The Remarkable Work And Legacy Of The Late Icelandic Film Composer Jóhann Jóhannsson

From his Golden Globe winning score for The Theory Of Everything to his Oscar nominated soundtrack to Arrival, Jóhann Jóhannsson crafted some of the most compelling soundscapes in modern cinema. But just who was he, and why was he so important beyond his creative output?

Soundtracks can be the element that turns a good film into a great one, but the musicians behind them can often remain shrouded in mystery. Beyond the big names like Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman and John Williams there are also some fascinating and ground-breaking modern composers. Iceland has long been a hub for cinematic sounds, from the abstract pop of Björk to the glacial post-rock of Sigur Rós, and in recent years that success has translated into soundtrack composers, the most notable being the late Jóhann Jóhannsson.

Jóhannsson was born and raised in Iceland, but spent much of his creative life in Copenhagen and Berlin. After beginning his musical career in the 80s with several indie rock bands and experimental art collectives, he began composing music for theatre, dance and television productions. After moving into film scores he quickly gained a strong reputation for his uniquely ethereal soundtracks, striking up relationships with several directors.

His music is defined by a combination of classical orchestral sounds with elements from modern electronic music, creating an ambience that often felt both familiar and alien at the same time. He continued to release solo works throughout his career, all of which received critical acclaim, but it's his film scores which remain his most lauded output.

Among the biggest names Jóhannsson worked with are Lou Ye, Darren Aronovsky and James Marsh, and he won multiple awards for his work with all of them. One of the key relationships he established though was with the French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve. Jóhannsson composed the scores for Prisoners, Sicario and the aforementioned Arrival, and if you've seen any of those films you understand how the soundtracks play a massive part in constructing their incredible atmospheres.

Although a creative decision meant Jóhannsson didn't work on Blade Runner 2049, it's likely Villeneuve would've chosen Jóhannsson for his upcoming remake of Dune. One can only imagine the incredible, celestial soundscapes he would've crafted for what is bound to be one of the most sensationally evocative movies in recent times.

Jóhannsson's experimentation with dark ambient and drone music in his compositions blazed a trail for others in this musical world. Before him, the music of Hildur Guðnadóttir, Ben Frost, Tim Hecker and Rutger Hoedemaekers would've been considered far too abstract to be considered for commercial projects. Now they are all considered some of the most exciting new film and TV score composers, and yet they might never have made it without the work of Jóhannsson preceding them.

In 2018 Jóhannsson tragically passed away aged just 48, leaving behind a family. He is sorely missed, but his memory lives on not just in the film scores he created, but in the wealth of composers for whom he is a lasting inspiration. The best legacy an artist can have is not just the work they leave behind, but the path they establish for others.

For more information on the life and work of Jóhann Jóhannsson visit: https://johannjohannsson.com/