When two artists find profound kinship in music, their work can transcend boundaries of genre, geography and even time itself. With the release of A Dawning on July 11 via Mercury KX, Icelandic composer and producer Ólafur Arnalds and Irish artist Talos deliver more than a collaboration. They offer a luminous reflection on creativity, community and the bonds that endure beyond life.
A JOURNEY THAT BECAME SOMETHING MORE
Their story began in 2023 at the Sounds from a Safe Harbour Festival in Cork, where curator Mary Hickson intuitively paired Arnalds and Talos for a residency. From the moment they began working together, a shared language took shape. Sessions in Arnalds’ Reykjavík studio and later in Talos’ home in West Cork blossomed into a delicate fusion of airy electronics, orchestral textures and Talos’ haunting vocals.
This partnership quickly became one of deep friendship and mutual admiration. As they shaped the early sketches of what would become A Dawning, there was already a sense that this music was capturing something profound and unspoken.
But when Talos fell seriously ill during a trip to Iceland, the project took on new urgency and a far more personal resonance. Following Talos’ passing in August 2024, Arnalds completed the album, guided by the memory of their time together and the recordings they had crafted side by side. “We made this album together,” Arnalds shares. “Even while working alone on some of the final arrangements, I never felt truly by myself.”
A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER
A Dawning stands as a testament not only to Talos’ remarkable artistry, but also to the strong circle of friends and musicians who surrounded him. The first single, We Didn’t Know We Were Ready, brought together Niamh Regan, Ye Vagabonds and a choir of close collaborators. Its televised debut on RTÉ’s The Tommy Tiernan Show in January was a powerful moment, with artists like Dermot Kennedy and The Staves joining Arnalds on stage. The performance resonated as both celebration and elegy, a collective tribute to Talos’ enduring spirit.
Dermot Kennedy, who had long admired Talos and shared deep personal ties within Ireland’s music community, was visibly moved by the performance, underscoring the reach of Talos’ impact on those who knew him best.
AN ALBUM OF MEMORY AND LIGHT
A Dawning unfolds like a gentle farewell, honoring the spaces that music can hold when words fall short. From the tender intimacy of Signs - the first song Arnalds and Talos ever wrote together - to the quiet grace of Borrowed Time with Alexi Murdoch and the luminous textures of Bedrock featuring Sandrayati, each track carries the imprint of shared trust and creative freedom.
In the album’s closing moments, one feels both the weight of loss and the warmth of continued presence. “Near the end, when we spoke about how grateful we were to have met, Talos told me, you know, I’m still going to be there,” says Arnalds. This record is a testament to that promise, a lasting echo of connection that defies absence.
TRACKLIST FOR A DAWNING
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Shared Time
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Signs
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Bedrock feat. Sandrayati
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west cork, 12 feb
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Borrowed Time feat. Alexi Murdoch
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A Dawning
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for Steph
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We Didn’t Know We Were Ready feat. Niamh Regan and Ye Vagabonds
A Dawning is available now across all streaming platforms, on vinyl and CD at select retailers, and through Mercury KX.
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