Hochmut kommt vor dem Fall. Diese Weisheit lernten wir vom mythischen Ikarus, der zu nah an die Sonne geflogen ist. Wir hoffen, dass dieses Schicksal den französischen Skatepunk-Rockern The Dead Krazukies mit ihrem neuen Album „Icarus“ erspart bleiben wird. Im Interview erfahrt ihr mehr über die Entwicklung vom Debütalbum hin zu „Icarus“ und wie die Band ihren Helden NOFX beim Punk In Drublic Festival nacheifern konnte.
Frontstage Magazine: Hello, how are you doing in the current situation? How do you spend your time meanwhile?
The Dead Krazukies: Hello! Difficult times for everybody, we make no exceptions…it’s hard with the full lockdown. We used that time to shoot music videos and write some new content.
Frontstage Magazine: We totally agree, but when we are listening to your music, we are thinking of skatepunk in the style of Tony Hawk Pro Skater games. How would you describe your music yourself?
The Dead Krazukies: Exactly like that! We are kids of that 90’s skate punk era and I guess we are all stuck there. We like good old punk rock, the one that makes you skateboard, even if we are way too old to skate now.
Frontstage Magazine: You recently released the single „Burn Out„, which is a foretaste for your new album „Icarus„. Why did you choose this song to begin with?
The Dead Krazukies: “Burn Out” was a cool song to start the promo of “Icarus” cause it’s a pure simple and catchy punk rock song. There is Whoas and Fuck You, how can we do more punk than that? On top of that, the theme of the pressure at work was totally relevant in this strange period.
Frontstage Magazine: The record itself will be available as from the 20th of November. Do you have any plans for a corona friendly release party?
The Dead Krazukies: We tried so hard to make something for the release, but as you know things are so complicated that had to cancel everything planned. I guess we just gonna drink that Cognac bottle we were offered during the Punk in Drublic. We don’t want to do something acoustic, it’s cool for a lot of bands, but that’s not us.
Frontstage Magazine: We assume that the title of the album is based on the mythological figure of the falling Icarus. Have you ever experienced such situations, in which you got too close to the sun or does the title have another meaning to you?
The Dead Krazukies: You totally right, all the songs in Icarus are somewhat linked: some are personnal, some are more generic: it’s all about scenes before, during and after the fall of Icarus. Icarus is the human we are, we try, we fail.
Frontstage Magazine: The new album should contain both, society issues and the natural fun of a punk album. How has the sound evolved compared to your debut album from 2016?
The Dead Krazukies: I guess the sound of “Icarus” is not too far from “The Northern Belle”, we always liked that kind of heavy melodic punk rock with a big sound, almost touching metal.
We had a lot of mid tempo in the first album, this one has more rapid songs. For the thems, it evolved a bit, “The Northern Belle” was more personnal, Icarus is more general.
There is many « serious » topics in the songs like getting old, becoming a parent, freedom, politics etc. Even if most of the sound are between serious and depressing, we always try to add a bit of fun on some songs (Short song for Old People or El Diablo). We are funny people and kings (and queens) of parties, but I don’t feel the need to write only fun stuff.
Frontstage Magazine: Since then you entered a dozen stages in Europe and as a special highlight you opened the Punk In Drublic Festival last year, where you got the Cognac from. There, the punk legends NOFX were at the top of the line-up. How big is your ambition to once become a headliner beside them and was it inspiring to share the stage with other bands?
The Dead Krazukies: Playing at the Punk in Drublic with all those bands and especially NOFX was like ticking a dream in the list. We really had that dream since our 15 ad none of us thought it could happen one day. We started the band with really no ambition at all, just play punk rock and make parties. what happened was just insane and of course, we would love to do it again and again. We also shared that stage with Anti Flag, Band Religion, Less Than Jake and Lagwagon, it’s truly our daily playlist since the last 20 years!
Frontstage Magazine: Speaking with such an enthusiasm about NOFX, can we consider that they possibly belong to the bands that helped you shaped your own sound? If not, who was the most important influence for you?
The Dead Krazukies: NOFX meant everything to us. We all grown up listening to them and they inspired so many bands. They also open the door to a lot of other bands that became inspirations, too. You may like or not, some prefer older stuff than new, but no one can deny they shaped the actual punk scene. There are like Elvis with Rock’n’Roll.
Frontstage Magazine: Do you have the feeling that the fans react in a different way to a front woman than to a singer? Is it a reason to escalate even more?
The Dead Krazukies: Yes and no. I really love the powerful voice of Maider and it aids a lot to the songs, the woman high pitched tone with the low aggressive guitars is something part of our sound. I guess it’s more because we propose something different, away from the regular female fronted punk rock, away from Riot Girl or Street Punk. I really don’t know if it’s the reason of escalating even more, I must say the singer in the band is one of the most important thing, so if the singer is good, the band is good. And Maider is SUPER good.
Frontstage Magazine: Our last question is always a bit out of line: What does the perfect Saturday look like for you?
The Dead Krazukies: 100% going on tour with the band, playing punk rock and party hard.
Frontstage Magazine: Thank you for your time! Stay healthy and good luck with the new record.
The Dead Krazukies: Thanks a lot for having us!! Cheers!
Fotocredit: Jo! PR – Public Relations for Bands And Brands
