A Slice Of Kraft
“I’ve got a 17 date tour of Australia and NZ, a new 16 track album entitled Let’s Ride, an old school vs new school single called Compnded with Gordon Edge about ravers with a really fun video made by a guy in Brisbane which I love, another single called Pounding with a video that’s gonna be on Channel V. I’m really looking forward to showcasing my new sound and show people that I’ve taken it up a notch. I’m ready to rock; this is the big time.”
So declares MARTIN “KRAFTY KUTS” REEVES, a man showing no signs of slowing in this crazy young man’s game of electronic music. But with another birthday past on April 1 he is wise enough to fortify his future.
“I’ve got a contingency plan... That’s a good word isn’t it?” he chirps. “I’m nurturing lots of up and coming artists; I have my own studio where I’ll teach how to write music, do mixes, and promote them. I’ve got my own record label which I will put a lot of time into so I’ll end up writing more music and doing less DJing. But when I do DJ the shows will be more spectacular, with a big visual experience and lots of new music, so hopefully it works that way.”
It’s the fifth time in ten years I’ve spoken with the ever-affable Martin. We talk about his new sound (“I’ve incorporated a bit of dubstep, drum ‘n’ bass and electro but still kept that Krafty funk so it’s still nicely digestible”), his favourite artists (Deekline, A-Skillz, Elite Force, Freestylers as well as Sebastian, Jack Beats and J Robinson) and life on the road for the veteran (“It’s all about pacing yourself and getting good catnaps”). Talk gets particularly amusing as we converse about pop music, with Martin sounding distinctly like the Bill Cosby bippin-and-boppin bit on The Simpsons.
“I’m not really into the pop music,” he says. “If you look back ten or 20 years ago there were a lot of good songs made with a musical aspect. Now it all just seems like ‘throw your hands in the air’ and ‘popping bottles in the club’, ‘getting slizzard’ and ‘let’s get drunk tonight’; the lyrics are really watered down, y’know? It just doesn’t inspire me. Across the world it’s a familiar pattern of throwaway music with embarrassing lyrics. We’ve got a little bit lost somewhere along the line.”
He is, of course, completely correct. But who needs to worry about the deteriorating world of pop when there’s a Canberra show to look forward to, eh? “I’m so looking forward to Canberra,” Martin says sans irony. “I have amazing and fond memories of Canberra. There’s a lot of old mates there, I was there with all the fires… Lots of history. It’s got a special place in my heart. I know it’s considered one of the less beautiful cities of Australia but to me it’s got a lot of character; it’s a real family orientated place.”
Krafty Kuts hits Trinity Bar on Saturday April 28. Tix are $25 before 10pm.
