Kristian Craig Robinson, who plays music under the name Capitol K, has released three albums that earned him a spot at the forefront of England's independent music scene. Taipei Times caught up with Robinson at home to figure out where the ideas behind the music come from.
Taipei Times: You were born in Malta, and grew up in Brunei. Isn't that an unusual upbringing?
Kristian Craig Robinson: Yeah. Malta's this tiny island out in the middle of the Mediterranean where people go for holidays. I don't remember much from those days because I left when I was two. But I have a lot of family there still, so I go back quite often. It's really small, though. I mean like nine miles (14km) by five (8km), so it's a bit claustrophobic.
After living in Malta we moved to Brunei in like the late 1970s, early 1980s, and left when they got their independence ... I remember all the crazy parades and gold-plated Rolls Royces. It was kind of like Disneyland with phenomenal wealth.
TT: Did life in those places stick with you in later years?
Robinson: In a musical sense it influenced me for sure. It's more soundscapey, with some Eastern melodies and sampling. I went back to Asia and did a lot of location recording for the second album (Happy Happy). The recent stuff is more a result of being in London for seven years.
But maybe because I grew up in a culture that is Islamic, Malay and Chinese, I have a more global point of view than my neighbors here [in London].
TT: How do the dynamics differ when you work solo and in a band?
Robinson: I started out doing studio projects, and pretty much play live on my own most of the time. I did that for several years, sort of doing all the stuff, and wanted to get back into the live thing with a full band lately with the second album. But in Taipei I'll be playing solo and that's how I've been playing for some time now.
TT: Do you find working in band constricts your space for experimentation or does a band bring out more experimentation in you?
Robinson: I'd say it's equal in both parts. Playing in band you realize you need a lot of backing. We have a live drum kit, electronic drums, three laptops and all that. It's a lot to get sounding right, but when it happens right, when we merge electronics and live sound it's wonderful. Playing alone live it's much more electronic.
TT: What will you bring to Taipei?
Robinson: I'll be coming with a mixer, two laptops, a theramin, a couple of dictaphones, a guitar, effects pedals. I've got stuff on my computer all sequenced and ready. I've got tapes here from Brunei, Malaysia, festivals, one from Cologne, Morocco.
TT: What will you play in Taipei?
Robinson: I'll play stuff from both albums and I've been finishing an album here and might bring some of that with me.
TT: Should people stare at their feet or move their feet for your show?
Robinson: I don't really mind. The worst thing that can happen is when people talk. That's really disconcerting.
Capitol K will play tomorrow night at 10:20pm.
RSS