Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Caper Clowns – Rick Kingo
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
My dad always played (still does), so that would be it.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
At 14 or so I first heard Oasis. Until that point I didn’t care too much about music, but from then on I was obsessed. My dad taught me a few of their songs on guitar, and after a few moinths of that I started writing my own (embarrasingly bad) songs.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
Three of us (Peter, Christian, and myself – Rick) started playing together about six months after I first picked up the guitar.The first time around Christian wasn’t very invested so Peter and I kicked him and our then bassplayer Troels out.
Peter and I played with various other people over the next few years, but eventually formed Caper Clowns in 2010 with Christian back in it, this time more dedicated, and now on bass instead of drums, which was his original instrument.
Another guitar player called Sebastian joined a couple of years later, but left in 2015 after the release of our debut EP, and was temporarily replaced by my dad Henrik, who offered to fill in for a bit, since he already knew the songs fairly well, and was going to help us record our first full lenght album anyway. Now, we never actually managed to find a permanent replacement, and in 2018 my dad joined the band full time. Our drummer, and sometimes singer and guitarust Rasmus joined the band in 2018 as well, just before the release of our second album. It is also worth mentioning that we all write songs, which I find to be a great strength.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
“Poorly” would be the true answer here. I have always struggled to define music, especially my own. Guitar pop could be an option. Power pop has been suggested. Some might also say some sort of rock. I mostly just think we play good music.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
I have learned very little, I still approach songwriting in pretty much the same way I did it 14 years of age.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
I only need a guitar or piano to write a song, but to get it from there to the finished product, that other people might also enjoy listening to, we usually all get together and work out an arrangement, which we then demo using Logic. Then we go back to rehearsal, and once we can actually play it, we record it.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?The King of Hash by Plasticsoul would be one, and I hear they might finally have a new album coming out this year!
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I don’t know that we have an artistic vision really, other than to make good music…As far as how much personal experiences have influenced the music, it would probably be a lot. When a lot of good things are happening in ljfe, the songs tend to turn out a little lighter, and when life is more difficult the songs turn out a little darker. There are, however, exceptions to this. I recall writing the music for the closest thing we have had to an actual hit, Pockets, which is a super happy jangle poppy kind of thing, at a time where I was extremely frustrated and angry.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
All of them. We have songs about love, loss, politics, depression, hope, sambuca, friendship, stereotypes, queueing, and my favourite fruit, the majestic pineapple.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Always pee before a show.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I think the dream venue for me was always the Cavern Club in Liverpool, but we have been palying there yearly since 2017, so at this point there is no specific dream venue for me. Now it would just be about the venues being bigger, so instead of mostly playing in front of 20-200 people, we could play to crowds of 200-2000 people That would be a great next step.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Oasis, because they are in fact the best. The Beatles would be a close second for me, and probably the top choice for some of the other guys in the band. Third I would have Ryan Ross, formerly of Panic at the Disco and The Young Veins, because his songs to me are the best and most relatable of anyone in my generation.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music?
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/45gA7q4n9sYRwFzy8VEMPU
Deezer: https://link.deezer.com/s/32l2XllKRHq2jGV45hqlP
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/caper-clowns/947328839
TIDAL: https://tidal.com/artist/6308958
Amazon Music: https://www.amazon.com/music/player/artists/B00QFL05I0/caper-clowns
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/CaperClowns
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
More and bigger gigs would be it for me.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
Anything but the truth…
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