Hip to be Square

© Roel Determeijer

Amsterdam natives C-Mon and Kypski have returned to the States with their new album We Are Square. The band has evolved since their first visit to our shores, transforming from a turntable duo to a four-piece group of electronics, rhythm, vocals and theatrics. The band’s early morning set on Sunday of Camp Bisco brought forth a tough and cranky crowd of folks more eager to sleep in the shade than jump and dance in the daylight hours. However, C-Mon and Kypski seemed to approach this audience as a challenge, and by the end of their set they had every sleepy head bopping from their blankets and a small but enraptured group of fans dancing and hollering down by the stage. I caught up with Kypski a few days after the fest and got his feelings on the whole event.

How did you enjoy playing Camp Bisco?

It was really nice, although we had to get on stage really early that day, around one o clock. People were either sleeping, falling asleep, or waking up at that time – depending on what kind of party they were having. So there weren't that many people, but the people who were there were going nuts. We also had the whole stage full of gear, because our show had to do a transition into Nobody Beats the Drum. Which means that after our show a famous DJ came on and the tent was packed. But that's how it goes I guess! We surely had a great time. 

Well I was awake and had a great time watching you. Did you get to catch any other performances? If so did you have a favorite?

Kypski: Yeah I saw Wu-Tang, which was great after such a long time... and Major Lazer, but most definitely Bassnectar was by far my favorite. He rocked everybody's socks off.

You guys are so theatrical while on stage. Is performance and entertainment very important to you?

Kypski: Well, we're from The Netherlands, which I think has the toughest crowd to play for. As a band without a real lead singer we always had to come up with crazy stuff to keep the crowd entertained and rock out even harder. So we implemented all this crazy stuff like dancing, scratching, and drumming at the same time, big light shows and visuals – which we have only done in the Netherlands so far, haven’t had a chance to do the lights and visuals in the U.S. yet – magicians tricks, you name it. Only thing we haven't done yet is Pyrotechnics!

Your have been touring around NY and PA. Any favorite moments so far? Any favorite stops?

Brooklyn Bowl was a great show with a great crowd, and Camp Bisco was also a favorite. My all time favorite place to be is San Francisco, but we didn't hit the West Coast this time.

Within the next few months your tour is taking you abroad to South Africa, the Netherlands etc. How do these shows compare to those you play here in the States?

Well South Africa is the only country outside Holland in which we actually had a physical release of our previous and 3rd album, Where the Wild Things Are. This was because the first time playing OppiKoppi was a huge success. So I'm really curious about how the follow-up will be over there. In the U.S, it still feels like not many people know about us. And as I said, in the Netherlands there's a tough crowd, but on the other hand there is the opportunity to rock out with big lights and a visual show with our VJ team, which is called the Kijkbuiskinderen. 

What does that mean? 

It translates to something like Television Kids.

You say it feels like people don’t know you as well in the US. Do you feel that it has been difficult making a name for yourselves over here?

It grows gradually. We have to emerge from the underground, and we're totally fine with that!

Your music calls upon a variety of different sounds, ranging from Queen-like dramatic singing to Middle Eastern beats. Do you have any specific influences? How did you start playing this way?

Well, we've been playing for 9 years as a group now, and being influenced by almost everything that we consider good music, whether it's electronic, world music or more Rock oriented, and this is where we are at right now. In the beginning we were far more Mo Wax, DJ Shadow, down tempo and trippy sounding. If you listen to Vinyl Voodoo, our first album from 2001, that is the sort of stuff you hear. 

So then if you had to describe your current genre of music… Electronic exotic scratchadelic experimental dance hop jazz turntablism electro rock…or something. What would you call it?

I don’t think I can top that description.

A variety of DJ’s have remixed your songs. Do you enjoy these new takes on your music? Do you have a favorite so far?

Yeah i love remixes and remixing! My favorites are Burning Hot (Boemklatsch Remix) from Holland and Turn Of The Tides (Knowa Knowone Remix) from out of the U.S.

What bands are you listening to right now?

Mr. Oizo, Various Blue Note records.