Icelandic cellist and composer Eythor Arnalds has released ‘Opening,’ a quietly arresting new single that serves as the first gateway into his forthcoming album Music for Walking, due for release on 29th May via Alda Music.
Subtle yet deeply evocative, the piece signals an ambitious continuation of Arnalds’ exploration into music as lived experience. Positioned as a threshold into the album’s immersive sonic landscape, ‘Opening’ unfolds with remarkable restraint. Sparse piano notes, measured and almost hesitant—set the tone before gradually giving way to softly swelling strings. The result is a composition that feels less like a performance and more like a transition: a shift from stillness into motion, from inward reflection toward a broader sense of presence.
Arnalds, whose work sits at the intersection of neo-classical minimalism, cinematic ambient, and contemporary composition, has drawn comparisons to artists such as Max Richter and Brian Eno. Yet his voice remains distinct, rooted in Iceland’s dramatic geography and an intuitive understanding of how environment shapes perception. With ‘Opening,’ he distills these influences into a piece that feels both intimate and expansive.
“‘Opening’ is the third single from the upcoming album Music for Walking. The piece delivers a quiet threshold into a world where movement becomes meditation,” Arnalds explains. “It was written while walking a small mountain on Iceland’s south coast—moving from dense forest into an open clearing of moss and lava under the midnight sun. The music mirrors that transition: from enclosure to expanse, from thought to presence.”
This sense of physical journey is central to the composition. Led by Arnalds’ cello and performed alongside members of the Reykjavík Symphony Orchestra, the piece captures the rhythm of walking itself – the subtle cadence of footsteps, the ebb and flow of breath, and the gradual unfolding of landscape. The orchestration remains understated, allowing space for reflection while gently guiding the listener forward.
Recorded at Reykjavík’s Harpa Concert Hall, the track benefits from a pristine yet warm acoustic environment. Grammy-nominated engineer Bergur Þórisson brings a careful balance to the production, preserving the organic textures of the instruments while enhancing their emotional clarity. Conductor Viktor Orri Árnason, known for his work across Iceland’s contemporary classical scene, lends further depth and cohesion to the performance.
Complementing the release is a visually striking film by filmmaker Karim Illya. Shot across Iceland’s elemental terrain, the film places Arnalds within a shifting landscape of volcanic craters, windswept coastlines, and glacial formations. The imagery mirrors the music’s gradual expansion, reinforcing the album’s central concept: that sound can act as both guide and companion to physical movement.
Watch below:
