Icelandic cellist and composer Eythor Arnalds returns with Promenade nr. 7, a contemplative and immersive single from his forthcoming album Music for Walking, set to release May 29, 2026 via Alda Music. Following his acclaimed debut The Busy Child and the live EP String Theory, Arnalds continues to blur the lines between neo-classical composition, ambient soundscapes, and cinematic storytelling.
Promenade nr. 7 exemplifies Arnalds’ signature approach: music conceived as environment, not background. The track unfolds slowly, beginning with a minimal two-note motif on cello and gradually expanding through violin, viola, piano, bass, and subtle percussion. Performed alongside members of the Reykjavík Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Viktor Orri Árnason, the piece mirrors the rhythm of walking itself, guiding the listener through reflection, contemplation, and emotional nuance.
The composition thrives on patience and organic growth. As Arnalds explains, the cello rises “like a chain of thought that starts with an open mind and a simple idea,” building tension and release with gentle, purposeful momentum. The track balances calm, introspection, and subtle unease, evoking landscapes both physical and emotional. It is music that encourages mindfulness, solitude, and presence.
Visually, the single is complemented by a striking video shot in southern Iceland by Karim Ilya with art direction by Oliver James Broughton. Following Arnalds through the stark terrain near Þingvellir, the video echoes the composition’s interplay between movement, memory, and place. The imagery of lakes, wind, and tectonic shifts reinforces the central motif of water, both as life and as metaphor, while connecting human presence to the natural world.
Promenade nr. 7 is a masterclass in restraint and emotional depth. With its subtle harmonic shifts and gradual orchestral layering, the track situates Arnalds within the lineage of composers like Max Richter, Ólafur Arnalds, and Brian Eno, yet retains a deeply personal, Icelandic perspective. This is music meant to be experienced while moving, ideally on foot, allowing thought and step to sync with sound.
Eythor Arnalds continues to define his space in modern neo-classical and ambient music. With Promenade nr. 7, he invites listeners to step into a reflective, immersive world, an album-long meditation on movement, solitude, and the quiet power of presence.