Local Minneapolis hip-hop artist Kristoff Krane releases his solo album, This Will Work For Now, on Friday, September 19th with all-ages and 21+ CD Release shows at the 7th St. Entry. He’ll also be selling copies of his professionally bound, 199 page soft-cover book, too.
This week we got the chance to chat with Mr. Krane about the album, the songwriting approach that shaped it (”runny rear”) and why he’s co-releasing a book, too….
Who is Kristoff Krane?
Kristoff Krane, real name, Christopher Keller is vocalist/frontman of Abzorbr and a member of both Face Candy (Eyedea’s all improvisational collective with Casey O’Brien and Jt Bates) and Saturday Morning Soundtrack (Ecid, Impulse and Capaciti).
……is a son, a brother, a lovers lover and a friend.
……is author of the book, ” The Other” (200 page soft cover, professionally bound book).
……is an creative writing/rap/poetry instructor at several schools in the Twin Cities proper.
……is at times a confused and lost individual and at other times a clear and motivated disciple of cause.
How would you describe your style and approach to songwriting?
As of now…I’m not sure what style or approach I will be using to write music, but as far as the album goes…there is a huge difference in the process involved as far as how the songs were arranged and composed.
Some of the instrumentals were made prior to the words and some vice versa. Some of the songs were a result of me driving home from the center of somewhere…coming up with a line, idea or melody in my head and then rushing into the studio (similar to someone with a runny rear) and then spewing everything out, in fear that it may leave and never come back (for at the time I felt as if a higher understanding was demanding the manifestation of the current inspiration..or something like that : )
Many of the messages embedded in the pieces were the result of conflicts/epiphanies that I have experienced myself that I really felt were necessary for me to be shared with others. My intention serving many functions…1. That I follow through with attempting to express how I feel about something that I have always wanted to communicate and 2. creating something that maybe others may be able to use as a mirror or tool, in order that they may come to a closer and more clear understanding of something that they have always wanted to resolve as well. 3. making art to challenge myself and feel good about my efforts/creations.
As far as writing words….A lot of the times I would have the idea and the way that I wanted to project this idea (my character) over the instrumentation…and then I would freestyle in the character whom I was for that specific piece. Most of the times the freestyling approach, or just scatting over the music without any words….would provide me with the overall feel that I believed to be looking for. I would then just fill in the Be-Bop vocal projection with words that I felt were worth coming out of my mouth and then perhaps re-record verses that need fix ups.
The actual words were either found on scraps of napkins from Cahoots Coffee Shop, old journals, or show flyers, or I would come up with them on the spot and just write out the lyrics in entirety for the song that was being worked on.
In a Nutshell.
My process of writing for this project was a very scattered process, but it always involved an idea/message that I felt I needed to get out and that I felt others could relate to. It always involved me calling my close friends and asking them questions about protools audio software. And it always involved me feeling really content with the piece that I had created and then consequentially and to the same proportion..involved me feeling inadequate or doubtful of my plight.
My methods have changed and will forever.
How does This Will Work for Now differ from your Abzorbr project and previous solo albums?
Well. A couple things.
(Statements regarding comparisons between my solo work and Abzorbr are specifically regarding my involvement in Abzorbr and are not to represent a reflection of the entire group/music itself).
1. I produced the new record and Graham and Casey have produced all Abzorbr music released thus far.
2. I would say that This Will Work For Now is a project that is attempting to offer a perspective rooted in a “…it’s messed up, but it is Okay acceptance…I’m hear and so are you…type feel”, where a majority of abzorbr’s music is rooted in more of a “why are things like this…do you feel this way too…good…glad we’re not alone…type of feel.”
3. Pretty much…I feel my role has changed as I developed as solely an mc and morphed into someone who now has control over the instrumentation and message at the same time.
My role In Abzorbr…in the past, has been very in-your-face—wake up—we have to figure something out—what is going on—-Why do I feel like I did this wrong—I’m Sorrry-like demeanor.
Where in the Solo work it is more—–by your side—-dream or wake—we have to figure something out—-It will all work out—-semi-resolution based angle.
Bottom Line:
My prime intention in both contexts has always been to attempt to express how I feel about myself and the world in hopes to help and empower myself and others…the difference is that I believe in myself a bit more and in what I have to offer as part of the resolve, as of now.
How does your sound fit with the MSP scene?
It fits in with pretty much anything with an eager edge and drive to communicate something to others without offending anyone in the process: Abzorbr, Fill in The Breaks, Saturday Morning Soundtrack, Brain-stem, Death Ray Scientific, Carnage, Kill The Vultures, Cecil Otter, El Guante, POS, Sims, Dessa, mike michtlan, Desdamona, Hyder Ali, Dial_System, Fat-kid Wednesdays, Dosh…etc.
Not many artists co-release a book and album on the same day. What’s the story with the book?
I wrote the book for a couple reasons.
1. I’ve always loved to write and always wanted to write a book.
2. After connecting for a while with people on MySpace (from a fan to artist dynamic)…people started to find my opinion regarding certain topics or concepts on things…Worthy.
And people started asking me questions that I really couldn’t answer in a couple sentences like, ” So what do you think are some of the reasons that people go through an identity crisis?” or, “my girlfriend doesn’t know if I’m the one anymore…what should I do?”
At first …I would respond honestly and in a lengthy manner, but after a while I started getting a bit overwhelmed and started thinking to myself, ” man..you already have wrote responses to most of these kind of questions in your journals over the last 4 years of your life…..why don’t you just figure out a way to present that material in an interesting form?” and so I did.
The book is a collective of writings, poems, theories, parables, skits, scripts, song lyrics, letters, etc…that all intertwine with one another and offer some sort of perspective on a conflict or resolution to one. Some of the writing is messy and abstract and some is cohesive and ordered.
What are the details on your upcoming CD release show?
Kristoff Krane Solo Cd (”This Will Work For Now”) and book release ( The Other”).
Friday, Sept 19th at the 7th St. Entry
W/ Mr. Dufaux, Hyder Ali, Dial_system, Oliver Hart Acoustic Set
2 Shows:
All ages at 5pm
21+ at 9pm.
$6.
There will be a gift for all. Satori will be in the building with hand-crafted homemade jewelry. There will be a short music video that will induce some sort of laughing. And most importantly there will be great music performed by some of my really close friends and a room full of (what I assume will be) warm and extra cuddly people..including my mother..who rocks the house.
What else?
1. Check out Kimya Dawson, Sector 7G, Kill The Vultures and Cecil Otter’s new cd.
2. Saturday Morning Soundtrack, Abzorbr and Face Candy all have new material in the works.
3. Louis Lapierre and James Penfield are two local artists that people need to seek out and look into…they are amazing.
Photo by Staciaann Photography
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