12 Tónar

12 Tónar (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈtʰoulv ˈtʰoːunar̥], twelve tones) is a small record shop in Reykjavík, Iceland, and also a record label for Icelandic indie bands. It is located on Skólavörðustígur 15, in downtown Reykjavík.

Founded in 1998 in Reykjavík, 12 Tónar has been well received by music lovers from the start. The store quickly became a meeting point for musicians such as Björk, Sigur Rós, múm, and the core of classical composers and performers.

12 Tónar is a distributor for Icelandic music and an importer and distributor for many foreign record labels. 12 Tónar is also a fast-growing independent record label. Artists such as Mugison, Trabant and Singapore Sling, Apparat Organ Quartet, Pétur Ben, Eivør Pálsdóttir, Ragnheiður Gröndal, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Skúli Sverrisson, Ólöf Arnalds and Jakobínarína among many others, are signed to the label.

In May 2006 12 Tónar opened a record store in Copenhagen, Denmark selling music from their own catalogue of artists as well as other Icelandic music. The store was situated on Fiolstraede 26, 1171 CPH K. The store followed the good example from Iceland, with its friendly atmosphere and freshly brewed espresso for the customers while the music was spinning. It became a tradition with live in-store concerts taking place on Friday afternoons.^[1] On January 26, 2008 the Copenhagen store celebrated its closing with a live performance by the Danish band Tremolo Beer Gut.^[2]

Immediately succeeding the closing of 12 Tónars record store in Copenhagen a brand new webshop was introduced, allowing continued access to their family of artists.

On 21 of June, 2013 Gramophone magazine wrote about 12 Tónar, with the title "The best record store in the world?" ^[3]

See also

• List of record labels

References

External links

• Official website