Kraftklub
Kraftklub is a five-person band from Chemnitz, Germany. Their music combines rock / indie and Sprechgesang with German lyrics and is generally considered to be a mixture of rap and indie.[1]
Kraftklub | |
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Kraftklub at Kosmonaut Festival 2014 | |
Background information | |
Also known as | In Schwarz |
Origin | Chemnitz, Germany |
Genres | |
Years active | 2010–present |
Labels | Vertigo |
Website | www |
Members | Felix Brummer (Felix Kummer) Karl Schumann Till Brummer (Till Kummer) Steffen Israel (Steffen Thiede) Max Marschk |
History
Founding and early years (2009–2011)
The band members first met at school [2] and founded the band at the end of 2009.[2] At the Splash Festival 2009, rapper Bernd Bass (Felix Brummer) performed together with the rock band Neon Blocks for the first time. At the end of 2009, they founded the band Kraftklub and started recording their first studio album. On 13 February 2010, they released their first EP, titled Adonis Maximus at a record release party in the Chemnitz club Atomino.[3]
In September 2010, the band won the New Music Award, a music prize awarded by various ARD radio stations.[4] As a result, several major labels became aware of them. As of January 2011, they are signed to Universal Domestic Rock/Vertigo Berlin.[5][6]
Kraftklub have performed as the support act for bands including Beatsteaks, Fettes Brot, Casper, Die Toten Hosen, and Rammstein.[2] On 5 August 2011, they released their first single, Zu Jung.[7]
Breakthrough with Mit K (2011–2013)
On 29 September 2011, the band represented Saxony in the Bundesvision Song Contest with their song Ich will nicht nach Berlin, coming fifth with a total of 89 points.[8] The single was released the next day where it reached number 45 on the German Media Control Charts.[9] Their debut album Mit K was released on 20 January 2012 and shot straight to number one in Germany.[9][10] In April 2012, Songs für Liam, the next single from their album, was released. It debuted at number 40 and peaked at number 14 in the German Media Control Charts.[11]
On 6 April 2012, K.I.Z. and Kraftklub gave an unannounced concert on the roof of the Chemnitz commercial complex Terminal 3 as part of the documentary film series Durch die Nacht mit... commissioned by ARTE. The performance was announced only a few hours before via social networks, despite the ban on dancing on Good Friday, and as a result of the crowds of spectators the police closed off the Chemnitzer Brückenstraße. [12]
Kraftklub refer to their hometown of Chemnitz as "Karl-Marx-Stadt" [13] (this was the name the city was known as from 1953 to 1990) - one of their songs on Mit K is entitled Karl-Marx-Stadt - and they are known for their trademark poloshirts, varsity jackets and suspenders.[2]
For Record Store Day 2012, Kraftklub released the song Songs for Liam in a version with Casper as vinyl single, which is limited to 700 pieces. [14]
Its first concert outside of Germany was at 19 September 2012, in "La Puerta Grande" Bar in Bogotá, thanks to the "Kolumbien mit K" tour promoted by the Goethe Institut - Colombia, which took them by Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, each one with two concerts respectively, and one in Cartagena.
In 2013, Kraftklub was nominated (among others) together with the group Frei.Wild for the music award Echo in the category Rock/Alternative National. On 6 Mrach 2013, Kraftklub announced that they want to be removed from the list of nominees, as Kraftklub does not want to be named in the same line as FreiWild. After Mia. and Die Ärzte also withdrew their participation, Frei.Wild was removed from the list of nominees and Kraftklub received the "Kritikerpreis National". [15]
The song Eure Mädchen can be heard on the soundtrack of the PC and console game FIFA 13. It is the only German title in the game. Kraftklub has a guest appearance in the song Ganz schön okay on the album Hinterland by German rapper Casper.
