Munich duo and live act KIDSØ play music that you want to hear and feel at the same time. It is what could perhaps best be described as danceable melancholy. Or, as Moritz Graßinger (analogue synths, piano, percussions) and Martin Schneider (drums, e-percussions, video installation), sometimes say with a smile: “electronic music for people who otherwise don’t listen to electronic music that often”. Both somehow hit the mark. And somehow also not, or only insufficiently. Because what the two of them produce as KIDSØ can hardly be squeezed into style pigeonholes or pinned down by euphonious adjectives. It is electronic music at its core, that’s for sure. But not the finger-in-the-air-let-us-rub-against-each-other-in-the-Berghain electronic, but rather what Jon Hopkins produces when he has eaten the right mushrooms. With the difference that KIDSØ record this sound predominantly analogue and organic.
WWD: Hello Moritz and Martin! How are you both today and where are you answering this interview from?
Many thanks for the invitation to this interview! We are sitting in Motiz’ living room next to our studio. A Saharan dust cloud just moves across Munich fading everything outside in some fancy orange light just now. Pretty amazing atmosphere for an interview to be honest!
WWD: Going back to the beginning, can you tell us how and when you got into electronic music?
We have been making music together since 2013. That was shortly after Martin moved to Munich and was looking for a band to play the drums at. We have been playing in an electronic indie band and started to dig into electronic music and instruments more and more at that time. In 2017 we decided to step further into that direction and started to write our first songs which later became the debut EP “Apart”. That was basically the beginning of our journey as KIDSØ.
WWD: Who or what were your biggest musical inspirations growing up?
We both grew up with different influences as music we listened to. While Martin was more into rock music like AC/DC and Metallica, Moritz took his inspirations from bands like Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins. As we both grew up playing instruments like guitars, drums or keys, we have more of a musician background and have taken inspiration from musicians like Joey Jordison, Danny Carey or Chris Hülsbeck.
WWD: When did you come together to form KIDSØ?
We started working on the first songs of our debut EP “Apart” in 2017. At that time we didn’t have a name yet for either the music we did, the band or even the genre we have been into.
WWD: Can you share some memories from the days you started going out? Have you known each other for a long time and if so, did you share any of these early experiences?
When Martin joined our band as a new drummer, we only had 2 weeks until we had a really big gig. We were really afraid that it would go haywire. We had never performed together before and then we started together in front of over 1000 people. But luckily it worked and Martin was a friend from that point on.
WWD: Now to your new music. I’d like to congratulate you on the forthcoming release of your debut album ‘Fir’, which we’re absolutely loving here at WWD. Please tell us more about the project. Was it a long time in the works?
It pretty much was, but it felt just right. Especially with the situation we all are into since the pandemic started. Most of the song ideas and concepts evolved in 2020, just the two tracks “Fall” and “Hide” came from concepts we have been working on already before.
The past few years also dictated the mood we have been into. With the cancellation of live shows we got more into the studio and the production of new music. As everything slowed down especially in the beginning of 2020, we applied this mood also to our music. We haven’t had that feeling to bring the music to clubs and on stage as we did before. It was more like producing songs which reflected the feelings of that time. This especially can be heard in tracks like “Hide”, “Woodbird” or “Lost and Found”.
With the album release we also started to work together with Embassy of Music (Monolink, David Guetta) and Ease (Rammstein, Milky Chance). Once the release date was set for March 2022, we agreed on filling the time until the release with remixes (like we did with Peer Kusiv) or track releases (like Hologram).
WWD: When making music together, what roles to you each assume? Who’s in charge of what?
It depends on the situation we are at. When being on stage, Moritz is in charge of the melodies while playing analog synthesizers on stage, guitar or drum pads. Myself (Martin) is playing the drums and sample pads.
When being off-stage, Moritz focuses on the production of new songs in the studio while myself is in the lead for the production of music videos or content for social media. We create most of our content ourselves. That worksharing fits so well that we can’t think of any other band constellation than the one we both are into.
WWD: What do you like to do in your spare time when you’re not touring the world or making music?
Going camping, shooting photos or hiking in the mountains (we have some amazing spots close to Munich)!
WWD: What’s your favourite part of being an artist?
Definitly playing live shows in clubs or at festivals. We just can’t get enough of this. It is the most amazing feeling for us being on stage and playing our songs in front of the audience. Not really surprising, is it? Haha
WWD: And your least favourite?
Carrying our gear from stage back to our cars after a show!
WWD: Do you have any other releases planned in the coming months? Can you give us a sneak peek?
We have started working with Natascha Polké on some songs set for this summer. We already met a couple of times and see some amazing things coming up!
WWD: Any final words for our When We Dip readers?
Music can get you through these difficult times. Music connects and knows no borders
KIDSØ – Fir is out now via Esc / Ctrl (Embassy of Music)
Please embed Spotify link on album release date (March 18)