Band Q&A

AutoKratz are an electro-indie band based in London. CO+K caught up with them to hear some music and find out more. Their debut album ‘Animal’ is out in June on Kitsune/Co Op. Who are you and where do you come from? Russell - I'm from Manchester; but now live in London, near to David, who is from London.  Where does your name come from? David - the name was given to us by the Ancients of Mu Mu.... via the KLF of course. Russell - The name holds a dual meaning for us; combining a shared fascination with the future as seen by Orwell with the idea of a musical autocracy; autoKratz being the result of two people who are tyrannous over the music they create.   Who's in the band and where did you meet? R - It's Me & David. I was stumbling around outside a club and was feeling extremely worse for ware, and was violently and uncontrollably sick. Unfortunately through my druken haze, I realised that it was all over this mans shoes, and that man was David. He was probably about to beat the shit out of me when he notiecd my devo t-shirt - probably saving my life (he has a crazy look in his eye). We started to talk about music, and our tastes were strangely identical.   How would you describe your music? D - Electronic Rock & Roll
 What makes your band unique? D - We dont try to fit into any scene or movement, and just aim to make honest music that makes us genuinely excited. We let our songwriting run wild and don't restrict what approaches we can take....We don't create any musical boundaries for ourselves. Therefore we can achieve a variation that is not seen in a lot of other electronic bands.
 Who are your musical influences? R - We don't ever really try to create a particular sound, or to emmulate anyone else or a particular scene. We couldn't do it like that - as a band we need it to be fresh and innovative... it needs to be music that we can get excited about.    Tell us a bit about your current album and the themes behind it? D - We are extremely proud to have created a diverse and varied album. It has lots of different levels yet something the ties it all together. It's an honest album about us as people, and I think thats why it works. But there's no overall theme. If you tread the road of concept you may well find yourself on Bat Out Of Hell corner. Which is more of a junction. With all the signs facing in wrong directions. And the scent of a fat man with breasts wafting in the breeze.
 Where are your favorite places to tour? R - We love every show, everywhere. The live thing is so important to us as a band; and we are really passionate about it. It's great to have the opportunity to play your music to people and convey some of the energy in the tracks at the same time through our performance. I'm so bored of faceless electronic musicians stood static behind banks of machines; for autokratz playing live is about 10000 mile an hour rock and roll. Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, UK...; people are great to us everywhere so to pick a best place isn't what its about for us.   Where do you look for inspiration when songwriting? D - It's simply our lives and the people around us. It has to be natural, or the music won't work for me.
 Are there any ways the band try to be DIY or crafty? R - We do want it to be very much about getting close to people, and our fans. That's why we love being in direct contact with them, whether that's in intinate shows, or online or just out and about at shows. We want to be inclusive, and make people feel involved in what we do, because it's the fans that have got us this far and that warms my heart. There's therefore no chain of major label bureaucracy, and we are properly involved in the band constantly on a day to day basis.We are really passionate about our band and excited about our music, and want people to feel  part of it. What would you be doing if you weren't in a band? R - Watching my soul rot away.
 What was the last record you bought? R - Super Furry Animals - Dark Days / Light Years What's next for you? R - Continuing our year of non stop touring at festivals throughout the Summer, and doing full tours of UK, France, Germany, much more of Europe and then Japan and Australia from September! Hope to see you along the way.

King Charles is a musician and songwriter based in London. We caught up with him to hear about his music.

Who are you and where do you come from?

I am King Charles: I was born a Londoner and bred as an Englishman.   

Where does your name come from?

It was given to me when I started making music.  It stuck for a number of reasons; Prophecy, calling; Powerrrrrrr.   

Who's in the band and where did you meet?

My backing band consist of a few boys, a few girls, a few laptops, we all met over the space of two or three years through friends, studios and the Apple store.  

How would you describe your music?

