In Loving Memory of Árni Grétar Jóhannesson :: Futuregrapher (December 6, 1983

A few remarks from Árni’s friends ::

“Words feel inadequate to capture the depth of our loss and the ache in our hearts.” ~Möller Records

“There is a lot to process. I know we all have those thoughts deep down if there was something we could have done. We all did what we were able to by being a part of his life. The best thing we can do is to honor his memory, each and every one in our own way, and remind ourselves how incredible lucky we were to have crossed path with Árni.

He was the heartbeat of it all. His boundless creativity and fertile imagination inspired countless ideas, many of which we had the privilege to bring to life. Together, we toured Iceland, bringing electronic music to places it had never been heard. We hosted monthly events in downtown Reykjavík, traveled and performed abroad, and released music that meant the world to us. True to Árni’s vision, Möller Records became a launchpad for countless artists starting their creative journeys. Árni was always there, at the forefront, encouraging everyone to create and share their art. Inspired by his example, I have tried to carry forward his spirit of generosity and support. Árni’s music will live on forever, but even more enduring is the legacy of his kindness, generosity, and boundless love. Rest in peace, my friend. Our deepest condolences go out to your two beautiful sons, your loved ones, and your family. You are deeply missed by so many. Your spirit will remain in our hearts always.” ~Frosti Jonsson (aka Bistro Boy) (Möller Records)

“I keep thinking about him and bursting into tears — he was such a close friend; I can’t put into words how I feel — he did so much for me and my confidence and my music. He believed in me, and we had a special bond. I am at a total loss. I have never felt so sad.” ~Oli Love (aka Lovetrip) (Móatún 7)

“My first introduction to Árni was through interviewing him as the Futuregrapher for Synthspotting in 2018. He was very easy to talk to and I was soon able to introduce him to my music. Not long after I was honored to appear on his incredible Icelandic label Móatún 7. He was very easy to work with and happy to let me go down whatever path I felt worked. He then added the final touches with his mastering skills. I jumped at the chance each time remixes were offered and was honored to have been asked. There was no pressure working on projects, giving artists full freedom to express themselves. He created a space that many of us called home and a place to release our music to the world and he will be sorely missed. You had the biggest heart and always had so much to give. Thank you for your companionship, Futuregrapher. I’m going to miss you. R.I.P. Árni.” ~Paul Darlington (aka Rayspark Industries, RSi, Synthspotting) (Móatún 7)

“It’s impossible to process the passing of Árni, it’s hard to believe I won’t be in contact with him again. He was a huge supporter of an underground electronic music community that he helped establish, through his record labels and his own music output. He gave me the opportunity to release material by my Dokun project and gave all the artists he worked with totally free reign to express themselves. I worked closely with him in 2024 to put together the artist mix series Polyhymnia Narratives and his enthusiasm and love of music was inspiring. His absence is a huge loss to the music scene, and he will be missed by everyone in it.” ~Darren McClure (Móatún 7)

“I befriended Árni some years ago through social media and we immediately struck a chord with our common passions for music, he was this bright eyed enthusiastic passionate soul that had his heart in the right place and over the years his artistry and ability to spot talent and grow his labels and to nurture so many upcoming and new talents to the scene was truly unique and selfless.

Over the years I was fortunate to collaborate with him on two albums and various remixes and release some of my solo work with him, this was always with such ease due to his friendly, super personable approach and openness within every aspect of the process. I’ll deeply miss our conversations, the encouragement, his passion and the humor he displayed and his wonderful humanity. Árni’s impact on the underground music scene will be deeply missed but his legacy will continue to inspire others to carry the torch and keep our scene burning. Thank you Árni for so much and rest easy, my friend.” ~Mick Chillage (aka Autumn of Communion) (Móatún 7, Mooncuts)

“Arni released one of my tracks on vinyl. This was something I never thought possible, and I’ll never forget how that made me feel. To have such a highly respected, creative, awesome person who think I was good enough is something I’ll cherish forever. Such a great friendly guy who supported so many others in their pursuit of bringing joy through music. Thanks, Árni. You are a complete legend.” ~Dean Walker (aka DTACK)

