Keys N Krates

The music of Keys N Krates seems as though it could be lumped in with other budding EDM artists such as AVICII, Skrillex and Bassnectar and on certain sonic and stylistic levels this seems to make sense; however unlike this newer generation of musicians caught up in the dubstep movement, this group still holds some of the conventions of old school hip-hop and electronic music.
This particularly shines through in their live performances. The trio does implement modern equipment in their sounds such as up to date Akai samplers and controllers, but they also play a great majority of their music live. This is always exciting to see considering how infrequent it is to come by now days amongst electronic artists. The band is a trio consisting of turntablist Jr. Flo, drummer Adam Tune and Keyboardist David Matisse. Tune takes advantage of both electronic and acoustic sources and plays in close synchronization to the unpredictable ebbs and flows of Jr. Flows leads. Jr. Flow actually takes his samples from vinyl records rather than the more common practice of using sources from the computer. Matisse’s keyboard contributions provide a needed steady pulse on which everything rests, however there are instances where he delves into spontaneous melodies. The group has adapted to the modern trends in electronic music. You will hear high frequency vocal glitches, subatomic bass drops and disjointed rhythms. Their sound has blown people away at large festivals like the Mad Decent Block Party and has made lasting impressions at events such as the SXSW showcases. Their mixture of traditional and modern electronica has not only caught the attention of clubbers and party mongers, but it has also sparked interest in those who have been fascinated by the art of older electronic techniques.