I would describe it as a channel, or a vessel through which I can pipe ideas. The sounds you hear from the record/live show are a solution of these ideas designed to carry the idea to your ear where it will be distilled and directed to your head or your heart.   

What makes your band unique?

Absolutely   

Who are your musical influences?

There are people/musicians/bands who inspire me to play the guitar, to write songs, to learn different instruments; to think.  From modern pop songs that mean nothing to me to Bob Dylan who means everything to me, I've learnt something from everything.   

Tell us a bit about your current album and the inspirations behind it?

It’s my first album, 'In The World but not Of The World'.  This album is solely inspired by girls and God, that’s what I was thinking about when I wrote it, and I'm still getting to grips with the identities of each.  There are different themes within it but they all derive from the same stem.    

Where are your favourite places to tour?

Kenya, The Caribbean, Bali, Capri between June and August.   

Where do you look for inspiration when songwriting?

Inspiration, generally speaking, comes to me as a surprise, found in something or a moment when I wouldn't expect it. In my experience when sought, it can be elusive.   

What would you be doing if you weren't in a band?

Spearing crocodiles on the Malagarasi.   

What was the last record you bought?

Friska Viljor, Tour De Hearts .  

Hopes and dreams for this year?

More fire on my head.   

What's next for you?

Subtle summits. 

You can find out more about King Charles and listen to his music on MySpace.

Who are you and where do you come from?

I'm Heather D'Angelo and I come from the Tri-state area.

Where does your name come from?

It's a line from the movie 'Pee Wee's Big Adventure.'

Who's in the band and where did you meet?

Me, Annie Hart, and Erika Forster. Annie and Erika knew each other before the band started because Erika played in the band 'Dirty On Purpose' with Annie's boyfriend (now husband) Doug Marvin. Erika and I knew each other from the neighborhood and were friends. Annie and I met at our first band practice. We all got along well from the start.

How would you describe your music?

Dreamy, electronic, folk music. 

What makes your band unique?

We're the only all girl all keyboard band that I know of - I might have to do more research though. If it turns out we're not, than I'll say that we're all unique just like snowflakes are.

Who are your musical influences?

I'm like a sponge so pretty much everything I listen to is a musical influence. I don't know, the list is incredibly long. Top of the list though would be Bjork, Air and Stereolab.

Tell us a bit about your current album and the inspirations behind it?

Our new album is called 'Still Night, Still Light.' It's about stillness, darkness and light, introspection, traveling, loss, perspective, relationships, acceptance, peace, happiness, sunshine, regret, joy, quiet conversations, love, positivity, and the calm.

Where are your favorite places to tour?

I love touring in Italy because it's like a vacation. I love touring in Japan because it blows my mind.

Where do you look for inspiration when songwriting?

Inside.

Are there any ways the band try to be DIY or crafty?

We used to have a lot more time on our hands so we were crafty all the time, for instance, our first album 'Verses Of Comfort, assurance, and salvation' was originally burned on Erika's computer and then put into little sleeves that we screen-printed ourselves. We also used to screen print our own tote bags. We did a screen-printing run for 'reverse migration' too. Any time that we have the time to do it ourselves, we choose to because we all love the satisfaction of creating something that has a personal touch.

What would you be doing if you weren't in a band?

Finishing up my degree in astrophysics. 

What was the last record you bought?

Yikes, I don't remember... I downloaded Dirty Projector's 'Bitte Orca' which I have every intention of buying once it comes out. 

Hopes and dreams for this year?

I try not to hope too much because I hate being disappointed. I'm more inclined to close my eyes and make a wish for something, then forget about it immediately. I just take it day by day, meeting goals slowly and steadily. 

What's next for you?

A long battle with jet-lag. We just got back from Europe, where we were touring for a month, so my sleeping patterns are completely messed up. By the time I'm sleeping normally again, we'll be back on tour. Next stop is Canada.

You can find out more about the band on their website or listen to their music on MySpace.