Emilíana Torrini
An Icelandic singer whose ethereal voice and genre-defying songwriting create intimate, otherworldly soundscapes.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Icelandic singer and songwriter·Birthday: May 16·Generation X
Biography
Emilíana Torrini's musical path began in Reykjavík's kitchens, singing while working as a chef, before her crystalline voice caught the ear of Iceland's electronic pioneer, Thievery Corporation. This led to a global stage, but Torrini has always moved at her own haunting pace. She sidestepped pop stardom after early major-label attention, instead crafting deeply personal albums that blend folk intimacy with subtle electronic textures. Her contribution to 'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,' 'Gollum's Song,' is a perfect emblem of her art: a beautiful, sorrowful puzzle that is both ancient-sounding and utterly modern. Whether exploring heartbreak on 'Love in the Time of Science' or the infectious, percussive joy of 'Jungle Drum,' Torrini remains an artist defined by emotional honesty and a refusal to be categorized, making her one of Iceland's most cherished and singular exports.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Emilíana was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Emilíana Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Emilíana's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Performed 'Gollum's Song' for the end credits of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'.
- Her 2009 single 'Jungle Drum' was a top-ten hit across several European countries.
- Her album 'Love in the Time of Science' (1999) was produced with the band GusGus and is considered an electronic classic.
- She co-wrote and provided backing vocals for Kylie Minogue's 2004 hit 'Slow'.
- She has collaborated extensively with the downtempo duo Thievery Corporation.
Did You Know?
She trained as a chef in Iceland and worked in her family's restaurant.
She was originally asked to sing the aria for 'The Lord of the Rings' films before 'Gollum's Song' was written for her.
She took a five-year break from recording after her 2005 album 'Fisherman's Woman'.
Her father is of Italian descent, and she spent part of her childhood in Italy.
““I’m not a musician, I’m a songwriter. I write songs, and then I find the musicians to play them.””
