Recently, Daði Freyr released his new album Too Much Not Enough, which he co-wrote with friends and new collaborators, finishing the album after moving back to Iceland having spent many years in Berlin. Further albums for Daði have been & Co. in 2019 and I Made an Album in 2023, and throughout his career so far, he has released numerous music videos, most recently for his song I’m Out and I Wanna Go Home. Later this year, Daði is heading out on a North American tour, with support from BRIÉT, and on Thursday 5th November, he is performing alongside the Iceland Symphony Orchestra at Iceland Airwaves. Daði was set to perform his breakout single Think About Things for Team Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2020 as part of the group Daði og Gagnamagnið before the event was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but he went on to represent Iceland the following year with his song 10 Things, where they finished 4th, and unfortunately couldn’t perform live due to a band member having COVID, and at the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, he performed Atomic Kitten’s Whole Again during the interval. Answering our questions, Daði speaks about his new album Too Much Not Enough, his upcoming North American tour and show with Iceland Symphony Orchestra, and representing Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Your new album Too Much Not Enough (released Friday 8th May) was written with both close friends and collaborators you’d not met before, how was it co-writing the album with friends who already knew you compared to new collaborators?
It wasn’t that much of a difference, to be honest. I love my friends, and we share a history, so we don’t have to start the session by getting to know each other. But when we start writing the song, then the song is the main focus. We connect through the song, and whatever history we share becomes somewhat irrelevant.
Were there any songs you found most challenging to work on, and what was it like finalising the tracklist?
I wrote a lot more songs for this album than I have before. I have a bunch of unused demos that might never see the light of day. That is pretty new to me – usually I wouldn’t make a demo unless I know I’m going to be using the song. I’ll quit working on the song way before it’s demo’able. There wasn’t really a song that was more challenging, that I can think of. I think all the songs kind of made sense and just came together.
Can you tell us about Too Much Not Enough and where did the inspiration come from for the album?
I write about what I am thinking about in the moment, and this album is very much true to what I was feeling when I was writing it. I’m still getting used to being a touring musician and having a bigger audience. I’m still getting used to being a father, and that changes every day with my kids getting older. I’m still developing in my relationship with my wife, even though we have been together for about 15 years now. These are the things I am writing about – balancing family life with work life while making time for my friends without losing myself and who I am as a private person.
How long had Too Much Not Enough been in the making, and how was it finishing the album after moving back to Iceland after many years in Berlin?
It took around one year to finish. This is the first time where I actually focused on making an album over a period of time. I have usually made music whenever I get the chance, but this time I was focused the whole time on making an album. I had almost finished it when I moved to Iceland. There were just a few minor details and parts that I needed to get done, more practical things than creative in a way.
How would you say your music has evolved from your first two albums – & Co. (2019) and I Made an Album (2023), and who do you think your new release will appeal to?
I think this is my best album by far. I am a lot more focused, and I think it shows. & Co. was more of a collaborative album in the way that I got a lot of featuring artists, but they wrote their parts separately and I made all the music by myself. I Made an Album was just that – I made that album by myself from start to finish, and I made it in bursts. I would make a song and then two months later make another one, it was a collection of songs more than it was a fully connected album. This album is one thing.
What has it been like seeing the fan response to your album so far, and what do you hope listeners take from the release?
I hope people feel good when they listen. I want it to be a positive experience, and I think a lot of people have found it to be that. I have been loving the response so far.
You have released a number of music videos throughout your career, most recently for your song I’m Out and I Wanna Go Home; what was the I’m Out and I Wanna Go Home video like to film/direct, and what do you enjoy about music videos?
I love making music videos. It allows me to be creative but in such a different way. If I spend too much time in the studio making music, I get bored, but the same thing happens if I’m spending too much time on visuals. I need constant change to feel inspired. This was the first time for me directing a film crew. I was a bit nervous before, but I think I nailed it, and I will be doing that again very soon.
It has been announced that you will be heading out on a North American tour later this year, with support from BRÍET; what are you looking forward to for the tour and performing songs from the new album live?
I am super excited to expand on the visual aspect of the tour. I learned a lot on my last European run with running live visuals for the first time, and I will be making completely new visuals for this tour with what I know now. I can’t wait to show what I have in mind for that. Even though I haven’t started actually making the visuals yet, I already know that this show is going to be a big upgrade from my last tour.
How does it feel to be performing alongside the Iceland Symphony Orchestra on Thursday 5th November at Iceland Airwaves, and what can fans expect from the concert?
I am super honoured to be taking part in that. It’s kind of like a bucket list thing I think for most Icelandic musicians to get a show with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. I’m going to wear my fanciest clothes and really try to sing as well as I can. This will be more about the musical experience and less about trying to be funny or having crazy visuals.
What do you remember most from releasing your breakout single Think About Things in 2020, which you were set to perform at the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest as part of Daði og Gagnamagnið before the cancellation due to coronavirus?
I made a bunch of super raw demos to try to get the song just right. I had never done that before. Then I had a budget for the music video for the first time, but I was kind of doing a Hail Mary with that. Honestly, I might have another job right now if that song would have flopped. It was kind of an all or nothing moment for me. I would always still be making music, don’t get me wrong, but a man’s got to eat.
How did you find the experience representing Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest the following year with your song 10 Things, where you finished in 4th place, and how was it performing in Rotterdam, Netherlands?
One of our members got COVID before we were able to perform, so we weren’t actually performing live. They used a pre-recorded performance from one of our practice runs. We had to stay quarantined in the hotel while the competition took place.
What are some of your stand-out memories from the 2021 competition, and how was it returning for the Eurovision final in 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom to perform Whole Again by Atomic Kitten during the interval?
I love the whole crew that was with us in 2021. Stand-out moments are all just hanging out with them and doing this super weird thing that is Eurovision. In Liverpool, I got the chance to perform and take my wife with me. It was some closure in a way since we had so much COVID interference.
Can you tell us about your further favourite highlights from your music career so far?
I have done around six Europe tours and four American tours. These are my favourite things I have done in my career. I think a lot of people just see me as that guy from Eurovision, which is fine, but when I’m on tour I feel like I am either getting people to the show that know that I am more than that, or I get people who are about to learn. I think my live shows are amazing, and I would pay a lot of money to be able to stand in the crowd and watch the show from there, but I’m the only person in the world who can’t do that.
Where does your love of performing and songwriting come from, and how did you get started in the music industry?
I just love music and art in general. I don’t want to do anything else. I think performing is just a pretty natural thing for me. It’s where I feel the most confident in myself.
Do you have a songwriting process, and what do you enjoy about writing, recording and releasing original music?
I don’t have a process I use every time, I just start making something. My favourite part is writing and finding that first idea. Releasing is nice because then I’m getting people to listen, but there’s a lot of boring things that have to happen before I can release. Lots of logistics and stuff that I don’t like. I like creating and performing all the time, that’s all I want to do.
Who are some of your favourite music artists to listen to?
Justice, Daft Punk, Gorillaz, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Everything Everything, Hot Chip, Chromeo, System of a Down, Billie Eilish, Anderson .Paak, LCD Soundsystem, Bill Withers, GusGus, TEED, Vulfpeck, Fred again.. aaaaaand more.
How do you like to spend your free time and what are you hoping the rest of 2026 brings you?
I like to spend time with my friends and family. I hope 2026 brings me some of that 🙂
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