Kråkesølv (Norwegian for “mica”) is a pop band from Bodø, Norway. They formed in late 2007 and began playing concerts during spring 2008. Kråkesølv’s current lineup consists of Thomas Litangen, Petter Unstad, Fredrik Olsen and Kristoffer Unstad.
Kråkesølv’s music is sparse, melodic and poignant, with soothing, interlocked guitars layered over precise drumbeats and frenetic bass playing. The lyrics are written in Norwegian.
In June 2008 Kråkesølv released a three track demo on the Internet, recorded at Hunstad Kultursenter in Bodø. Katarina Efstathiou from fellow Bodø band Laura contributed lead vocals to the song Hjørnebrikke. Free tracks can be downloaded at Plysjbyen Death Metal Distribution. In November the same year Trondheim based independent label How Is Annie Records released the three tracks as a downloadable EP.
Kråkesølv’s debut album Trådnøsting was released November 9, 2009 to great reviews from the Norwegian press. Dagbladet called it “one of the best Norwegian debut albums this decade”.
In January 2010, Kråkesølv was nominated for two Norwegian Grammies, including “best pop group” for Trådnøsting and “best new act”. The categories were eventually won by montée and Donkeyboy.
Kråkesølv released their second record Bomtur til jorda in November 2010, merely a year after Trådnøsting. Produced by Øystein Greni of BigBang, the album gained favourable reviews from Norwegian music critics, with VG saying that “[Kråkesølv] has a weird charm that is impossible not to like”. In the wake of the album release, the band embarked on a new Norwegian tour in January 2011 which included sold out shows in Oslo, Trondheim and Bergen.
In March 2011 Kråkesølv won a Norwegian Grammy for Bomtur til jorda in the “best pop group” category, making Kråkesølv the first band from Bodø to win the prestigious prize.
