The wild and wacky experimental music of Björk is about to be brought to Australia in a way that pays tribute to the eccentric influence of the Icelandic pop princess. Going Björk is a new collaborative work between Musical Directors Paul Stanhope of the Sydney Chamber Choir and Naomi Crellin of the Aria Award winning group The Idea of North. The two outfits join forces to bring Sydneysiders an extraordinary a capella experience, with specially commissioned works appropriating the work of Björk as well as other iconic Icelandic artists.

The project kicked off after a chat between Paul and Naomi about their mutual admiration for Scandinavian folk music, conducted in the most Australian way possible: over a barbecue. At the centre of the genre-bending fusion is Björk’s Medulla album, which in itself is an experiment in subversion, comprised entirely of singing and human vocal sounds. “Björk is a true artist in that she loves to subvert expectations. Her stylistic versatility comes across really strongly in her songs which draw from various sources as far and wide as big band through to Icelandic folks sources,” says Stanhope.

Naomi adds, “Her raw expression and willingness to step outside the...