Lára Rúnars (aka Lára or Lara Runars) was born and raised in Reykjavík, Lára developed a love of music while growing up listening to her father playing and recording with legendary Icelandic band Grafík. Through him Lára was first introduced to artists such as Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Nick Cave. Lára released her first album, Standing Still in Iceland in 2003 and the following year saw her collaborate with Damien Rice, both performing live and recording together. Lára was inspired by Stina Nordenstam and Cardigans for her second album Þögn (Silence) in 2006 performing her songs on that album in Icelandic. The release of Lara’s third album Surprise in late 2009 gained significant radio play in Iceland and the beginnings of interest internationally. She played a special show for Q Magazine in London alongside Amy MacDonald and was selected for influential showcase festivals Spot, Eurosonic and The Great Escape. Summer 2011 saw her last series of shows overseas before getting locking herself away to write and record he forth album ‘Moment’. The tour of Germany and Switzerland included a sell-out show in Berlin’s legendary Lido Club and culminated in an appearance at the Blue Balls festival in Lucerene where she played to 2,000 people. The first single ‘Beast’ from her new album hints at a darker and edgier side of Lara. She has been greatly influenced by strong female artists such as PJ Harvey as well as acts such as John Grant, which shows though in her melodic, melancholic indiepop.
