Eventstellar is glad to announce the release of its highly anticipated Extended Play (EP) “Island of Stars.” This seven-track release, takes listeners on a transcendental journey through the boundless depths of soft rock, alternative rock and set the foundations of the transcendental rock genre.
Released on May 29, 2017, and re-released online in 2024, Island of Stars marks the debut extended play (EP) of Iceland-Ireland-based rock band Eventstellar. This seven-track release not only showcases their musical versatility but also sets the foundation for the band’s distinctive sound, which they’ve dubbed transcendental rock. Blending elements of soft rock with alternative and atmospheric influences, Island of Stars takes listeners on a profound and introspective journey through the realms of freedom, memory, and spiritual exploration.
The EP’s concept is centered around the sea as a metaphor for personal liberation, with each track unraveling a different aspect of this theme. From the opening notes of the title track to the haunting simplicity of Blue Horizon (Piano Session), Eventstellar pushes musical boundaries while exploring complex emotions and universal questions.
A Journey to the Island of Stars
The EP opens with its titular track, Island of Stars, an evocative and dreamlike song that invites listeners to an island of freedom, where dreams come true and time feels both infinite and fleeting. The lyrics—“On the Island of Stars / Where our thoughts are alive / And our dreams do come true”—paint a picture of escapism and hope. The song is both a spiritual reflection and a call to embrace the unknown, with the imagery of stars on the shore symbolizing hopes reaching toward the vastness of the sky.
As Jesse Rómlárson, the band’s frontman and primary songwriter, sings of time slipping by and nostalgic memories igniting flames of desire, it becomes clear that the EP is as much about personal reflection as it is about seeking freedom from the constraints of the real world.
Blue Horizon: Between the Earth and the Cosmos
Following the opener, Blue Horizon dives deeper into the internal landscape, using cosmic imagery to reflect on the tension between aspirations and reality. With lyrics like “I see in the sky a cosmic dance / And the blue horizon,” the track taps into the idea of the horizon as both a literal and figurative boundary—where the sea meets the sky, and where hopes and doubts collide.
Musically, Blue Horizon captures that sense of yearning and the struggle to break free from the weight of the mundane. There’s a palpable restlessness in the song’s melody, underscoring its thematic focus on the search for peace amid chaos. The song’s repeated refrain—“Blue horizon / The endless frontier”—reminds us that no matter how far we travel, the horizon is always just beyond our reach.
A Tribute to Nature and Memory
Ode to the Turquoise Sea presents a stark contrast, offering a meditative and peaceful interlude that celebrates nature’s calming beauty. The track’s tranquil imagery of the ocean’s turquoise hues and the soothing rhythm of the waves evoke a sense of serenity and wonder. It’s a moment of reflection on the purity of the sea, with the lyrics calling out to the infinite, “Of the turquoise sea… Of the turquoise sea.”
The Ballad of Tamta Vazagashvili
This peaceful moment is followed by The Ballad of Tamta Vazagashvili, an instrumental piece that carries a deep emotional weight. Dedicated to Rómlárson’s first muse, Tamta Vazagashvili, the track is a sonic exploration of longing and nostalgia, invoking a fairy-tale quality that transports listeners into a mystical realm of personal memory and unspoken feelings.
2002: A Flashback to Simpler Times
The reflective mood continues in 2002, a heartfelt ode to the past. Recalling a time in Dublin when life was simpler and more carefree, the song takes listeners back to golden fields and quiet moments spent with friends. With lines like “Golden fields and skies so blue / Memories we thought were new,” the song taps into the nostalgia of youth—a time when life felt pure and unencumbered.
It’s a track that resonates with anyone who’s ever longed for the innocence of days gone by, evoking the warmth and security of simpler times. The imagery of fishing by a lonesome creek and singing by the fireside speaks to the universal longing for connection, comfort, and belonging.
Do You Believe?: A Cynical Reflection on Modern Life
Then comes Do You Believe?, a sharp and confrontational track that critiques the current state of the world. With biting lyrics like “We are his toys in this world / If you can’t read, just play with him,” the song takes aim at social manipulation, media influence, and the disillusionment of modern life. There’s a palpable sense of urgency in the music, as if the band is issuing a challenge to its listeners to question the world around them.
The track’s repeated refrain—“Do you believe?”—lingers like a haunting echo, forcing listeners to confront their own beliefs and assumptions. It’s a powerful statement about the fractured nature of truth in an age of information overload.
A Final Touch of Intimacy: Blue Horizon (Piano Session)
The EP closes with a stripped-back version of Blue Horizon, offering a more intimate and vulnerable take on the track. The piano arrangement highlights the song’s emotional core, emphasizing the quiet, contemplative moments of reflection that can often be lost in the grandeur of a full arrangement. It’s a poignant reminder that, despite the vastness of the world and the cosmos, the deepest truths often lie within ourselves.
The Birth of Transcendental Rock
Island of Stars is more than just an EP—it’s a statement of intent. Eventstellar’s ability to blend soft rock, transcendental rock, and alternative influences has allowed them to create a sound that is uniquely their own. With this release, they set the stage for a new genre, one that is introspective, ethereal, and deeply human.
Recorded between May and October of 2016 at Madelos Studios in Reykjavik, Iceland, and mixed and mastered by Michael Nikou in Adelaide, Australia, the EP is a sonic journey that transcends its own boundaries. Produced by Matt Dublin and Eventstellar, Island of Stars captures the essence of the band’s quest for freedom and personal liberation, inviting listeners to join them on a transformative voyage of self-discovery.
Released by Madelos Music International, Island of Stars is available for streaming and download. It’s an EP that invites listeners to leave behind the mundane and set sail for a journey where the stars guide the way, and the horizon holds infinite possibilities.