“Although we never actually met in person, I have known Árni since early 2020 when he put out my first vinyl 7” release Uncertain on his amazing Móatún 7 label. He was hugely talented and passionate about his family, music and labels, and also provided mastering for my early releases and for most of the output from my jointly owned label Fourier Transform. I had always promised to give him some new music as a follow up to Uncertain but, with much regret, that never happened. It was not easy seeing him struggle through such tough times. Rest in peace my good friend, you will be greatly missed, x.” ~Jon Mace (aka Inkipak) (Móatún 7)

“Árni was such a loving and caring soul. He was very kind and full of patience and understanding in his work. We always had an excellent co-operation as we prepared each new release of mine for Móatún 7. Also, his Mastering work was always top-notch. I truly believe he was one of the very few best people I ever had worked with in all of these five years from the years of 2019 until 2024. The terrible news about Árni is really painful inside of me.” ~Bakis Sirros (aka Parallel Worlds) (Móatún 7)

“Like most projects, we worked remotely, but music has a way of bringing people so closely together, and that’s how I felt to Árni. In 2018 we worked together on a record called Effects of Clouds. You could feel his enthusiasm in his emails as we progressed with recording. Music had made us brothers, and brotherhood never dies.” ~Eric ‘the’ Taylor

“You guided so many of us and gave us a place to be free to create with no boundaries. You will never be forgotten. We Care Because You Do.” ~Michael Robinson (aka iNFO) (Móatún 7, Intellitronic Bubble)

“We of TV-99 are devastated by the death of Árni Grétar. Soon after we reunited as a band in the Netherlands, he showed genuine interest in our music. Árni turned out to be quite a manic label boss who released so many EPs, albums, and compilations in a short period of time on several labels. Still, we are more than proud to have been part of his Intellitronic Bubble and Móatún 7 family. We will never forget his great kindness, his passion for electronic music, and his own talent which he created.

It was I, Pieter who met Árni in 2023. In September 2023, I was traveling with my girlfriend in the land of legends, volcanism, glaciers, and countless waterfalls. This trip had been on my wish list for a while. At the end of this special holiday, I had arranged to meet Árni at Lucky Records in Reykjavík. There I saw the Heiladans 3CD with our listed track on the shelves. That was quite an experience for me. Árni was a different kind of guy, maybe a bit shy with a friendly appearance, and soon we started talking about music, the cover photos of the Móatún 7 releases, his work as a pre-school teacher, and about his children. It’s difficult and sad that he is gone. Árni, thank you for everything you’ve done, and rest in peace.” ~Hans Veneman, Paul van der Lubbe, and Pieter Lub of TV-99-AD (Móatún 7, Intellitronic Bubble)

“He will be missed by the whole electronic music scene as a special guy who always surpassed expectations by putting 200% more effort into the braindance cause than anyone could rightly expect. I am grateful for all that Árni Gretar did to bring together his flavor of the huge underground electronic community us fellow sonic sailors were part of. We promise to continue to sail those waters, no matter how choppy, because we know that was definitely what he would want us to continue to do. We will miss his boundless enthusiasm and tireless work.” ~Richard Wilkes (aka Myoptik) (Pingdiscs, Móatún 7)

“I first met Árni when I began to reboot Mighty Force (MF) six years ago. Lee Norris either suggested I talk to him or suggested he contact me, I forget which, but from that initial conversation I knew that he was the guy that I wanted to master future MF releases. He also created remixes and had tracks under many alter-egos on MF compilations over the years but always wanted to put out something of his own on the label. So, I’m glad that we finally achieved that with the last MF release proper of 2024 being one of the very few he made under his own name.

From that first chat on we were in almost constant contact. I had connected with someone who immediately understood what was wanted/needed almost before I could articulate it. Such a rare find! I soon realized I wasn’t alone, and he was sharing his gift with so many others in our little world. He seemed to have endless time and energy for everyone, nothing was too much trouble—even on the occasion or two where I screwed something up! All of this was done through his deep, seemingly infinite love of music which to him was most definitely a spiritual thing. Of course, he wasn’t just a musician but also a unique photographer with a style and eye for colour, composition, and design all his own, making his Móatún 7 imprint into more of a collection of multimedia art pieces than a record label. This influence flowed through Intellitronic Bubble and the many other projects he was involved in as well. One over-arching story that connected everyone and everything he touched.

