In this interview spotlight, we chat with KERL about influences, the latest project Red Lips, challenges and more. KERL creates electronic dance music with odd twists and a healthy injection of humor.
Full Q&A along with links and streams below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
Hi MTM, KERL here. Thanks for talking to me. I’m from the UK and I write electronic/dance music. It’s mostly catchy stuff but it certainly has a few lyrically odd or humorous twists.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?
I’ve been writing music and been in bands for many years now writing music within genres from metal to pop to orchestral. Over the last year I decided to get an electronic solo project off the ground. I say solo but live there are currently two of us, me on the E-kit and my bassist Rich. It’s a lot of fun to play the KERL material live.
How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?
This is our second release but really the first dedicated one. The material on my first release was more a hodgepodge of songs I had written over time. The songs on this album (Red Lips) were a more concentrated effort. It definitely brings a little more consistency to the mix. If you’re looking for lyrical depth, keep looking 😉 I set out to create fun tracks with memorable hooks that would be a blast to play.
Do you face challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? How has technology helped you (assuming it helps)?
I find building up a fan base a bitch but that’s because I’m not promotionally minded. Selling myself isn’t a switch that’s constantly turned on in my brain. I come primarily from the rock/metal world and don’t know enough about the dance/pop challenges to comment on it but I’m looking forward to finding out. I use technology to create my music in KERL. I play an electronic kit live for drums. Without tech we wouldn’t exist!
Where can we connect with you online and discover more music?
Red Lips is now on bandcamp.
- https://tricore.bandcamp.com/album/kerl-red-lips-electro-pop-dance-album
- Come join us on facebook here – https://www.facebook.com/kerlomusic
Anything else before we sign off?
Thanks a lot for the interview Joshua and all the best to any of your countrymen who have been hit by those severe storms in recent weeks. Cheers!
