Ost & Kjex are definitely long-time players on the Norwegian music scene. Hailing from cozy and quiet Oslo, this ‘hat-wearing’ band have already balanced between underground electronic music and Indie pop music almost for two decades. The list of the worldwide respected artists coworking for collaborations with duo includes Diynamic’s honcho Solomun, Jamie Jones, HOSH.
Now it’s time to release a gorgeous ‘Kaputt’ EP on Eleatics, the main title of which is a jewel. Tied with it’s extended and colorful melodies it brings a very lyric mood, which is only multiplied with the tender, pleasant and distinctive vocals. Dutch producer Karmon makes the original breathing in his way: creating and adding so much background and barely heard, but working sounds and layers, which do help for this version to sound and to be called a ‘hit’ one. Brilliant appearance.
Italian duo Moonwalk is harmonizing ‘Kaputt’ and let the original to be implied with their vision: effective, punching and clearly working one. ‘No9’ is throwing to another pole of Ost & Kjex: experimental and contrasted. Crunchy percussions and dark synthesizing sounds leave a solid impact on the sterling package.
We had the chance to talk with Ost & Kjex to explore their latest EP ‘Kaputt’ via Eleatics Records.
Electronic Groove: Firstly, thank you for taking the time to talk with us. Maybe the most common question that your fans ask you is what came first, the cheese or the biscuit? How did you come up with the idea to associate such a name to your scene profile?
Ost & Kjex: Hello there. One of life’s big mysteries that one, we don’t even know ourselves:) As for the names, Ost & Kjex started out as a side project around the year 2000. We were mainly into another project called Oslo Athletico at the time, then some friends were starting up a digital label. It was an early venture into the world of streaming, where the artist were digital characters in an online, cartoon world. We chose a cheese and a biscuit, cause we wanted something ordinary, related to everyday life.
EG: Please share a short story for ‘Kaputt’ and ‘No9’ tracks. Can you share your feelings and emotions about them? As well as on the remixes 🙂
Ost & Kjex: We are super excited to release some new music and super happy with the remixes. So nice to be involved with our old label mate Karmon again, sweetest guy ever and super talented. Other than that I can tell you that the tune ‘No. 9,’ is no other than a remix of good ol’ Ludvig Van. We remixed it on commission for a Norwegian festival called ‘Ultima’. The track is an edit from that project.
EG: How your creative process looks like?
Ost & Kjex: We mostly sit alone in the studio and cook something up. Then we send it back and forth between us. We are very slow workers and use way too long for each track, it can take years.
EG: What about your studio space? Where you’d prefer to create most of your tracks? Maybe some stories of unexpected creations.
Ost & Kjex: We each have our own studios and I think we both enjoy sitting on our own and drift away with the music. It’s a meditative thing, I guess many producers can recognize. We do meet up as well, for jams or just to go over the material, making adjustments, etc. No crazy stories about creation, but sometimes we go away to cabins or abroad, to get a different perspective on things.
EG: You’ve been in the electronic music scene for more than 10 years now and you are definitely long-time players on it. What changes are evident in the industry due to the growth of the electronic music scene worldwide?
Ost & Kjex: You can make that over 20 years actually, we are some old fucks. I started to DJ in 1997 and since then the scene has had its ups and downs. First of all, I have to say the growth has been fantastic. It enables a lot of artists to live of this music, artists that will help to develop the genre further. The worldwide growth also helps in bringing out talent from all over the world, and that is really something. With all the different styles and influences coming through. Artists popping up from China, old USSR countries, the African continent and so on, are already developing the music in unforeseen and exciting ways.
On the downside, some major artists seem to be raking in a bit too much money and you have some ugly cases of superstar DJs and commercialism. I honestly can’t see why anybody’s DJ-set should be worth 10 000 + Euro, it’s a waste of money if you ask me.
EG: How the Norwegian music scene looks like?
Ost & Kjex: Norway has a small but thriving scene based around the biggest cities. As we are a bit on the outside of everything, the music tends to have an idiosyncratic streak. Each producer has a style of their own. You are probably familiar with the nu-disco scene, but there is also a lot of other exciting stuff happening as well.
“The worldwide growth helps in bringing out talent from all over the world, and that is really something”
EG: Currently the coronavirus pandemic is happening throughout the world and its effects on the cancellation of many music events. As an artist, what are your thoughts on this? Are you going to make ‘’live concerts’’ in social media for your fans?
Ost & Kjex: It’s absolutely horrible. I’m lucky to have a part-time job besides music, but I have a lot of friends that will have a hard time in the months to come. I fear mostly for small businesses, clubs, labels, underground artists. The heart of the culture. And of course for our elders.
EG: Finally, what can we expect from you in 2020? How soon can we find new music from you?
Ost & Kjex: Loads of stuff is happening in 2020. We got three EP’s coming out before summer. First this one on Eleatics, then in April we got a new one on URSL with our friend Whalesharkattacks, and last one and EP on our own label Snick Snack Music to be out in June. Also, we are putting together a compilation on Snick Snack with music from our friends in the Oslo scene. Really excited about that one, hopefully it’s out this autumn.
Ost & Kjex’s ‘Kaputt’ is now available via Eleatics Records. Stram and buy here.
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