My Head is an Animal of Monsters and Men

Alternative folk artisans Of Monsters and Men have set April 3, 2012 as the release date of their debut album, My Head is an Animal, for Universal Republic Records.

The Icelandic six-piece is premiering the visually vibrant music video for the record’s first single, “Little Talks”, on VEVO Thursday, Feb. 2, and they’ll launch their first U.S. tour at SXSW in Austin, TX this March.

Of Monsters and Men exude a hypnotic mystique arising from the harmonious interplay of singers Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar “Raggi” Þórhallsson. As a result of the male and female vocals seamlessly entwining, “Little Talks” is an uplifting and undeniable call-and-response punctuated by propulsive horns, sunny tambourines, and organic acoustic strumming.

The song is in the Top 25 at Alternative radio and it’s #1 most played on WRFF in Philadelphia where program director John Allers called it a “the smash the first time we played it”.

My Head is an Animal features production by Of Monsters and Men, Aron Arnaarsson, and Jacquire King [Kings of Leon, Modest Mouse, Cold War Kids], while Craig Silvey [Florence + the Machine, Arcade Fire] handled mixing. The album follows up their debut EP, Into the Woods.

A division of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company, Universal Republic is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning artists such as 3 Doors Down, Amy Winehouse, Black Sabbath, Colbie Caillat, Eddie Vedder, Enrique Iglesias, Florence + the Machine, Godsmack, Owl City, The Rolling Stones, The Voice (NBC-TV), Gotye, Of Monsters and Men, Mayer Hawthorne, among others.

It is comprised of different imprints and digital business ventures including, Republic Nashville (The Band Perry), Cash Money (Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj), Indie Pop (Dev, The Cataracs), Lava Records (Jessie J, Black Veil Brides), SRC (Akon, Melanie Fiona), Aware Records (Mat Kearney), Brushfire (Jack Johnson, G. Love), Tuff Gong (Damian Marley, Stephen Marley), Downtown (Miike Snow), among others.

In the picture above: Clockwise from left Of Monsters and Men: Árni Guðjónsson, Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Brynjar Leifsson, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson, Kristján Páll Kristjánsson, Ragnar “Raggi” Þórhallsson.