Imagine the scene: the sun is setting over Aarhus, Denmark, and the crowd at the SPOT Festival is making its way to the trendy Institute For X stage. Despite the fashionable appearance of the Nordic art school students around us, it doesn't take long for everyone to start dancing when a group takes the stage – bodies are moving, dance moves are being attempted, and smiles light up the faces of all present. At one point, the crowd even dips low before collectively soaring upwards. It's a remarkable sight.
Onstage is Inspector Spacetime – notably, this is one of their first real performances in Denmark, and even more astonishing is that the audience seems to know every word. With just one album—2021’s self-titled debut—under their name, Inspector Spacetime has created an impressive dance-pop blend right out of the gate. Picture Confidence Man if they swapped MDMA for orange juice or Hot Chip if they were raised around geysers instead of older generations; the group combines club beats with some of the most catchy pop songs you can imagine, making Inspector Spacetime a contender for your new favorite band.
The Clash interviews the group the morning after their performance – true to Icelandic tradition, they arrive on time and are polite, even coming to our hotel for the interview. Modest and down-to-earth, they express their surprise at the enthusiastic reception from the Danish audience, calling it possibly their “best ever gig.”
“We get really anxious when it seems like nobody’s having a good time,” shares Elías Geir Óskarsson; a burst of energy onstage, he’s only slightly more reserved off it. The band came together in school, with Elías exchanging ideas with classmate Egill Gauti Sigurjónsson; Vaka Agnarsdóttir – with her flowing red hair – joined as their vocalist, and soon the band was born.
Well, sort of. On their first day of rehearsals, the trio wrote a song so terrible that it will “never see the light of day,” but everything fell into place on Day No. 2, with the band “basically writing our debut album in a week!” Initially started as a pastime during the pandemic, Inspector Spacetime – the name being a niche joke from the show Community – quickly developed a distinctive style, merging club elements with a pop perspective. Inspired by the raw energy of drum ‘n’ bass and UK garage music, they layer a touch of pop sweetness on top – the result is fun, frenetic, and above all sincere, managing to strike a balance between humor and emotion.
“We actually don’t listen to club tracks by going out to clubs,” Egill notes. “We listen to them at home. I mean, I love club music – but I’m not really into clubbing.” Elías chuckles, adding, “I’d rather have a cup of tea and some headphones!”
His bandmate laughs along, continuing, “I’ve always approached club tracks as if they were just pop songs, you know? I think that’s where the blend comes from.”
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Inspector Spacetime’s 2021 debut album quickly gained attention in their hometown of Reykjavik. Written within a week and recorded in under a month – true story: the band accidentally erased all their initial demos and had to start from scratch – they were named Artist Of The Year by local publication the Grapevine, and a performance at Iceland Airwaves last year saw them outshine more established acts. There’s something about their sound that resonates with people.
“Our initial gigs were basically semi-illegal shows,” Vaka reminisces. The easing of lockdown left the band unsure of how to perform on stage – each show was an explosion of energy, capturing the essence of friends living on the edge. Now, they’ve honed their approach, moving with purpose. “When we began,” Egill recalls, “every song included some improvised element. We filled in the gaps. Now, we can comfortably exist within the song.”
“We’re definitely more self-assured,” Elías states. “I think that if you take yourself too seriously, and attempt to create the hardest techno possible… honestly, it sometimes comes off as if no one is enjoying themselves!”
“We always consider our live performances when writing,” Vaka adds. “It’s like: how would we feel performing this?”
Inspector Spacetime’s debut album had the feel of a club compilation, showcasing a variety of production styles. It reflected the sounds of kids navigating the studio process while also evoking a classic mix CD vibe. “Basically, every track on the debut is a different club style,” explains Elías. “We would think: how can we create a drum ‘n’ bass track? Because we enjoy that. Plus, all of us – deeply – really appreciate pop music.”
Their new single ‘Catch Planes’ marks the beginning of their next phase – a dance-pop hit, it
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Imagine the setting: the sun is setting over the Danish city of Aarhus, and the Friday night attendees at SPOT Festival are trying to navigate through the crowd to the