Pictures by Christina Kousgaard
Fans of Denmark’s band Reptile Youth in Berlin shall be enlighted: Esben Valloe is debuting in Berlin with his solo project Antonio Gram!
Antonio Gram is Esben Valløe.
After more than 200 concerts in 25 countries as a founding member of Reptile Youth, Valløe returns to his electronic roots, pursuing a solo career as Antonio Gram.
Antonio Gram pushes boundaries and defies typical classification, an energetic bouquet of techno, rap, and oriental influences. The songs, which feature a broad palette of collaborators hailing from San Diego to South Africa, take you on a wild journey through the mixtapes and compilations that played on repeat in your teenage bedroom.
On the first single “DEMONS”, Antonio Gram has joined forces with the legendary trap producer ELOQ and rising velvet vocalist Emma Sehested. “DEMONS” was released in April and got a warm reception in the world media:
“techno and Middle Eastern sounds” – VICE
“understated pop perfection” – JAJAJA
“DEMONS” was accompanied by a video by William Reynish combining gorgeous 3D modelling with a psychedelic sensibility. In the words of VICE, the video “features Roman statues bending, breaking, melting and dancing—from stillness to movement, from rigidity to fluidity, from solo to couple. It’s a balance that’s recognizably human yet also uncomfortably robotic and alien.”
Antonio Gram played his first show at SPOT festival this year acclaimed by UNISON as “electronic music of international class”. This summer, Antonio Gram will be playing DJ sets and live concerts from Magnet Club in Berlin to Trailerpark Festival in CPH.
Valløe’s previous effort, Reptile Youth, used to be one of the most respected indie bands out of DK. Founded in 2009 with Mads Kristiansen, they have been working with producers like Dave Allen (The Cure), and Marc Ralph (Hot Chip) and had tracks remixed by Kasper Bjørke and Trentemøller. Regulars at festivals like Melt, Fusion, and Roskilde and a frequent act in clubs from Mexico City to Tokyo, Reptile Youth were named a new band of the week by THE GUARDIAN, who described the duo’s compelling compositions, writing that the music “demands, to be heard. To be stolen or bought.” Reptile Youth was described as:
“perfect pop clatter” – CLASH
“raucous rock, the embodiment of your leather jacket-wearing friend” – NYLON
“evokes the anger their name youthfully projects” – DAZED
F http://facebook.com/antoniogrammm
S http://soundcloud.com/antoniogrammm
“Esben Valløe (ehemals Reptile Youth) wird mit seinem Soloprojekt Antonio Gram erstmals in Berlin performen.
DNA.BLN
Ort: Magnet Club, Falckensteinstraße 48
Datum: Donnerstag, 11. Juni
Stagetime: 01h00 (live)
FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/882248978479882/
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“Antonio Gram ist Esben Valløe (ehemals Reptile Youth) – understated pop perfection (JaJaJa, UK)
Nach nunmehr gut 200 Konzerten in 25 verschiedenen Ländern mit einem der meist gefeierten dänischen Livebands der vergangenen Jahre – Reptile Youth – kehrt Esben Valløe nun zu seinen elektronischen Wurzeln zurück und widmet sich seiner Solokarriere als Antonio Gram.
Mit Antonio Gram stellt Esben sein Talent als Produzent unter Beweis. Antonio Grams Sound geht weit über Genregrenzen hinaus, eine Bandbreite an Techno, Rap und orientalen Einflüssen. Begleitet wird Esben mit Features aus aller Welt, von erstklassigen Künstlern aus San Diego bis Südafrika – seine Musik bringt uns auf eine Reise durch Mixtapes und Compilations, die schon in unserer Jugendzeit auf repeat liefen.
Antonio Grams Erstsingle – Demons Feat. Emma Sehsted & ELOQ sorgte in der internationalen Presse bereits für erste Furore – sowohl in Audio- als auch visueller Form mit internationaler Videopremiere.
Antonio Gram spielte bereits seine erste Live Show beim SPOT Festival dieses Jahr – von UNISON als „electronic music of international class“ gefeiert.
In kürze wird Esben sein Berlin Debüt beim DNA.BLN am 11. Juni im Magnet Club haben.”
Listen & Watch:
Antonio Gram – Demons Feat. Emma Sehsted & ELOQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDH_N3HV8Uw
*GUESTLIST: stylistberlin is giving away guestlist for you and a friend! Share and comment under this post “stylistberlin X Antonio Gram” – winners will be announced Thursday noon here and on FB!
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