Words by Art Jefferson
Images Courtesy of Kamoos
While there are many bands that have exploded within the post-punk scene over recent years time, Berlin-based group Kamoos are totally paving a road of otherness that defies any one particular sound. Combining not only post-punk, but new wave, dance and even rich, Arabic stylings, the band have fostered something so engaging, refreshing and utterly entertaining, that it can only, truly be dubbed well, simply…Kamoos. Fronted by London-born singer and multi-instrumentalist Juliette Wallace, there are just as much of high level theatrical sonics as there are sultry psych layerings. Wallace’s incredible ability to breeze through vocal styles ranging from punk to jazz adds a dynamism to each track, with the band’s arrangements so addicting that you wish there were extra 5 minute added extensions. Releasing incredible singles such as ‘Orang-Utans’, ‘X-Ray Me’ and ‘Ice Cream’ just to name a few, Kamoos’ music is like an audible aphrodisiac.
Kamoo’s latest single ‘Mighty Mighty’ is a slow, steamy burner that is peppered with vivid storytelling, sinister guitar lines and an absolute seducing bass line that is nothing short of magical. If this is a glimpse of what is forthcoming in 2022, we’re already baited for the reeling.
Juliette, you met Vivi whilst performing with your old band on the Berlin scene. How soon after meeting did you decide to form the group?
Juliette Wallace – It was a process. We began playing together pretty much immediately but Kamoos came later. At the beginning either we would go to the rehearsal space that we used to share with Gurr and I would play drums and Vivi guitar, or we would jam together on the streets, or Vivi would play along to my solo stuff at gigs. It would probably have been around 6 months before Kamoos started to come into formation which happened when I wrote ‘Xray Me’ in a spontaneous jam with Vivi in the rehearsal space.
What is the origin of the name Kamoos?
Juliette Wallace – It comes from the author Albert Camus. I was a big fan of his work and came up with the name years before Kamoos formed. I had actually wanted to call the band The Fall after one of Camus’ most important works, but we know that that name has already been taken…but the origin actually isn’t important: I prefer people to make of the name what they want and to interpret it their own way.
In terms of vocals, Juliette, I would deem you a verbal gymnast. You travel multiple ranges and can deliver so many styles in an effortless fashion. Can you talk a bit about your own personal musical background?
Juliette Wallace – Why thank you! Music really runs in my blood. I have been singing and writing songs for as long as I can remember. I used to try to hijack microphones on tour-buses, at train station announcement booths, pretty much anywhere I could get my hands on them! Like a moth to a flame…I actually recorded my first CD when I was 9 years old…it was called ‘Breaking Waves’. Since then I’ve had vocal training and a few guitar and piano lessons but I would call myself an instinctive musician: give me something and I’ll play it.
Having previously lived in London, what actually brought you to Berlin?
Juliette Wallace – I was born and raised in London. It’s a great city and I love my people there dearly, but it’s tough if you’re not a professional – it’s very expensive and difficult to navigate. Also all the best clubs and venues – 12bar, Madame Jojos – started closing down just as I left school so I had to get out. Berlin was just a place I came to by chance and it just clicked with me. The music scene here is fabulous and more accepting of women than London – my previous band, Juliette and the Sin, was more difficult to pursue as I found people weren’t taking me seriously enough. I think that last point has changed now though and London seems to be getting back on its feet musically and actually some really interesting things are happening there now.
Whilst the foundation of your sound may be rooted in post-punk, there are elements of dance, punk funk, art pop and more. You’ve managed to find the absolute perfect balance with all, to the point of listening to the tracks, I found myself not deciphering genres but being caught up in simply good songs! How meticulous were you with crafting your sound?
Juliette Wallace – Again, thank you! Im very glad to hear that. I’m not meticulous at all. My writing and musical style is very much reliant on spontaneity – I never overthink things. I just have to trust myself and then something will come out. It’s like my DJing – I don’t stick to a genre, but if I like them then the tracks have that in common and so they work. It’s more interesting that way, also for me!
I went back and listened to your early demos. Even from then, you can totally hear the foundation of your sound. Cuts like ‘Through The Blue’ and ‘Slithering Psychopath’ have this sort of dark yet sensual palette. Around what time period were those demos actually recorded?
Juliette Wallace – Those were recorded right at the beginning of the Kamoos journey, so in 2018. Some of the songs already existed and I adapted them from my solo project (I.e. ‘Slithering Psychopath’ and ‘Through The Blue’). That was an interesting process and we learnt a lot about our sound and recording style through it.
Where did the Arabic influence come from in terms of adding that sound into your arrangements?
Juliette Wallace – Again, it was pretty instinctive. Myself and Vivi just gravitated towards those scales. Once our bassist wrote our scale out and discovered that we had our own ‘Kamoos scale’ that was very similar to Arabic progressions. I love harmonic dissonance – being just a little uncomfortable – so that’s where it all came from.
Your track ‘Metronumb’ in opinion really spotlights your ability to move beyond genre, especially with the change ups throughout the song. Can you talk about the creative process behind that tune?
Juliette Wallace – Another natural birth. I was jamming with my latest bandmates, Jamie and Frankie, during the lockdown and just started riffing on the synth and something interesting came out. I then took it home and tidied it up a bit, added the final element at the very end of the song and brought it back. The breaks and changes into the operatic moments were just the result of that first jam. All very free and spontaneous. I just have to be in a good place and then I can trust my writing.
I have to ask about ‘Mighty Mighty’. Aside from getting swept into the story aspect of it, which sounds like a wild night and then the morning struggle of trying to remember what actually happened, what inspired the song?
Juliette Wallace – That was an interesting one. It was the result of another jam in the studio: we had 2 new parts of 2 separate songs that I liked and I kept switching between them. At some point our bassist at the time suggested we mash them together and so that lovely switch from minor to major, the lifted chorus, came about and I loved it. The actual title and chorus lyrics, “Mighty Mighty” just came to me on the spot – more rhythmic than anything else – but the rest of the lyrics were like a personal purge: I need to sing stuff out sometimes so that I can see them from afar. I’ve woken up in the state the song describes more times than one…
Can we look forward to an LP in the near future?
Juliette Wallace – Sure! No dates set but lots of new material to look forward to.
Finally, how did you get through the madness of the pandemic? Were you able to remain creative?
Juliette Wallace – It was a particularly weird time as I moved in with my ex and kind of dedicated myself to that for a bit, leaving many other things behind. But once we split up and I came back to music my creativity was there in full swing and I was very happy to come back to it. The break from making music wasn’t actually a bad thing: I think you need to air things out and leave them be sometimes to be able to get some new perspectives.
https://www.facebook.com/KAMOOOOOOOOOOS/
https://www.instagram.com/kamoosyou
https://kamoos.bandcamp.com/
https://cabbagerecords.bandcamp.com/
Kamoos Spotify
Kamoos YouTube Channel