Kandodo Mini Interview (playing our End Of An Era Part 2 in November!)
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This November we will be putting on two final UK holiday camp festivals in Camber Sands, UK under the banner The End Of An Era. The first weekend is sold out, with tickets available now for Weekend 2 curated by ATP & Loop. Tickets and more info on the event are available now from this link. See below for another in a series of mini interviews with bands playing the event. This time Simon Price aka Kandodo has given us his answers. You can check out the track from Kandodo here at Soundcloud.
Name Of Artist: Kandodo
Hometown: Bristol/London
Year Formed: 2010
Bio:
kandodo is the solo project of Simon Price, singer/guitarist of The Heads. Price was raised in Zambia and Malawi, which left an indelible mark on him personally, and is manifest in the song titles, artwork, and name of the project. The influence is less obvious on his instrumental music, but Simon says that if there were lyrics, they'd be about animist religions, hyenas, sharks and dusty drives. Named after a Malawian supermarket that he used to shop in back in the late '80's, the debut self-titled album contains mini-sonic soundscapes that start firmly grounded and then go off into the deepest reaches of space. Along the way, Simon touches on influences as diverse as Kraftwerk, Neu!, Eno, Morricone, Stooges, Loop, and Spacemen 3.
kandodo is for Price an exploration of tones, chords, and textures that evoke a very particular emotional response, a sense of yearning. These instrumental pieces are lyrical and evocative soundtracks with an elongated and elegant song structure. Describing them himself as "fuzzy lullabies", Simon’s pieces undulate as delicate layers are built and removed, easing the listener along a thread of melodies. This is immersive music meant to be listened to at a loud volume or in the space between headphones.
All of the tracks on kandodo were played, recorded, and mixed by Simon over a lengthy period of time on an old second-hand Mac Book at home. Being one of the first solo recordings he's ever done, the time alone and the lack of other bandmates allowed Simon to indulge in an infinite amount of possibilities. Many revisions were made over time but the tools used were actually quite few: just his guitars (though Simon is a Fender fetishist, a '65 Magnatone Typhoon was mainly used on this album), a couple of keyboards, tambourine, drum pedal, and a slowly breaking Walkman recorder (for field recordings). The end result is a remarkable addition to the guitarist's already impressive body of work.
Do your best to describe your sound in one sentence:
Psychedelic drone fuzz, liquid psyche.
What are the most recent activities of your band?
The second kandodo album came out in August, we've done a couple of gigs. Last one was/is with Carlton Melton, don't know how it went yet.
How excited are you to play this event?
Well excited, we don't play live much.
How do you feel about being asked to play one of the last two ATP holiday camp events?
Chuffed, like the surreal holiday camp vibe and the quality/diversity of music on offer.
Do you have a connection with the curators / an idea why you were chosen to play?
Been a fan of Loop from way back, one of my fave live bands, passed out at the Bristol Bierkeller during a particularly intense 'Burning World' encore (1990?), also saw their last gig at the National Ballroom, Kilburn. Met Robert a couple of times as a fan too. Guess he thought kandodo were alright. Mystic Healer.
Which of your releases do you feel ATP attendees should check out first?
I'd get both the albums, first is more chilled, second a little livelier.
Is there one of your tracks you think specifically represents you best?
'swim into the sun', may not represent kandodo but it's pretty cool in a deep ocean kind of way.
Are there any other currently confirmed bands you're excited about seeing?
Be great to see Loop again, Comets On Fire, Om, Girls against Boys, Hookworms, Michael Rother, basically, plenty of noisey droney sike rock.
If you were curating, name three bands you'd want to play your event...
The Velvets
Jimi
Elvis.
If you could pick one record release in the last year which would you recommend?
Psychic Ills - One Track Mind
And what's the best gig you've seen in the last year?
Stones at Glastonbury
What have your previous experiences at ATP been like? Any favourite memories?
Been to a few ATPs and even played at one (minehead/portishead curated) (good band catering). Om wobbled my guts and shook my head. Fave memory was sitting backstage with the Melvins when Ron Asheton quietly walks passed, carrying guitar, he grinned.