Kerogen
Our band is made up of two members, Nur Alsaraf, vocalist, and Carl Lewis, producer. Kerogen began as a progressive fusion of hip hop and electronica and has turned into the rather individual sound we have created today.
A mix of abstract lyrics and brooding electronic beats is the simplest way to describe our sound.
We hope you like it as much as we do.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
We started out listening to hip hop, and quickly tiring of the tedious repetition as people ran out of things to say. We met in college, both 16, and decided that the freedom of expression rap style lyrics can give could be put to better, more sincere use. We both enjoyed all genres of music, as do the majority of people nowadays, but most of all we found electronica more versatile and accessible. So the next step was clear and we went from there, hopefully we can keep going too.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Not yet, we're working on it.
Your musical influences
On the hip hop side, the influences are non-specific, more the use of rap than anything, although the anger and sincerity of French hip hop in particular is commendable in our eyes. However, we do owe much to producers like DJ Premier and lyricists like Rakim for their inspirational value. Our main influences are probably artists like Daft Punk, Pendulum, Faithless, Burial, and Entheogenic, although it's difficult for an artist to compare what to them sounds so personal and thus unique.
What equipment do you use?
We use sequencers, synthesizers and any production software we can get our hands on, as well as the best keyboard we can afford. Performance wise, we haven't gotten our act together yet, quite literally, but we're getting there.
Anything else?
We also love the bits in between when we're eating chicken wings, drinking beer, and sitting around, either admiring the finished product, which we'll soon think is awful, or deciding when to get of our butts and do some work. Way forward.