And that was the thing with Árni, he was into so many things and knowledgeable about all of them. One conversation, one piece of music, one series of pictures could cover so much ground. multi-talented, multi-faceted, multitasker. A man with more energy, creativity, and generosity than at least five of the rest of us put together!

Now he has passed, a vital part of our scene’s conversation has gone but it also remains with us in the huge amount of his art he left for us all and what he gave us to learn from. The world maybe smaller for now but in the space, he’s left, from seeds of his legacy many things will grow. Thank you for everything Árni Grétar, my friend. I shall always remember you with love.” ~Mark Darby (Mighty Force)

“Árni was such a big influence on my own music. He always took the time to listen to the albums I sent him, and I will always be so grateful for him to put my music out on his label. I will miss our chats. Rest in peace my friend x.” ~James Baker (aka RekaB) (Móatún 7, Intellitronic Bubble)

“The last few days have been shrouded in grief and heartache. I am still processing the fact he is gone. Today is the first day I can even sit down and write a few words about him. Árni was an incredible friend. A beautiful human being inside and out. He and I were in regular contact through music at first, then friendship later on. As we realized some of our family was intertwined. He would jokingly call me “uncle” and “brother from another mother,” amongst other funny things. He was so funny and smart.

He also did something for me that no one had ever done before. He published my music. He also sought me out to begin with and asked to publish my music firsthand. Embraced me. His passion for others was unrivaled.

We had the chance to meet a few times. Most memorable was when we met with our kids. Every time, he would invite me into his home, sit me down for coffee, sparkling water and snacks. We would have the longest talks about anything, lots of laughs then send me home with a bag full of records, CD’s and tapes and artist copies. He made me feel at home in so many ways. And his label, Móatún 7, is my forever home of music. My dear friend and music mentor, I will forever miss you. Thank you for being you. Thank you for all your encouragement and belief. Thank you for all your warm hugs and smiles. One love. His untimely passing is hard to accept. My deepest condolences to his two sons, fiancé, family and friends. May you rest in peace.” ~Guðmundur Þór Friðleifsson (aka ThorF) (Móatún 7)

“Árni was one of the special ones: honest and open in everything that he did, sharing his passion and thoughts without reluctance. All the good things he did, and how he would deal with the things he wasn’t proud of. A truly unique person, who will be sorely missed by many. My condolences go out to his children, family and friends. The other side just got a little better with him being there. Rest in peace my friend.” ~Johan Zilstra

“It’s really devastating news, and it struck us by lightning. Árni seemed so vibrant when he was managing his labels. And I’ve never met such a respectful person of integrity. Always with an open mind when hearing new music, but also honest if he believed the music could be better. Every time he shared his perspectives time with heartfelt advice. He will be missed for sure. Music has lost one of its advocates.” ~Gert De Meester (aka Distant Fires Burning)

“I’ll always think fondly when I think of Árni, we had a lot in common, we both supported the same football team (Arsenal) we both ran labels with a lot of the same artists, and he helped me to release some music on vinyl via his Móatún 7 as most memorable being the Plaid remix he did. He even pressed me some vinyl for my labels, I helped him get in contact with a few people he wanted to reach out to. Árni was always a kindhearted guy with a great ear for the best electronic music. He will be massively missed by me and many of the same people I know and work with a true gent.” ~Martin Boulton (aka Min-Y-Llan) (Touched Music, Móatún 7)

“I’m deeply saddened by the loss of Árni Grétar, known to many of us as Futuregrapher. He was a cornerstone of our underground electronic music community, not just through his personal interactions, but through his profound work and presence. Although I never had the pleasure of speaking directly with Árni, I felt connected to him through the resonant energy of his music and the vibrant spirit he embodied from his labels: Móatún 7 and Intellitronic Bubble. His contributions went beyond sound; they were about creating a space where empathy and art flourished. Witnessing his artistic journey and vision on social media, I, like many others, was touched by his creativity and genuine passion. His absence will be profoundly felt, both in the music he created and the hearts he touched. My thoughts are with his family during this incredibly difficult time. Árni’s spirit and influence will undoubtedly continue to inspire and resonate within our community.” ~Florence Meuleman-Griffin (aka Flo) (East Coast Underground)

“Árni Grétar (Futuregrapher) was genuine, kindhearted, motivated, generous, talented, humble, and inspirational. He was our friend. Our scene is a darker place without you, for what you have achieved and gave us but also for the person that you were. You believed in your artists, and I am proud to have been part of the Móatún 7 family. You were loved by many people from around the world, many of whom you had never met in person, and that shows how much you meant, and still do mean to us all. You believed in me when I returned to music after more than 20 years, at a time when I didn’t even believe in myself. I am eternally grateful. I will miss you. I will miss our friendship. Thank you for everything. Thank you for being you. Rest in Peace my friend.” ~Lee Rutter (aka Hertzian Waves (formerly of ) Noise Appreciation Crew.

