autoKratz - autoKratz For The People
3D’s Marc de Carne speaks with Kitsuné-signed Englishmen autoKratz, whose debut album Down and Out in Paris and London is out now.
The technologically savvy British duo autoKratz (comprising of Dave Cox and Russell Crank) have rapidly established themselves in the European scene as reliable in delivering a loud and energetic rock n roll show of fused elements of electronica, indie electro and pop.
“Me and Dave both love pop music,” guitarist Crank says. “We want to make kind of hard and direct electronic music that’s got a bit more meaning to it. For too long, I think, electronic music has had a reputation for being something you can just kind of … something you can dance to … and you know you can do a lot more than that.”
Crank and Cox met outside a pub in London’s east in the aftermath of a drunken altercation, and started chatting about a T-shirt – now they’re playing shows in Europe on a weekly basis, with festivals like Glastonbury and Lowlands under their belts. Soon they’ll be off to Japan. Crank says travelling the world playing music to people is the best job possible.
In their attempt to elevate electronic music beyond a prescribed formula, autoKratz have created some compulsive electro sounds, combining machines, guitars, synths, vocals and recurrent bleeps – always resulting in something unique.
“There seems to be, and has been, this kind of attitude that rock n roll can mean something and electronic music can just be something throwaway, and there’s not a lot of value to it,” Crank says.
AutoKratz are looking to rectify this misconception and bridge gaps by making electronic music that has more thought to it, music that will be relevant in years to come: to achieve this they write music that reflects changes in their lives, they draw a line under what results and then move forward.
So far, autoKratz have only released a nine-track mini-album, Down and Out in London and Paris. “We tried to make something new. The only way I can make music is by doing things that excites me. Had it not been something original I might not do it,” Crank says.
This will to give substance and content to electronic music runs through their broader camp. AutoKratz are signed with the innovative Parisian label Kitsuné, which is also home to the likes of Digitalism.
Looking to other artists who are pushing forward and expressing originality, Crank references Cut Copy’s last album and the boundaries it crossed, and also mentions Midnight Juggernauts. He also really likes the direction label-mate Digitalism is headed. A few hours before talking with 3D, Russell had been out drinking and talking with Jens from Digitalism.
In line with their label’s design and fashion focus, there is a recurrent trend to the pair’s well-dressed appearance, discography and media. If all goes well, Australia will be graced with the large live show of the sleekly dressed Londoners early next year.
WHO: autoKratz
WHAT: Down and Out in Paris and London through Kitsuné / etcetc / Universal
WHEN: Out now
MORE: kitsune.fr / etcetc.tv