In Schwarz (2014–2016)
On 20 May 2014, the music video Hand in Hand (in a version with bassist Till Brummer on vocals) of an allegedly new band called In Schwarz appeared on YouTube. The video was uploaded by the music label Audiolith Records. [16] On 2 June 2014, In Schwarz appeared on the German television show Circus HalliGalli and revealed themselves as Kraftklub.
On 20 November 2015, the first live album Randale was released. Part of the DVD is a recording of the concert in the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin from 6. March 2015. In January 2016 followed the Randale-tour, in which the band gave concerts in several German cities. [17]
Keine Nacht für Niemand (2017–present)
On 16 March 2017, the band they released the first single Dein Lied from the subsequently announced album Keine Nacht für Niemand during a 10-hour Facebook livestream, which was released on 2 June 2017. The title of the album is an allusion to the album Keine Macht für Niemand by the band Ton Steine Scherben. [18]
Discography
Albums
- 2012: Mit K
- 2014: In Schwarz
- 2015: Randale (live album)
- 2017: Keine Nacht für Niemand
EPs
- 2010: Adonis Maximus
- 2012: Live im Astra Berlin
- 2012: Songs für Liam
Singles
- 2011: "Zu jung"
- 2011: "Ich will nicht nach Berlin"
- 2011: "Eure Mädchen"
- 2012: "Songs für Liam"
- 2012: "Kein Liebeslied"
- 2012: "Mein Leben"
- 2014: "Hand in Hand"
- 2014: "Unsere Fans"
- 2014: "Wie ich"
- 2014: "Schüsse in die Luft"
- 2015: "Blau"
- 2015: "Alles wegen Dir"
- 2017: "Dein Lied"
- 2017: "Fenster"
- 2017: "Sklave"
- 2017: "Chemie Chemie Ya"
- 2017: "Am Ende"
- 2018: "Liebe zu Dritt"
Band members
- Felix Brummer (Rap, vocals) in 2015
- Karl Schumann (Rhythm guitar, vocals) in 2017
- Till Brummer (Bass) in 2015
- Steffen Israel (Lead guitar, keys) in 2015
- Max Marschk (Drums) in 2015
Till and Felix are brothers [19][2] and the sons of AG. Geige member Jan Kummer. Since there is no artistic connection to Kraftklub, the brothers use the surname Brummer instead.
Sources
- "VISIONS empfiehlt: Kraftklub" (in German). Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- "Kraftklub-Interview: "Micky Maus ist ein blöder, kleiner Klugscheißer!"" (in German). Archived from the original on 20 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- "RAMBA ZAMBA pres. KRAFTKLUB RECORD RELEASE" (in German). Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- "New Music Award 2010 Kraftklub räumen ab" (in German). Archived from the original on 29 August 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- "Neu! Kraftklub bei Vertigo Berlin!" (in German). Universal Music. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- "Universal Domestic Rock angelt sich Newcomer-Band Kraftklub". musikmarkt.de (in German). Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- "KRAFTKLUB - Zu Jung - Diskografie" (in German). Universal Music. Archived from the original on 24 January 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- "Bundesvision2011" (in German). Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- "Kraftklub - Mit K - Music Charts". acharts.us. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- "Kraftklub startet durch: Album "Mit K" von 0 auf 1 in den Charts". Archived from the original on 16 April 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- "Kraftclub - Songs Für Liam - Music Charts". acharts.us. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- Florian Harlass: Jahresrückblick mit K – Kraftklub 2012. 371stadtmagazin.de
- "laut.de-Biographie - Kraftklub". laut.de (in German). Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- "Kraftklub feat. Casper - Songs für Liam (2012)". discogs.com (in German). Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- "Kraftklub wins 'Echo' after nomination scandel". ok-magazin.de (in German). 20 March 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FzA3o9aXrQ
- "Kraftklub releases new live DVD and goes on tour". musikexpress.de (in German). Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- "Kraftklub's new album "Keine Nacht für Niemand" to be published in June 2017". rollingstone.de (in German). 20 March 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- "Kraftklub mit "K" (Event vom 29.09.2011)" (in German). Archived from the original on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2012.