Icelandic pop sensation Hildur has released an empowering new single ‘Woman At War’. It’s a slickly produced battle cry for equality. It’s interesting that even an artist who hails from the country with the highest level of gender equality in the world, according to the United Nations’ findings, still finds fault within the music industry when it comes to being respected as a musician, first and foremost. ‘Woman At War’ originated from a place of frustration of being labelled an “angry woman”, although it soon become a song about not giving up. As Hildur shares: “It has hope. It conveys understanding that this is what the situation looks like right now and it’s ok to be overwhelmed by it and want to give up at times. Because the beautiful thing is that all the women I know that have hit this wall, me included, they somehow find the strength in them to continue and return fighting strong, again.” There’s a fascinating dichotomy within Hildur’s music. It may sound like sugary Scandi-pop at times, but take a closer listen to the lyrics – for example, “Your body is a battlefield / You keep it open till it breaks down / Letting other people walk over when standing up is getting too hard” – and you’ll find an incredibly bold and independently-minded songwriter. - Hannah Thacker