Reykjavíkurdætur was created in 2013 by Blær Jóhannsdóttir and Kolfinna Nikulásdóttir. After connecting with other women who were interested in rapping, they began hosting recurring public female rap nights in Reykjavík.[6] From there the band started to form as an open clan but has since developed into what it is today: A nine piece band, with eight performers on stage at a time. Five of the current members have been in the band since it was formed in 2013.[7] In 2017 the Daughters were asked to put up a show at the Reykjavík City Theatre. It could be anything they wanted. With the diverse background of the girls they came up with "RVKDTR THE SHOW" a performance where they expressed their experience of being a 20-something woman in Iceland. It debuted in May 2017 and got good reviews.
In October 2019, the band rebranded themselves as "Daughters of Reykjavík", the English translation of Reykjavíkurdætur.[8][9]
The band launched a crowdfunding campaign in late 2013 in order to record and launch their first album, RVK DTR.[10]
In 2019 the Daughters won the MME awards (EBBA awards) at the Eurosonic festival along with Rosalia and Bishop Briggs. The band is represented by ATC live and ATC management.
Daughters of Reykjavík released their album, Soft Spot, in April 2020.[11] In 2022, the group was announced as one of the participants in Söngvakeppnin 2022, the Icelandic national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, they placed 2nd with 69,227 votes.[12]
Style
The lyrics of Daughters of Reykjavík refer to different themes of life in Iceland, especially pertaining to Icelandic women. During an interview in 2016, the group spoke about the contribution that their songs can have in politics, partying, body shaming, gender inequality, the empowerment of women, and overcoming broken hearts. They recorded most of their songs in Icelandic but also recorded some songs in English. In 2022, they added that their goal as a band is to empower women and non-binary people through their music.[13]
They wrote the song "Drusla" ("Slut") for the 2014 Icelandic slut walk.[14]
