The pioneer Björk called “the king” of modern music
Björk, the iconic Icelandic pop legend renowned for her distinctive style, has been a prominent figure in the music industry for over four decades, captivating audiences with her unparalleled originality. She began her musical journey at the young age of 11, navigating the creative yet demanding world of the industry. Surrounded by fellow artists throughout her career, Björk has undoubtedly been influenced by their presence, shaping her own artistic vision in both beneficial and challenging ways.
Ever since Björk burst onto the global stage as the frontwoman of The Sugarcubes, she’s been significantly transforming the realm of alternative rock. Drawing inspiration from a variety of sources, including her peers, family, surroundings, and personal experiences, she incorporates both vintage and contemporary elements into her musical repertoire.
It’s obvious that Björk’s musical influences are far-reaching and timeless. She’s expressed admiration for Joni Mitchell, praising her for her deep emotions, and for Kate Bush, citing her originality and emotional openness. “[Bush is] one of the biggest pioneering producers,” she said. “Everybody just says, ‘Oh, she’s just a singer. She’s just a chick’. But they forget all the other work she’s done, that woman. She’s very, very, very gorgeous.”
Björk’s appreciation for Aphex Twin is also well-documented, both as an artist and someone who she frequently bounces ideas off of. The singer credits the musician for helping her develop as an artist, saying, “Richard [David Jones] has always been incredibly supportive of me and has emailed me a couple of times and told me about equipment that he knew I would get into. For example, he told me about the Korg 4-track dictaphone that helped me a lot to make ‘Medúlla.’”
Discussing his track, ‘Come to Daddy’, Björk claims it to be a “masterpiece”, explaining: “It’s hilariously funny, and it’s got lovely energy, and I think, with music today, for me, he’s definitely the pioneer. Aphex Twin is the king.”
‘Come to Daddy’ was initially released in 1997, along with a poignant music video that was directed on the same council estate where Stanley Kubrick filmed many scenes for A Clockwork Orange. Lyrically, the song explores the darkness of manipulation and power as Jones repeats the words, “I want your soul
I will eat your soul.”
Although it became a hit among fans, Jones didn’t exactly care much for its increase in popularity. Discussing the track with Index Magazine, he said: “‘Come to Daddy’ came about while I was just hanging around my house, getting pissed and doing this crappy death metal jingle. Then it got marketed and a video was made, and this little idea that I had, which was a joke, turned into something huge. It wasn’t right at all.”
