Bragi Ólafsson (born 11 August 1962 in

Reykjavík Reykjavík is the Capital city, capital and largest city in Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland on the southern shore of Faxaflói, the Faxaflói Bay. With a latitude of 64°08′ N, the city is List of northernmost items, the worl ...

Iceland Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...

) is an Icelandic musician and a writer. Internationally he is best known for his work as a bassist in

The Sugarcubes The Sugarcubes () were an Icelandic alternative rock band from Reykjavík formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. For most of their career, the band consisted of Björk Guðmundsdóttir (vocals, keyboards), Einar Örn Benediktsson (vocals, trumpe ...

, the avant-garde pop band from Iceland that brought fame to

Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct voice, three-octave vocal range, and eccentric public per ...

, who went on to solo success with her unique brand of diverse musical genres. The Sugarcubes, who favoured strange, offbeat melodies, came together in 1986, but the Sugarcubes' members had played together in different combinations in various Icelandic groups before. Bragi and

Einar Örn Benediktsson Einar Örn Benediktsson (born 29 October 1962), often billed as Einar Örn, is an Icelandic popular music singer and trumpet player. He was a member of the Sugarcubes. He served as a member of the Reykjavík City Council between 2010 and 2014 ...

(trumpet / vocals) had released records on Einar's own label, Gramm. In 1986 Bragi also launched his writing career, publishing his first book, a poetry volume called ''Dragsúgur'' (Draught). In 1992 The Sugarcubes disbanded as Björk began her solo career. Bragi, meanwhile, has continued to work on Bad Taste Ltd., the company formed by the Sugarcubes to publish poetry and sign other bands but is no longer a practising musician. He enjoys considerable success as a novelist, playwright and poet in Iceland, having twice been nominated to the Icelandic Literature Prize.

Books translated into English

*''The Pets'' (translation Janice Balfour. Open Letter, New York. 2008) *''The Ambassador'' (translation Lytton Smith. Open Letter, New York. 2010) *''Narrator'' (translation Lytton Smith. Open Letter, New York. 2018)

External links

Bragi Ólafsson's official websiteAn article about Bragi Ólafsson on the Icelandic Literature websiteBragi Ólafsson at Open Letter Books
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olafsson, Bragi 1962 births Living people Bragi Olafsson Bragi Olafsson Bragi Olafsson Bragi Olafsson Bragi Olafsson The Sugarcubes members