Icelandic musician Pan Thorarensen is garnering attention in 2025 with his project, 'Ljóstillífgun,' a sonic exploration of Iceland's flora. The album, released on May 15, 2025, blends electronic music, ambient nature recordings, and experimental soundscapes.
'Ljóstillífgun,' which translates to 'Photosynthesis,' captures the essence of nature's life-giving processes. Thorarensen meticulously collected natural sounds using specialized microphones, capturing nuances like wind through heather and water droplets on leaves. These recordings are interwoven with electronic sound design, synthesizers, modular systems, and custom-built electronic instruments.
Thorarensen, along with his wife Guðrún Lárusdóttir, owns Space Odyssey, a store in Reykjavik that sells records, releases cassettes, and hosts performances. He is also the founder of Extreme Chill, an annual electronic music festival. Furthermore, Pan participated in a multi-artist release concert at Iðnó on June 5, 2025.