychology at the University of Iceland, and completed graduate studies in Student/Career Counselling at the University of Trondheim.

She runs Bakkastofa Culture House in the historic village of Eyrarbakki on the South Coast, some 60 km from Reykjavík. Besides writing, her passions include interior design and organising cultural events.

Ásta and Valgeir have been a couple since 1975 and established Bakkastofa Culture House with their three children in 2014.

Not only is Vala a great vocalist — she also writes her own songs and lyrics and plays her Fender guitar.

After her PhD, Vala works in neuroscience, concentrating on the nerve responses of people who use artificial limbs. Art is never far away; music and writing remain an essential fuel in her life.

Kristrún is a vocalist and composer of experimental electronic music from the south coast of Iceland. She graduated from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in 2019 and completed a master's in music at the Iceland University of the Arts.

Joel is a multi-instrumentalist from Canada. He graduated from LIPA in 2018 and has since toured with various artists across Europe and the USA. He moved to Iceland in 2023 and is working on his debut album as ‘Spouses’. In 2024 he produced Valgeir's song “Vikivaki (Vorið kemur)”.