Watch: How Björk & Rave Collided in the ’90s

Björk’s groundbreaking 1993 album, Debut, was a pivotal moment for electronic experimentalism. Fortified with pop, jazz, trip-hop and house, Debut paved the way for cross-genre pollination, going on to influence artists such as Arca and Caroline Polachek. Watch how the Icelandic shapeshifter’s love for club culture set her on track to become the avant-garde trailblazer she is today.

In 1990, Björk was at the airport, ready to return to Iceland, when she received a phone call that would change the trajectory of her career. On the line were Manchester’s electronic pioneers, 808 State, inviting her to collaborate on some tracks. Without hesitation, she changed her flight, calling it “a matter of life and death.” Days later, she was in the studio recording Qmart and Oops for 808 State’s album ex:el, a record that would later influence artists like Aphex Twin and reshape electronic music.

This unexpected detour marked a pivotal turning point in Björk’s career, shifting her from indie rock into the world of electronic music. Though she was best known as the lead singer of Icelandic band The Sugarcubes, Björk had long been drawn to club culture. While touring with The Sugarcubes in the late ’80s, she became frustrated with the stagnancy of live band performances and instead immersed herself in nightlife, finding inspiration in the energy and innovation of dance music. This passion laid the foundation for her groundbreaking solo debut album, Debut.

Creating Debut was a risky and experimental journey. Björk had been writing her own material for years but struggled to find the right collaborators and financial backing. With no major budget, she convinced Derek Birkett of One Little Indian Records to support the project, even though he was initially hesitant about some of her tracks. Nevertheless, she was given complete creative freedom. A key figure in shaping the album was producer Nellee Hooper, known for his work with Soul II Soul and Massive Attack. Initially skeptical of Hooper’s style, Björk soon realized their creative chemistry. She described their collaboration as natural, comparing it to hunting and cooking—she would bring the raw material, and he would refine it.

The result was an album that blurred the lines between pop, dance, and underground electronic music. Songs like There’s More to Life Than This captured the raw energy of club life, even being recorded live in the restroom of London’s iconic Milk Bar. Björk also worked with top British electronic acts like The Black Dog, Underworld, and Fluke to remix tracks, further solidifying Debut’s connection to rave culture. At the same time, she pulled inspiration from jazz, world music, and orchestral sounds. The jazz-infused bassline of Human Behaviour took cues from Quincy Jones, while Like Someone in Love reimagined a classic jazz standard. The Anchor Song painted a melancholic picture of her childhood home in Reykjavik, its drifting saxophones resembling the foghorns of passing ships.

Upon its release, Debut made Björk an international sensation. Though she remained humble about its success, stating that she believed she could do much better, the album redefined what pop music could be. It bridged the gap between British ravers, pop enthusiasts, and hip-hop beatmakers, leaving an undeniable impact on music history.

Björk Now? The Ever-Evolving Icon of Electronic Avant-Pop

For nearly 40 years, Björk has remained one of the most recognizable and enigmatic figures in entertainment. Her distinctive features have been captured, analyzed, and transformed into iconography that has propelled her influence across music, fashion, and art. Throughout her career, she has adorned herself with crowns, pearls, miniature pigtails, digital tears, elaborate headpieces, and, more recently, ornate veils and masks.

A Return to Reykjavík

Now spending most of her time in her hometown of Reykjavík, Björk remains deeply connected to the city that shaped her avant-pop sound. The Icelandic capital, formed by earthquakes and volcanoes, continues to inspire her artistic explorations. As a child, she would sing loudly during hikes to school—a natural defense against the fierce blizzards of her homeland.

She maintains a strong bond with Reykjavík’s music scene, frequently visiting Smekkleysa, a small record shop where she has volunteered since she was 14. Located in the graffiti-covered Hjartatorg district, the shop is a hub for young music enthusiasts. It is here that Björk and a collective of electronic artists, including Arca, Mica Levi, and MUN SING, regularly perform.

The sets, she describes, typically begin with classical or atonal compositions before transitioning into energetic electronic beats. The performances conclude early in the evening, often accompanied by celebratory champagne toasts. These gatherings highlight her ongoing involvement in the city’s artistic evolution.

The Next Chapter: New Music and Reflection

After four years of focusing on Cornucopia, a theatrical production that served as both a decade-long career retrospective and her most ambitious tour to date, Björk is shifting her attention to new creative endeavors. The production, which concluded in December 2023, was an extensive undertaking that she has stated she would only embark on once.

To commemorate Cornucopia, a film documenting the Lisbon stop of the tour was released alongside a 480-page book of the same name. The book, filled with flyers and stills from the performances, serves as a tangible archive of her creative vision. Björk has described the book as a means of making her digital work from the past 12 years more accessible to audiences.

Flipping through its glossy pages, readers are immersed in Cornucopia‘s surreal world—massive digital foliage projections, bioluminescent Björk avatars, and a vibrant spectrum of colors from lava red to jungle green. The scale and ambition of the production highlight her dedication to pushing artistic boundaries.

While the direction of her next project remains unknown, Björk continues to evolve. Whether in Reykjavík or on the global stage, her artistry remains in constant motion, shaped by the landscapes, people, and sonic experiments that have defined her singular career.

Listen to Björk’s latest music here: https://amzn.to/4h9skeJ