Iceland’s quest to find a representative for Eurovision 2023 has officially started. A special tv-program on RÚV revealed the ten finalists and songs competing in Söngvakeppnin 2023 and aiming for the golden ticket to Liverpool in May.

The line-up consists primarily of newcomers who have not entered the selection before. But there are a few veterans as well amongst the songwriters. 

The two semifinals of Söngvakeppnin 2023 will be held on February 18 and 25 and the grand final will be on March 4.  Five songs compete in each semi-final. Two songs will qualify from each semi to compete in the final. The executive committee reserves the right to send one more song to the final, on top of the existing four qualifiers. In this case, there will be five songs in the final.

So without further ado, let us meet our ten hopefuls who will battle for the love and admiration of Iceland.

Söngvakeppnin 2023: Artists and songs

Benedikt – “Þora / Brave Face”

Benedikt is a 20-year-old singer, songwriter, producer, and classical ballet dancer who is relatively new in the Icelandic music scene. In 2021, Benedikt made it to the final of Músíktilraunir, an Icelandic competition for young musicians, where he was the only solo project in the final. He released his debut EP album the same year and now he is Söngvakeppnin. 

The song is written Benedikt, Hildur Kristín Stefánsdóttir and Una Torfadóttir. Hildur Kristín has two appearances in Söngvakeppnin under her belt, in 2015 with the song “Fjaðrir“, and in 2017 with the song “Bammbaramm“.

Bragi – “Stundum snýst heimurinn gegn þér / Sometimes the World´s Against You”

Bragi Bergsson is a 29-year-old professional footballer who merged onto the music scene in the Swedish Idol back in 2018. He is born in Iceland but has lived most of his life in Sweden, playing football in both countries. 

Along with Bragi himself, the song was written by Joy Deb, Rasmus Palmgren, and Aniela Eklund. No doubt that Bragi’s Idol presence in Sweden joined these artists together. 

Celebs – “Dómsdagsdans / Doomsday Dancing”

Celebs is a trio consisting of three siblings, Hrafnkell Hugi Vernharðsson, Katla Vigdís Vernharðsdóttir, and Valgeir Skorri Vernharðsson, who grew up in the Westfjords in Iceland. All of them won Músíktilraunir, competition for young musicians, at some point. Katla Vigdís in 2017, as a member of the duo Between Mountains, and Hrafnkell and Valgeir in 2015, as members of the band Rythmatik. 

They released their debut album in 2020, followed by two singles in 2022. Their music has a the nostalgic flair of the 80’s and their most played song in Iceland is “Kannski hann“.

Diljá – “Lifandi inni í mér / Power”

Diljá Pétursdóttir was first seen on the stage at the young age of 12 when she competed in Iceland Got Talent back in 2015. Now eight years later she debuts in Söngvakeppnin. 

The song is written by Diljá and Pálmi Ragnar Ásgeirsson. Pálmi was one of the writers of “Unbroken“, Iceland’s Eurovision act in 2015. 

Kristín Sesselja – “Óbyggðir / Terrified”

Kristín Sesselja is a 22-year-old singer/songwriter who merged into the Icelandic music scene in 2020 with her single “Fuckboys”. She is mostly a self-taught artist, playing the guitar along with her singing. 

The song is written by Kristín Sesselja, Tiril Beisland, and Vetle Sigmundstad. 

Langi Seli og Skuggarnir – “OK”

Langi Seli og Skuggarnir (Long Seli and the Shadows) is an Icelandic rock band formed in 1988. Their inspiration is rockabilly with a hint of surf music.

The song is written by the band members themselves, 

Móa – “Glötuð ást / Loose this dream”

Móeiður Júníusdóttir was prominent within the Icelandic music scene in the 90s. She was among other things a member of a jazz band and a rave-duo with her husband at the time. She signed a record deal with Manhattan-based record company Tommy Boy with whom she released the album “Universal”. 

However, she went on a hiatus in the new millennium, where she studied theology and pedagogy. Now she’s back to the music scene with her self-written song.

Sigga Ózk – “Gleyma þér og dansa / Dancing Lonely”

Sigga Ózk is a 22-year-old singer who took her first official step onto the music stage on Swedish Idol a few years ago. Since then she has worked as a singer and a teacher.

The song is written by Klara Elías, Alma Goodman, David Mørup, and James Gladius Wong. Klara Elías competed in Söngvakeppnin 2013 with her song “Skuggamynd“. 

Silja Rós & Kjalar – “Ég styð þína braut / Together we grow”

Silja Rós is a singer, actress, and screenwriter. Currently, she’s working on a script for a TV show where productions will start coming spring. Silja Rós competed in The Voice Iceland in 2017 and released her debut album the same year.

Kjalar is a singer who’s fairly new to the Icelandic music scene. Currently, he is a contestant in the Icelandic Idol and when this is written he has advanced to the top 4 of the contest. 

The song is written by Silja Rós and Rasmus Olsen. 

Úlfar – “Betri maður / Impossible”

Úlfar Viktor Björnsson is making his music scene debut but is better known for his make-up skills, as he has been working as a professional make-up artist. This won’t be his first time singing though, as he graduated from Complete Vocal Institute in Denmark. 

The song is written by Rob Price and Úlfar himself. The lyrics are written by Elín Sif Hall, who competed in Söngvakeppnin in 2015 with the song “Í kvöld“. 

Here you can listen to both English and Icelandic of all the songs

Last year’s winners of Söngvakeppnin 2022, the sister trio Systur, placed 23rd in the final in Turin with their breezy, folk-leaning song about the sunrise. 

Who is your favourite act? Who do you think will win Söngvakeppnin 2023? Tell us in the comments below.