Faroese composer and folk singer Hanus Gjærdum Johansen, known as Hanus G, passed away in the early hours of Saturday, aged 75.
Highly cherished as a singer and composer who released a number of records and held many concerts over the years, Hanus G was born in Klaksvík on June 18th, 1950.
Amongst other things, he was known for creating melodies for hundreds of poems since the 1970s, among them poems written by Pól F. Joensen, one of the most celebrated poets of the Faroes, and several of his songs have become evergreens, popular across all age groups.
His signature deep voice contributed to putting Hanus G in his own league—the distinct character of his sound and personality were unmistakably his own and loved by many.
Hanus G had his first public concert in the early 70s and released his first album in the mid-80s. Among his best-known and most requested songs are “Á, kundi á tíðarhavi,” which, according to an interview with him in 2018, he performed at nearly every concert he had given since the 80s.
Throughout his career Hanus G received several awards for his work, among them the Faroese National Culture Prize in 2020, which he received for being “an outstanding and original troubadour, whose work has had a significant impact on Faroese culture and identity,” and the Special Award at the 2024 Faroese Music Awards.
