If you’ve ever heard Jónsi, the lead vocalist for the Icelandic group Sigur Rós, sing, you probably wouldn’t have understood a word of what he’s saying, and you would have probably thought “well, of course, I don’t know what he’s saying. I don’t speak Icelandic.” At least, that’s what I thought at first. But even if you speak fluent Icelandic, then you still won’t have any clue what Jónsi is saying,because he’s singing in a language that he made up.
He calls it “hopelandic,” in English or “Volenska” in Icelandic. Hopelandic completely lacks any form of syntax, grammar, meaning, or even words. Instead, it usually consists of whatever sound Jónsi can produce that will as close as possible resemble the melody and rhythm of the music. It’s very similar to scat singing in jazz where performers would sing “wordless vocables, nonsense syllables or without words at all.” It works really well too. The group is able to create very harmonious sounds and an extremely ethereal atmosphere with their fictional language.
This isn’t the first time a group has become popular by singing nonsense. Although she can’t be credited with the invention of a new language, Elizabeth Frazer of the Cocteau Twins often sings complete nonsense at loud volumes to create very emotional music.
You might also think that to a native Icelandic, this group probably sounds terrible because their singing sounds very close to Icelandic, but also seems entirely off, but they are the crown jewel of Iceland when it comes to music and loved by music critics all over the world as well.