Ólafur Arnalds | Saman
Ólafur Arnalds’ “saman” - Arnalds created a piano piece about togetherness during his groundbreaking re:member album sessions in 2018, featuring close-miked upright piano and minimalist beauty.
Story Behind “saman”
The Piano Piece That Means “Together”
“saman” emerged during one of the most experimental periods of Ólafur Arnalds’ career. While recording his fourth solo album re:member in Reykjavik, the Icelandic composer was simultaneously developing Stratus—revolutionary software that controlled two self-playing pianos. But “saman” represented something different within that technological exploration. The track title translates from Icelandic as “together,” a fitting name for a piece that strips away the album’s more complex production layers to focus on intimate, close-miked piano.
Arnalds released the sheet music for “saman” on social media the day before the track itself dropped, an unusual move that invited listeners to interpret the composition before hearing his version. The gesture reflected the song’s core meaning: connection through shared experience.
From Hardcore Drummer to Contemplative Composer
The path to “saman” began far from the quiet piano studios of Reykjavik. Born in 1986 in Mosfellsbær, just outside Iceland’s capital, Arnalds spent his teenage years drumming for hardcore and metal bands. His transition to neoclassical composition happened almost accidentally when German band Heaven Shall Burn heard his bedroom piano sketches and invited him to contribute to their 2004 album. That led to his 2007 debut Eulogy for Evolution and a decade of pushing boundaries between classical, electronic, and ambient music.
By 2018, Arnalds had won a BAFTA for his Broadchurch soundtrack and collaborated with pianist Alice Sara Ott on The Chopin Project. But re:member represented what he called his “breaking out-of-a-shell album”—a chance to stop filtering his diverse influences. Within that experimental context, “saman” offered a moment of pure, unadorned melody.
“saman” Recording and Production Details
Close-Miked Intimacy in Reykjavik
Arnalds produced “saman” himself at his Reykjavik studio, with engineering by Kjartan Holm. The track showcases what Apple Music’s album notes describe as “the now-familiar use by post-classical artists of a muffled, close-miked upright piano” that “has never sounded so sweet.” The production captures every resonance and dynamic nuance of the piano, creating an intimate listening experience that feels like sitting beside the instrument.
The album was mastered by Zino Mikorey, whose work helped maintain the delicate balance between clarity and warmth across re:member‘s twelve tracks.
Minimalism Within Technological Innovation
While other re:member tracks featured the Stratus Pianos—which generated unexpected harmonies by triggering two player pianos from a central keyboard—”saman” takes a simpler approach. The piece centers on solo piano performance, allowing Arnalds’ compositional voice to speak without technological mediation. The track runs just over two minutes, built around repeating motifs that evolve subtly through carefully considered dynamics and spacing.
The restraint proved effective. “saman” became the most successful track from re:member, eventually surpassing 60 million streams on Spotify.
Notes About “saman” by Ólafur Arnalds
Release Date: August 24, 2018
Duration: 2:11
Genre: Neoclassical / Modern Classical / Ambient
Album: re:member (4th studio album, track 3 of 12)
Producer: Ólafur Arnalds
Engineer: Kjartan Holm
Label: Mercury KX (Decca Music Group)
Chart Performance: Over 60 million Spotify streams (most successful track from re:member)
Ólafur Arnalds “saman” Era Album Details
Album Details
Album: re:member
Release Date: August 24, 2018
Label: Mercury KX (Decca Music Group)
Producer: Ólafur Arnalds
Recording Location: Reykjavik, Iceland
Mastering: Zino Mikorey
Album Length: 12 tracks, 47 minutes
Album Concept: Exploration of creative process through technology and raw influences
Personnel
Ólafur Arnalds - Piano, electronics, programming, production, mixing
Kjartan Holm - Engineering
Viktor Orri Árnason - First violin, woodwind arrangements
Björk Óskarsdóttir - Second violin
Úlfur Hansson - Viola
Unnur Jónsdóttir - Cello
BNGR (beat programmer) - Beat programming collaboration
Sohn - Featured vocals on “Unfold”
London Recording Orchestra - Orchestra on select tracks
Production Notes
Fourth official solo album following five-year gap
Featured groundbreaking Stratus software developed over two years with Halldór Eldjárn
Album recorded primarily at Arnalds’ Reykjavik studio
String quartet and London Recording Orchestra recorded at Air Studios, London
Album artwork created using custom software by FELD Studios that translated Stratus MIDI data into visuals
Deluxe edition released with vinyl reissues, live reworks, and VOCES8 choral arrangements
Album supported by 140+ date global tour
Interesting Facts About “saman”
The Sheet Music Experiment
Arnalds took an unconventional approach to releasing “saman,” posting the sheet music on social media the day before the track’s official release. In his announcement, he wrote: “Never tried releasing music sheets for a song before the actual song is out... Curious to see your interpretations?!” The gesture invited musicians worldwide to engage with the composition before hearing his definitive recording, emphasizing the communal aspect suggested by the song’s title.
The strategy worked. Musicians across genres covered “saman”—from classical guitarists to electric guitar interpreters to saxophone arrangements. Italian guitarist Sergio Sorrentino’s electric guitar version even caught Arnalds’ attention, leading him to feature it on BBC Sounds after Arnalds praised how “the guitar creates different space in this composition.”
The Most-Streamed Moment of Restraint
In an album built around technological innovation and genre-blurring experimentation, “saman” became re:member‘s breakout success precisely because of its simplicity. While tracks like the title song showcased the revolutionary Stratus Pianos creating swarms of generative notes, “saman” offered what one reviewer called “a piano melody that recalls sadness... with those light keyboard flourishes.”
The track’s popularity reflects a broader shift in how listeners engage with neoclassical music. In streaming era where attention is fragmented, “saman” provides what many seek: a brief, contemplative pause that doesn’t demand extended focus yet rewards careful listening. Its success—over 60 million streams—helped solidify Arnalds’ position alongside Nils Frahm and Max Richter as a leading voice in post-classical music, proving that technological innovation and human intimacy could coexist within the same artistic vision.
Common Questions
Q: What does “saman” mean in Icelandic? A: “Saman” translates to “together” in Icelandic, deriving from Old Norse. The title reflects the track’s intimate, connected quality and Arnalds’ gesture of sharing the sheet music before the official release, inviting collaborative interpretation.
Q: How long is “saman” by Ólafur Arnalds? A: “saman” runs 2 minutes and 11 seconds, making it one of the shorter tracks on re:member. The brevity contributes to its contemplative, almost interlude-like quality within the album’s larger narrative.
Q: Does “saman” use the Stratus Pianos? A: Unlike many tracks on re:member, “saman” features traditional solo piano without the Stratus technology. While the album is known for its self-playing, semi-generative pianos, “saman” showcases Arnalds’ compositional voice through minimalist, close-miked performance.
Q: What album is “saman” from? A: “saman” appears as track 3 on Ólafur Arnalds’ fourth solo studio album re:member, released August 24, 2018 on Mercury KX. The album marked a significant creative evolution, incorporating new technology while maintaining his signature neoclassical sound.
Q: Why is “saman” so popular? A: “saman” has achieved over 60 million Spotify streams, making it the most successful track from re:member. Its popularity stems from its accessible minimalism—a brief, emotionally direct piano piece that offers contemplative beauty without requiring extended engagement, perfect for streaming-era listening habits.