Kadavar, a rising rock band out of Berlin, is ready to release their forthcoming album I Just Want To Be A Sound. The album is out May 16. The band is gaining traction here in the States as we speak.
Their first single from the upcoming album is an alt rock dream with a melodic guitar riff that is addictive as it comes. The band consisting of members, Lupus Lindemann and Tiger Bartelt, and rounded out by guitarist Jascha Kreft and bassist Simon ‘Dragon’ Bouteloup, are ready for the crossover anytime. The band has been around for 15 years. They have played a handful of shows at Austin, Texas’ Annual Psych Fest and even SXSW. The band has played Psych Fest once, but overall more than 70 shows on multiple tours in North America. This year they will be performing with some of the greats: Dinosaur Jr, Explosions In The Sky, Kim Gordon, Yo La Tengo and more at Psych Fest from August 25-27.
I talked to lead frontman and founder of the band Lupus Lindemann and we talked about their new tune, their new album, and how they fit into the States oversaturated hip hop scene.
How do you think the audiences differ from Europe versus the United States?
I’m not sure if there’s a big difference. I think it’s pretty similar, but of course, there are always regional differences. Sometimes people are more reserved, sometimes they’re in the mood to dance. But in the end, it’s up to us to get the party started, and after a few songs, you usually forget where you are and just have a good time together.
Where did the idea of the song “I Just Want To Be A Sound” come from creatively?
The quote comes from our bassist. To this day, he refuses to be on social media and doesn’t really want to be seen in general. Sometimes, he just wishes he could be nothing but a sound, flying through the air without leaving a trace or being noticed. That’s where the idea came from.
Love the guitar riffs throughout the tune. Do you come up with the melody of songs or lyrics first?
It varies. But in this case, the riff came first. Sometimes you pick up a guitar, and it just comes out naturally. When that happens, you have to be quick and record it right away.
How does Kadavar fit into the States’ highly saturated pop and hip-hop culture?
I don’t know, and we’re not trying to fit into anything. Of course, hip-hop is huge right now, and we personally like that music. But rock isn’t going to die—it will always have its place. I think it’s possible for many genres to coexist at the same time and even collaborate with each other now and then. A great example is Tyler,the Creator’s latest single Noid, where he sampled a ’70s Zamrock band.
Is the single indicative of what the album will sound like?
Well, it’s part of the album, so the song definitely contributes to the overall vibe of the record. But we’ve captured a lot of different facets on the album, so you’ll probably only get the full picture once the entire record is out. Until then, each song stands on its own, and later, when you can listen to all of them as a whole, they’ll take on a new meaning.
You will be coming to the States in April as a part of Austin Psych Fest. Is the band excited and how did this come to fruition?
Kadavar and Austin have a long history. Ten years ago, we spent a lot of time there, even lived and worked there for several months. We’ve played SXSW multiple times and even performed at Psych Fest once. We’re beyond excited to be back! The festival is an institution for our kind of music, and the line up is always top notch.
