Ward off the winter cold and get cosy by the fire with a special two-hour seasonal episode of Ultimate Calm with Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds. Ólafur shares a selection of tracks to transport you out of the hectic noise that comes with this time of year, and reflects on how music can be an escape. With music from the likes of Haruomi Hosono, Anoushka Shankar and Erland Cooper.

We visit two musical safe havens over the course of the episode - hearing the music that Ólafur’s special guests retreat to in times of stress. Swedish singer-songwriter and Eurovision winner Loreen shares a track that combines piano with the sounds of nature which always makes her feel grounded, and Jess and Millie from English indie folk band The Staves pick a soothing song that makes them take a deep breath and gives them respite from the busy chaos of life.

Ólafur also performs a very special live version of his piano piece ‘saman’, which means 'together' in Icelandic, and shares some reflections on the quirky festive folktales of Iceland, with stories of trolls and icy darkness.

Produced by Katie Callin
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