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Jay talks with Will Larnach-Jones, head of Marketing and Operations for Iceland Airwaves Festival. Members of The Current's team are in Reykjavik covering the 20th Iceland Airwaves Festival with live broadcast, interviews, and studio sessions. Jay Gabler sat down with Will Larnach-Jones, the festival's Marketing and Operations director to chat about how the festival achieved gender parity in its lineup, and how climate change is affecting music festivals.

Earlier this year, 45 music festivals pledged to implement a 50/50 gender split in their lineups, panels, and more by 2022. The initiative was launched by the UK's PRS Foundation Keychange, which empowers women in music. This year, Iceland Airwaves achieved that goal, with an equal gender split in their lineup.

"Our approach has always just been about what music we like," said Larnach-Jones. "I'm really pleased to say, I think in 2018 there is so much good music out there from all parts of the world, from all genders, and from all genres, that for us it seemed like a no-brainer."

They also talked about how climate change is posing challenges to music festivals. While November is a brisk month in Reykjavik, Larnach-Jones says that most of the festival's activities take place indoors, which makes it easier for performers and audiences to brave the elements. "I think there are always more things we can do," he added, about ways that the festival can become more environmentally conscious, like distributing fewer bottles of water to bands and crowds. Follow all of The Current's coverage of Iceland Airwaves here.

Some of today's new releases:

Charles Bradley: Black Velvet

Tom Brenneck had written for and recorded Bradley from 2011 to the legendary soul singer's passing in 2017. Brenneck was introduced to Bradley by Gabe Roth, co-founder of the singer's label, Daptone Records. After Bradley's death, Roth approached Brenneck about producing a posthumous Charles Bradley album. Black Velvet features songs that Brenneck wrote during Bradley's decline in health, as well as older songs that never made in on the singer's three albums. The album's title nods to Bradley's early career as a James Brown impersonator, when he performed under the name Black Velvet.

Muse: Simulation Theory

Muse have a new record out today, Simulation Theory. The album is the eighth full-length release from Muse, who began their career nearly 20 years ago with the debut album Showbiz. The band worked with a number of producers on Simulation Theory, including Mike Elizondo, who has produced artists like Eminem and Fiona Apple, and now works alongside Chris Thile as the musical director of Live From Here.

J Mascis: Elastic Days

Dinosaur Jr. singer and guitarist J Mascis released a new solo album, Elastic Days today. The album, released on Sub Pop, is the musician's third solo studio record. J Mascis "sounds more confident than he's ever been outside of Dinosaur Jr., placing more of an emphasis on his lyrics and putting his famous drawl more front and center than ever, never once hiding behind his backing instrumentals," writes Paste.

Aurora: "Forgotten Love"

Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora hung out with Mark Wheat at the Skuli Craft Bar in Reykjavik during Iceland Airwaves 2018 to perform some songs, including "Forgotten Love," from her latest album Infections Of A Different Kind (Sept 1).

Songs sampled in today's episode:

Jahzzar - Comedie (CC BY 4.0)
BoxCat Games - Against the Wall (CC BY 3.0)
"Forgotten Love" by Aurora, recorded live at Skuli Craft Bar by The Current
"Heart of Gold" by Charles Bradley, from Black Velvet
"See You At The Movies" by J Mascis, from Elastic Days
"Pressure" by Muse, from Simulation Theory
"Forgotten Love" by Aurora, from Infections of a Different Kind