Vök

What’s in a name? All the comic book fans out there might recognise Vok as a race of fictional aliens from the Transformers universe. Or, if you’re across the ocean and in Australia, maybe you’ll know Vok, manufacturer of drinks, ranging from cranberry juice to cider. In Iceland, though, with an umlaut above the letter ‘o’, it’s the name of something called a ‘polyna’: a vast expanse of open water surrounded by ice. And perhaps most importantly, it’s also the name of a band.

Vök formed in Reykjavík, in 2013, shortly after founding members Margrét Rán and Andri Már won an annual music contest. Debut album ‘Figure’ arrived in 2017, solidifying their knack for penning commanding tunes, full of presence and intent.

Now, after writing for the past year, they’re returning with follow-up record ‘In The Dark’ – recorded with the multi-platinum British producer James Earp, whose work includes Brit Award nominee Lewis Capaldi, Bipolar Sunshine and Fickle Friends. The eleven-track album was recorded between James’ studio in Notting Hill and the band’s home studio in Reykjavík.

As titles go, the record’s name is telling. Though it is, at times, a euphoric and light sounding listen, bringing in influences ranging from Tame Impala through to The Weeknd and The 1975, its focus is on life’s testing experiences. “It seems happier on the surface but once you go into it there are darker undertones and sadder lyrics,” says frontwoman Margrét, who wrote the record in collaboration with band member Einar Stef.

Lyrically, Margrét says the best way to explain the album is to go from the first song to the last, seeing how the record is set up like a self-help book. “I wanted to put a few personal concepts out in a way that I could explain how they have affected me, how I have worked – and in some cases am still working on – getting over those feelings,” she says.

Each song takes on a theme and has its own character and personality. Following the track titles through from start to finish, these subjects are: ‘fear’, ‘disappointment’, ‘obsession’, ‘hopelessness’, ‘dishonesty’, ‘realisation’, ‘disdain’, ‘relief’, ‘illusion’, and – ultimately – ‘release’, as both the band and listener end the record with “Out Of The Dark”. “You could say it’s an adventure, it travels,” says Einar, of the journey involved in the feeling of the record.

Lead single “Autopilot”, for example, is prime for exemplifying Vök’s duality, with its warm, upbeat pop nuance hiding the darker undertones of its lyrics. “It’s about somebody who is too consumed by the need to fly – to get high, basically,” says Einar. Or there’s “Erase You”, a groovy R&B number that’s about “the feeling of breaking a relationship and that feeling of resentment that you can have once you’ve torn that bond.”

“It’s ironic because it’s a brighter album than we’ve been known for doing and we felt like it was an ironic title to have, as well as the fact there are darker themes. You can seem pretty happy on the surface but once you start going deeper you’re going to see how dark things can be. It’s a bit of therapy for us,” Einer explains.

It’s also Vök’s most personal album yet, as Margrét steps forward as the group’s lead lyricist. Take the track “Round Two”. “Originally, this song was supposed to represent my androgynous self, how difficult it was as a 15 year old girl to all of the sudden dress up as a boy… and how proud I am for coming out at that age.” In the end however, the song focuses on the idea of honesty and keeping things secret. “It’s about when I dug myself into an even deeper hole by cheating, keeping it a secret and living in a fantasy world where everything is okay and thinking I was doing my girlfriend at that time a favour by not telling the truth,” she says.

Or there’s “Spend The Love”, originally envisioned as a “gay anthem that would never enter people’s ears” that lives on as one of the most danceable tracks on the record. “Buying happiness isn’t going to make you happy is it? But you can spend your love absolutely free and that's the message we’re trying to send here,” she explains, of the concept behind the tune.

Ultimately, each track on ‘In The Dark’ presents two stories – a tale of good and bad, where a resolution can always be found somewhere between these opposing forces. This idea is reinforced by the bookending of the record, as it opens with “In the Dark” – a song based around fears and self-doubts, and overcoming them – and concludes with “Out of the Dark”, where there’s a sense of freedom and renewed determination to push things forward.

Overall, there’s an undeniable depth to ‘In The Dark’. And even though some of the subject matter may be dark, the conclusion is often beautiful too: a vast and picturesque landscape that stretches far into the horizon. Take a deep dive into the Icelandic group’s world and see what you discover, and maybe better your life in the process.