With her third studio album, …letters from my past, Icelandic artist Silja Rós delivers a deeply personal and emotionally rich collection of songs that feels like reading pages from her private journals. Known for her distinct blend of neo-soul and pop, Silja’s latest release is both a sonic evolution and an intimate storytelling project that captures the raw beauty of vulnerability and reflection.
Currently Album of the Week at Rás 2, Iceland’s national radio station, …letters from my past confirms Silja’s place as one of the most captivating voices in Icelandic music today.
Silja Rós isn’t new to the scene. Since her 2017 debut, she’s been steadily building a loyal fanbase, both as a musician and a multi-talented creative force—also recognized for her work as an actress and screenwriter, particularly in the popular TV series Skvíz, which she co-wrote and starred in. But this new album stands out as a turning point in her musical path.
“This album means a lot to me,” Silja says. “I gave myself time to rediscover my sound as a musician.” That rediscovery comes through clearly in every track. There’s a quiet confidence in the way each song unfolds, as if Silja has stripped away anything that doesn’t serve the emotion or story at the core.
Drawing inspiration from artists like Jacob Collier, Olivia Dean, and Sabrina Claudio, Silja Rós delivers a sound that feels familiar yet completely her own. The album blends soulful melodies, jazz-infused instrumentation, and modern pop sensibilities, while always keeping the spotlight on her breathtaking voice—a voice that doesn’t just sing but speaksto the listener on a deeply emotional level.
Each song flows into the next with the feeling of a stream of consciousness, a technique Silja intentionally embraced: “The song titles flow together forming a chain of thought, when the mind keeps wandering from one thought to another.” It’s this fluidity that gives the album a cinematic, almost dreamlike quality.
The title …letters from my past isn’t metaphorical—it’s literal. Silja returned to old diaries and unreleased songs, mining them for untold stories and emotions that still resonated. This grounding in real experience gives the album its emotional gravity. The songs may come from Silja’s life, but they speak to themes we all know: love, heartbreak, self-discovery, growth, and the quiet courage it takes to move forward.
Tracks are carefully arranged to create a journey, not just in sound, but in feeling. From moments of softness and introspection to swells of jazzy energy, the album never loses its emotional thread. This is music that asks to be listened to with intent.
While this album is undeniably personal, it’s also the result of rich collaboration. Co-produced by Magnus Dagsson and Stefán Örn Gunnlaugsson, and recorded between Denmark and Iceland, the album features some of Iceland’s top musicians.
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Kristófer Nökkvi and Bergur Einar bring dynamic rhythm on drums.
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Magnus Dagsson handles guitar and Rhodes with understated elegance.
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Baldur Kristjáns on bass, Kjalar on piano, and Bergrós on backing vocals round out a tight core band.
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A brass section featuring Sigurrós, Guðjón Steinn, and Villi Gumm adds layers of texture and warmth.
The album was finalized by Sigurdór at Skonrokk Mastering and released under Alda Music, one of Iceland’s most respected labels. It also received financial support from RÚV, Bylgjan, STEF, and the Hljóðritasjóður Recording Grant, underscoring the cultural importance of the project.
…letters from my past is more than a collection of songs—it’s a heartfelt conversation between Silja Rós and her younger self, shared generously with the world. It’s rare to find an album that feels this emotionally grounded yet musically ambitious, and rarer still to find an artist who manages to balance both so effortlessly.
Whether you’re discovering Silja Rós for the first time or have followed her since her debut, this album offers something special. It’s a reminder that music can still be deeply human, full of imperfections, questions, and quiet moments of truth. It’s also a promise—of more to come from an artist who is clearly hitting her stride.
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