Bristol-based duo, Firewoodisland is a collaboration of Stian Vedøy and Abi Eleri. Their latest single release ‘Ataraxic’, released on the 28th of February 2020, ahead of their self-titled second album, which is due for release on 20th March 2020. ‘Sprinter’, their first single for the year received acclaim with A-Listing on BBC Radio Wales. The duo released multiple singles and hits last year, and have seen support from respected publications, including Atwood Magazine, PopMatters, Clash Magazine, as well as BBC 6 music’s Tom Robinson. Their single ‘Storm’ has an impressive Spotify stream rank of 1 million streams, as of March last year.
They have seen support through the years with the acclaimed Earmilk, Q Magazine, and The 405, and radio support from BBC Radio 6’s Radcliffe & Maconie, BBC Radio’s Introducing In The West, BBC Radio Devon, Introducing Music From Stoke, Amazing Radio and NRK P3 (Norway). The duo have been featured in Spotify’s Most Beautiful Songs in the World, Fresh Folk, Lush and Atmospheric and Lost in the Woods playlists. As well as Norway’s New Music Fridays playlist for ‘One With The Mountain’. The total streams of their music skyrocketed to over 6 million. Netflix’s Shadowhunters and Global TV’s NURSES included music from the group in their TV episodes.
Stian, originally from Norway, moved to Cardiff, UK to pursue his Masters in music production. He started Firewoodisland as a one-man project. The name of the band is a direct English translation of Stian’s surname ‘Vedøy’. Soon after starting the group, Stian would go on to meet Abi who would join the band. They would go on to participate in Norway’s Bandwagon Battle of the Bands as finalists, soon after the competition they released their debut EP ILD in 2014. The duo would go on to release EP Dome(2016), as well as their debut album Chaos Is The State Of The Heart in 2018.
‘Ataraxic’ is a gentle and meditative rendition on the delicate subject matter of mental health. The duo elaborate on the song meaning, “‘Ataraxic’ is a vulnerable ode to a friend who suffers with PTSD,” says Stian and Abi, “It is meant to encourage and inspire them to keep fighting and pushing forward, and remind them that people are around them who love them and will hold them up when they are struggling to stand. Life is worth fighting for.