Einar Selvik

Einar Selvik
Kvitrafn in concert with Wardruna in 2015
Kvitrafn in concert with Wardruna in 2015
Background information
Also known asKvitrafn
Born (1979-11-18) 18 November 1979 (age 45)
Osterøy, Norway
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • composer
Instruments
Years active1995–present
LabelsBy Norse Music
Member of
Formerly of
Websitehttps://www.facebook.com/einar.selvik

Einar Selvik (born 18 November 1979), also known by his stage name Kvitrafn ("white raven"), is a Norwegian musician known for being the drummer of black metal band Gorgoroth from 2000 to 2004, and for fronting the Nordic folk project Wardruna, founded in 2002.[1][2][3] Selvik and Wardruna earned international prominence for contributing to the soundtrack and score of the television show Vikings.[4][5][6] Selvik is a founder of By Norse, a platform to support Norse and Norse-related art, music, literature, film and culture.[7]

Musical career

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On 1 March 2016, A Piece for Mind & Mirror by Skuggsjá, a collaboration between Selvik and Enslaved's Ivar Bjørnson, was announced and streamed. Commissioned by the Norwegian government for the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution, the album tells the history of Norway, and was released by Season of Mist on 11 March.[8][9]

Selvik has also recorded with other projects including Det Hedenske Folk, Bak de Syv Fjell, Jotunspor, Sahg, Dead to this World and Faun.[10][11] He worked on the soundtrack for Assassin's Creed Valhalla[12] and collaborated with Riot Games for the theme song of Volibear, a League of Legends character.[13]

Personal life

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Einar Selvik was born and grew up on Osterøy, a large inland island inside of Bergen on the west coast of Norway. He became interested in pre-Christian viking culture in his early adolescence after discovering an old book on runes.[14] Selvik worked as a kindergarten assistant prior to Wardruna's breakthrough.[15]

Selvik is an adherent of modern Paganism characterized by animism. In a 2017 interview with Morgenbladet, he talked about his worldview: "I am a strong supporter of individual responsibility. No one died for my sins. This is a slightly pagan body of thought: the gods help those who help themselves. It mirrors that you are your own god, that it is your responsibility how you behave, what you contribute in this world".[16]

Discography

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With Gorgoroth

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With Wardruna

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With Jotunspor

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  • Gleipnirs Smeder (2006)

With Sahg

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  • I (2006)

With Dead to this World

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  • First Strike for Spiritual Renewance (2007)

With Jesper Kyd and Sarah Schachner

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  • Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Out of the North (2020)
  • Assassin's Creed Valhalla: The Ravens Saga (2020)
  • Assassin's Creed Valhalla: The Weft of Spears (2020)

As Ivar Bjørnson and Einar Selvik

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  • Skuggsjá (2016)
  • Hugsjá (2018)
  • Hardanger (2021) (Single)

As Einar Selvik

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  • Snake Pit Poetry (2017)
  • Volibear, The Relentless Storm (2020) (Single)

References

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  1. ^ "Interview: Einar Selvik of Wardruna (NO) - Nordic Spotlight". Nordicspotlight.com. 7 October 2016. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Wardruna is Sowing New Seeds and Strengthening Old Roots". 18 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Wardruna Youtube Bio". youtube.com. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  4. ^ Egge, Julie Haugen; Kotsbakk, Kaja Kristin Ness (20 June 2014). "Mer Wardruna i "Vikings"". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  5. ^ Trendell, Andrew (18 November 2018). "Wardruna call on 'the wisdom of the past' to soundtrack hit TV show 'Vikings'". NME. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Einar Kvitrafn Selvik (Wardruna) Appearing On History Channel's Vikings - Ghost Cult Magazine". Ghostcultmag.com. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  7. ^ Ullebø, Kjetil Kopren (23 January 2021). "Mange tror bandet hans er høyreekstremt: – Vi tar den norrøne kulturen tilbake". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Skuggsja - 'Skuggsja' (album stream) (premiere) and Interview". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Skuggsjá Premiere New Song, "Kvervandi" - Hard Rock & Heavy Metal News | Music Videos |Golden Gods Awards | revolvermag.com". Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  10. ^ Noizr (18 April 2017). "Video: Faun and Einar Selvik perform "Odin"". Noizr. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  11. ^ Metal: The Definitive Guide by Garry Sharpe-Young (Jawbone Press, 2007)
  12. ^ Childers, Chad (16 July 2020). "Listen: Wardruna Vocalist's New 'Assassin's Creed Valhalla' Song". Loudwire. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Volibear, the Relentless Storm | Champion Theme - League of Legends". YouTube. 27 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Vikings: How ancient music is teaching the Norse code". www.redbull.com. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  15. ^ Henschien, Siren (30 January 2010). "Skiller ikke mellom ondt og godt". TV 2 (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  16. ^ Lunde, Anders (26 May 2017). "Lager musikk av norrøn historie" [Making music from Norse history]. Morgenbladet (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 4 June 2019.
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