Svala facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Svala
Svala at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 opening ceremony
Background information
Birth name	Svala Björgvinsdóttir
Also known as	Svala Björgvins Kali
Born	(1977-02-08) 8 February 1977 (age 48) Reykjavík, Iceland
Genres	Pop electronic
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	1984–present
Labels	Priority Records
Associated acts	Steed Lord, BLISSFUL

Svala Björgvinsdóttir (born 8 February 1977), known by her stage names Svala, Svala Björgvins, or Kali, is a famous singer and songwriter from Iceland. She became well-known for her 2001 song "The Real Me." She was also the lead singer of the house music band Steed Lord. In 2017, Svala represented Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Musical Journey

A Star from a Young Age

Svala's father is the well-known Icelandic singer Björgvin Halldórsson. She began her music career very early. When she was only seven, she sang backup vocals on one of her father's albums.

At age nine, she had her first number-one hit in Iceland with a Christmas song she sang with her father, called "Fyrir Jól." Two years later, at age 11, she had another number-one Christmas hit called "Ég hlakka svo til."

Besides singing, Svala studied ballet for seven years. During her school years, she also wrote music with her high school band.

When Svala was 16, she formed a band called Scope with two DJs and a producer. They were inspired by UK house music and disco. Their cover of the song "Was That All It Was" became a number-one dance hit in Iceland. Soon after, Svala joined an indie-funk band called Bubbleflies. With them, she wrote and performed original songs and covers of artists like Stevie Wonder.

Going International

When Svala was 18, she began working with Scottish producer Ian Morrow. In 1999, she signed a major record deal with EMI and Priority Records. This was one of the biggest record deals ever for an Icelandic artist.

She moved to Los Angeles in 2000 to work on her music. Her first album, The Real Me, came out in 2001. The title song, "The Real Me," became a top 40 hit on the Billboard charts in the United States. The album sold so many copies in Iceland that it went platinum. It was also popular in Germany, Spain, and Japan.

New Projects and Steed Lord

Svala returned to Iceland and released her next solo album, The Bird Of Freedom, in 2005. She produced the album herself along with her father. The album was a success in Iceland and achieved Gold status, meaning it sold a large number of copies.

In 2006, Svala formed the electronic band Steed Lord with her future husband, Einar Egilsson, and his brother, Edvard Egilsson. The band quickly became popular online and started touring across Europe and North America. They were known for their dance music and cool fashion style. The clothing brand H&M even asked them to design a special clothing line.

In 2008, the band was in a serious car accident in Iceland. Svala had several broken bones and other injuries. After she recovered, Steed Lord went on tour in the U.S. with the band Chromeo. The band's music was featured on TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Eurovision and Recent Work

Svala at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 opening ceremony

After taking a break from music, Svala returned to Iceland. In 2015, she became one of the four judges on the Icelandic version of the TV show "The Voice."

In 2017, Svala won the contest to represent Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest. She performed her song "Paper" in the semi-final but did not make it to the grand final.

Since then, Svala has continued to release new music. In 2018, she was featured on the song "Ekkert Drama" with the group Reykjavíkurdætur. She also released her own songs, "For the Night" and "Karma." In 2019, she returned to Iceland's Eurovision selection show, this time as a songwriter for another artist.

Personal Life

In 2012, Svala launched her own clothing line called Kali. She designed several collections for her brand, which were sold online.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

See also

In Spanish: Svala para niños