(Original on http://www.vg.no)
Kaizers Orchestra with a new and "nicer" sound(VG Nett) Kaizers Orchestra release a new R&B- and rap-inspired record. See the band's first music video, exclusively on VG Nett!
The music video for "Enden av november" is the first from the album that will be released on February 18th.
See the video premiere here
The music video that has been recorded in Berlin just like the record is in black and white. And for the first time, the guys from Jæren present a video without a performance setting.
- This feels a bit naked, front figure Janove Ottesen (32) admits.
Black and white
- We are no actors. But this video is more artistic. It looks more stylish, says Ottesen, who explains that black and white is one of the band's trademarks.- Black and white underlines the classic retro signal that we wish to express through our music and the current song. We like black and white best, both in photos and in videos. The whole Kaizers company is black and white. We always use black and white clothes, the singer explains.
No ladies
The music video is almost devoid of female attractions - something that is rare in music videos nowadays. The only thing of which we get a small glimpse in "Enden Av November" is a pair of ladies' legs in high-heeled shoes.- Yes, we have the legs of a tango lady in the video. We used women in our videos before, but all in good time. Now we want to do something new, Ottesen says.
New is an important keyword for the album "Maskineri" which is the fourth album from the rockers that started out in 2001. The band has been spicing up their music with what they themselves describe as "hysteric Eastern European rhythms" up to now.
- Not nasty and intense
- The new record contains more beats and club music passing into rap and R&B, Ottesen explains.- We kept the Kaizers core, but we decided to spice it up with some new sound. The music isn't nasty and intense anymore. Your ears don't get so tired from listening to the new music. This got to do with the way it has been done technically, the singer tells VG Nett.
He thinks that the new record is more holistic than the three precessors.
- It is nicer to listen to, Ottesen claims.
Still ompa
He reassures the fans that in spite of the changes, the band will still keep the ompa and the oil barrels.- We take the best from the old style and mix it with something new.
The band is used to praising criticisms, and they are aware of the fact that it can be daring to strike a new path. They themselves think that it is about making a choice.
- We considered doing the same we have done before - only better. But we tried that three times already. Now it almost feels like debuting again, to put it a bit cliche-like, Ottesen explains.
Hoping for new fans
He hopes that the new record will appeal to new fans.- Maybe we can also convince those that thought we were too nagging before, he says.
Ottesen doesn't conceal that they are very eager to see how the album will be received, but that they themselves are very satisfied.
- We are proud that we dare to renew ourselves, the singer says.
Never in English
But even if the band has renewed so much, there is one thing they will never depart from, namely the Norwegian language and the Jæren dialect. Not even the fact that Kaizers Orchestra is big in Europe can tempt the guys to sing in English.- We are the only Norwegian band that made it in Europe with Norwegian songs. This is unique in Europe. If we had decided to sing in English, we would have become one more band to do just that. This is why we will never sing in English, Ottesen assures.
Received Bragd award
Just before Christmas, the band was rewarded an award for big deeds from the Rogaland district because they are among Norway's best live bands and promote the Jæren dialect in such a good way.- Of course it is great to be noticed there where you come from. Everybody knows that it is not easy to be a prophet in one's own home town, Ottesen says and adds that he himself had to experience how hard it is to break through with alternative music, both in Norway and abroad.
- It doesn't happen overnight, he explains.
New record company
Kaizers Orchestra ended the contract with the record company Universal and will release the new record with the small Norwegian indie company Petroleum Records that is associated with SonyBMG.- It's about adjusting and finding the right way. We take it one record at the time, depending on what is best for Kaizers. A lot has happened in the business lately, and it was the right choice to go to another company. The giants reduce their contracts, and we didn't want to risk being in a company where the Kaizers fans can be in danger of disappearing. This is why we are back to where we started, with a little indie company, Ottesen explains.
Ready for festivals
Around February/March, Kaizers will start out on an extensive tour, first in Norway, then in Europe. There will also be a series of festival jobs, but Ottesen cannot reveal where yet.- But we will appear at the most important festivals in Norway and abroad, he promises.
The future never looked brighter than it does now! - a satisfied Kaizers singer says.