CKRAFT – interview
- Posted on 10-12-2022
Photographer: SamAndMaxPhoto
Jazz metal band with medieval melodies – is what comes up if you’re looking up the band CKRAFT, and they probably few out there who can say they release a ‘Gregorian Jazz’ song. The French quintet is something that prog or djent fans will appreciate and below you can find a quick interview in which the band talks about their music, influences and plans for the future.
Introduce your band, and describe your latest release:
Charles (CKRAFT’s bandleader): Hi there, thanks a lot for having us today! We’re CKRAFT, a five piece instrumental Jazz-Metal band.
CKRAFT is Théo Nguyen Duc Long on tenor saxophone, Antoine Morisot on guitar, Marc Karapetian on bass, William Bur on drums. I play augmented accordion, which is an accordion with electronic sensors, allowing me to play synths directly on it! I call it “augmented accordion”. We’re based in Paris (France)
Our latest release “Epic Discordant Vision” is heavily influenced by melodies from the Middle Ages, and by the crushing riffs of the Metal bands we love, such as Gojira for example.
What’s the hardest part about being a band in this day and age?
Charles: Being still young I don’t have a precise idea of what makes it difficult compared to before, but I guess it’s always a lot of hard work and dedication if you want to stand out and be noticed, no matter what day and age you’re revolving into?
When did you realise that your project had the potential to be much more than just a fun idea?
Charles: When I met the right people to play this music. I had the idea of blending Jazz and Metal for years, but I only found CKRAFT’s final team of bandmates in 2020. We met, had 5 days rehearsal, and it was an instant bromance! After the 5 days we had recorded 3 videos, 1 Lamb of God cover, and our first single “Drowning Tree”. I have to say I’m still very impressed of how smooth the whole thing went, almost like we were meant to be a band to begin with!
Tell us about your latest release, why should we check it out?
Charles: “Epic Discordant Vision” is our latest (and first) album! I think of each tune as an epic story that has to be told as loud as possible. To me, this music talks about the violence of men and nature, and embrace them as an endless source of inspiration.
I think you should check it out because I’m pretty sure you never heard anything like that. A metal band that features tenor sax and accordion with electronic sensors… Can you even picture it when I put it like this?
Photographer: François PINSON
How does a song typically come together for you?
Charles: I literally write everything down on paper, even the drums parts. Sometimes the idea starts from a riff or a rhythmic pattern that is looping in my head for too long, sometimes it’s a melodic fragment from a medieval melody, and then it’s all about developing and varying these elements.
When everything is written down and I’m sure of the tune’s structure and intention, I bring it in rehearsal to my fellow band members and we craft the sound all together: they sometimes have suggestions to make some parts sound heavier. We spend a lot of time in the rehearsal room until we’re happy to play a new tune on stage.
When everything is written down and I’m sure of the tune’s structure and intention, I bring it in rehearsal to my fellow band members and we craft the sound all together: they sometimes have suggestions to make some parts sound heavier. We spend a lot of time in the rehearsal room until we’re happy to play a new tune on stage.
How would you describe your sound to an unfamiliar reader?
Charles: Epic and discordant of course!
What do you want listeners to take away from listening to your band?
Charles: I’d like them to feel deeply satisfied as if they just did something really awesome. You know, that feeling that you get when listening to heavy and crushing bands!
Where would you really like to tour that you haven’t done so yet, and why?
Charles: so far, we played our show mostly in jazz / prog / rock contexts, but we’re connected to the Metal audience through internet. I wish we’ll be playing in some Metal festivals next year to take this connection from internet to real life!
How would you say that the sound of your band has progressed over the years?
Charles: Well for now it’s only been 2 years including only 1 album, so I guess our sound is quite consistent! Ask me this question again in 2 more years I guess?
How excited are you for 2023, and what can fans expect from you?
Charles: very excited! A lot of good opportunities in France mostly, but we’re working on migrating soon, at least to France neighbouring countries to begin with. I’m in the writing process again so new tunes might show up, in 2024 if not sooner!
The best way for fans to stay updated on the band’s latest news is through this link : https://linktr.ee/ckraft.music it includes all the social medias. Again thanks a lot for having us today! Keep on supporting young metal bands, it really means the world!