Following the first single ‘Cyclist Waltz’, young Icelandic composer and pianist Gabriel Ólafs has shared ‘Staircase Sonata’, also lifted from his upcoming debut album Absent Minded. A storm that flooded his studio is in the origin of the song, as Ólafs explains:

“All my instruments and microphones were in a big pool of water and the fire department came and carried my piano into the stairwell. Although it was an unpleasant event, I really enjoyed the reverb in the stairwell – so that’s where I composed the song. It’s bittersweet but it’s meant to capture positivity in a moment of unhappiness.”

‘Staircase Sonata’ is being offered with a video, directed and shot by Viktor A. Bogdanski. Here it is.

Absent Minded is out on August 23rd through One Little Indian.

Absent Minded, the debut album from young Icelandic composer and pianist Gabriel Olafs, is set for release on August 23rd through One Little Indian. Preceding the release, he has shared the single ‘Cyclist Waltz’, inspired by a poster of a French cyclist. “It hangs on the wall across from where my piano is, which is where I compose,” explained Olafs, adding:

“I love old movies and stories. I enjoy the fact that film scores demand a piece of music to have emotional depth. It has to convey multiple emotions and therefore has its part in telling a story.”

‘Cyclist Waltz’ comes with a befitting video and you can watch it below.