Gig Preview: Of Monsters and Men

A simple quote, "That's good, we love beaches!"

With that, Bunbury receives a positive endorsement when I try to explain what one of the world's hottest bands should expect.

Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdottir, the 26-year-old lead singer of Icelandic indie folk band Of Monsters And Men, was genuinely interested in knowing more about the place they will perform on Saturday for Groovin' the Moo.

As the lead singer of the six-piece who shot to global fame with their debut single _Little Talks _, Hilmarsdottir has seen, and not seen, plenty of the world.

In contrast to our interview, conducted while she was out walking just hours before a show in California, she laughed that she visited Paris three times before getting to see the Eiffel Tower.

"We usually don't have a lot of time but I try as much as I can to see a place," she said.

The band wrapped up an appearance at America's famous Coachella festival before heading to Australia for a headline tour.

They were a high-profile late addition to the GTM bill, where they will only perform in Bunbury, and will travel to WA just for this show.

"It is always a big attraction when you haven't been to a place and they want you there," Hilmarsdottir said.

She described Australia as "insane" and "really exciting" based on her previous visits, conducting the obligatory overseas visitor requirements of patting kangaroos and visiting a koala sanctuary.

"In Iceland, we only have sheep and cows, although sheep are kind of furry," she laughed.

Animals and skin is the perfect segue into the band's music.

Their 2011 debut album _My Head Is An Animal _ and 2015 follow-up _Beneath The Skin _ have been described as polar opposites.

"When you are doing something for a few years, you want something new," Hilmarsdottir said.

"I feel like it works very well on stage as it creates more highs and lows."

She described _Thousand Eyes _, an atmospheric tune from their second album which has featured on television shows including The 100, as her favourite to perform.

"I just like performing it and feeling very evil," she said.

"I'm not a very evil person so I like being that on stage."

She admits the success enjoyed by the band, which won a 2010 national music competition as a four-piece in their homeland, was never planned and said "I don't know if you can ever really expect it".

A return to the country awaits the band after wrapping up their extensive world tour.

"The plan is to go home, take a deep breath and relax a little bit," she said.