“Árni had the biggest heart, an incredibly kind soul and a huge passion for art, especially music and photography. On top of that he was very generous. But what impressed me the most was his openness towards the art of music and how this was reflected on his Móatún 7 label. Árni loved music in all its facets and believed in the artists’ visions more than anything else. He wanted the music to be heard. He encouraged lots of artists to follow their own musical path, to believe in themselves, no matter how much their music might or might not conform to the usual genre boundaries. He gave them a platform to release their music with true artistic freedom and put enormous efforts into it to make it all work. Artists wouldn’t be just artists only; they would be friends and family. Thats how big his heart was. He made Móatún 7 a totally unique label, as unique as Árni himself. He was such a great guy, and he leaves a huge void. Farewell, my dear friend. You will be in my heart forever.” ~Ingo (aka Drøn, Self Oscillate) (Móatún 7)

“I was very sorry to hear the news about Árni Grétar, but also very glad that our paths did briefly cross, and that I was able to see first-hand how kind and gentle he was to work with. For many years I have been a distant admirer of how he embraced both acid and ambient techno, and how he repeatedly created and curated many labels and communities to bring electronic artists together from all over the world. Móatún 7 was a particularly fun and welcoming corner of the internet. I will miss him.” ~M-Corp

“My first introduction to Árni was through interviewing him as the Futuregrapher for Synthspotting in 2018. He was very easy to talk to and I was soon able to introduce him to my music. Not long after I was honored to appear on his incredible Icelandic label Móatún 7. He was very easy to work with and happy to let me go down whatever path I felt worked. He then added the final touches with his mastering skills. I jumped at the chance each time remixes were offered and was honored to have been asked. There was no pressure working on projects, giving artists full freedom to express themselves. He created a space that many of us called home and a place to release our music to the world and he will be sorely missed. R.I.P. Árni.“ ~Paul Darlington (aka Rayspark Industries, RSi, Synthspotting) (Móatún 7)

“Árni was that rare figure who understood the scene and genuinely wanted to help those around him follow their path to releasing great music. He saw artists & labels as one big family and offered support where he was able to, he helped us reach our goals. We are devastated.” ~Will Russell (Fourier Transform)

“Though I never had the opportunity to meet Árni Grétar in person, his passion and generosity towards experimental electronic music made it feel as if I had. His enthusiasm was infectious, and through his work and spirit, he embodied the very heartbeat of the genre—constantly pushing boundaries, fostering creativity, and encouraging others to explore new sonic landscapes. He leaves behind not just a legacy of sound, but a momentum that will continue to inspire and resonate with all who were touched by his vision. Rest in peace, Árni. Your contributions will echo far beyond the spaces you inhabited.” ~Pietro Da Sacco (Igloo Magazine, Digital::Nimbus Radio)

“The void left by the death of Arni Gretar is difficult to bear, but his legacy will live on in our hearts forever. May we carry forward the light he so generously shined on us all, whom he loved genuinely. Farewell, Árni. We will never forget you.” ~Anne Jackson

For those who felt darkness, he was the beacon of light,
A model of kindness, who gave generously of his time.
An artist, friend, and family man,
We pray for his family — united we stand.

The powerlessness of the void we cannot fill,
Is evidence to the power of connections he built.
Farewell Árni — you were one rare find,
May we model your kindness — you were truly divine.
~Anne Jackson

ÁST – We Care Because You Do, released in October 2024, is available on The ÁST Project and is “an ode to friendship, connection, and the sheer love for music.” Árni Grétar, also known as Futuregrapher, has been “a beacon of light and dedication to his craft, channeling it through the most captivating forms of electronica while bringing together a stellar community of like-minded flair from around the planet.”