Ólafur Arnalds has released A Dawning – choir Versions, a new three-track collection reimagining songs from his collaborative album with the late Irish musician Talos. Performed by Reykjavík-based choir and art collective Kliður, the release features choral versions of A Dawning, Bedrock, and We Didn't Know We Were Ready.
The original A Dawning album, completed by Arnalds following Talos' passing, served as a final collaboration between the two artists. The new recordings extend the project's focus on friendship, creativity and community, placing voices at the centre of the music.
The arrangements were created with British arranger Geoff Lawson, whose previous collaborators include Rod Stewart, Gregory Porter and Gary Barlow. Kliður, a Reykjavík choir whose members regularly perform original works by fellow singers, brings a communal dimension to the reinterpretations.
Speaking about the release, Arnalds said: "At the core of A Dawning is the idea of creative community. Kliður represents this idea perfectly... creating an incentive for people to sing together and come together as a community."