After the release of “You Can’t Blame Me” and “Erational” on HE.SHE.THEY., KRUDO swung by to chat about the two tracks and more!
Genre-defining trio KRUDO rise above the chaos of 2020 with a beam of hope through their new EP, You Can’t Blame Me. The EP features two tracks: “You Can’t Blame Me” and “Erational.” Each feels eerily relevant to the changing political climate and shift we are all feeling in society as a whole. Many people are riding a wave of self-love, acceptance, and pride in who they are — and KRUDO’s music perfectly embodies those feelings. That makes this EP the perfect way to turn around the crazy year and is an ideal fit for the inclusive, diverse U.K.-based label, HE.SHE.THEY.
KRUDO is made up of three powerhouse talents — electronic pop singer Olivia May Green and seasoned producers Dan Duncan and Igor Tchkotoua, better known as Pig&Dan. Born and raised in Mallorca, Olivia May Green creates meaningful contrast with dark topics and beautiful melodies, and she writes lyrics in both Spanish and English. Pig&Dan are the masterminds who create intriguing sounds for the group and bring decades of experience in the scene along with them. The renowned duo has recently released tunes on labels like Drumcode and Truesoul, while also running their own imprint, ELEVATE.
The three crossed paths after Olivia returned to Mallorca after completing a songwriting scholarship at BIM in Brighton. Their chemistry ignited quickly, as they completed their upcoming album in less than six weeks. Through their raw and unpolished sounds and lyrics, the trio brings meaningful topics to the surface where they can resonate with listeners. On top of their pure talent, their ingenuity and “out-of-the-box” thinking — from their bold, pensive lyrics to their experimental beats — really makes them stand out.
KRUDO stopped by talk with us a bit about their overall story and new EP, so listen to You Can’t Blame Me on Spotify or your preferred platform, and read on for the chat!
Stream KRUDO – You Can’t Blame Me on Spotify:
Hi Olivia, Dan, and Igor. Thanks so much for chatting with us. The title track of the EP, “You Can’t Blame Me,” has such an inspirational message of unapologetic confidence. Have you ever experienced times when you had to stay strong in the face of disapproval? What advice would you give to someone who may be in that situation now?
Olivia: Of course, I believe many of us have. Some people handle situations differently. Whenever I was faced with difficult situations or was being made fun out of etc, I would hide away and believe everything they said. It has taken me a long time to accept myself for who I am. I finally feel like I am falling in love with myself, which is something that everyone needs to do. I now stand up for myself, I know my worth and people can have opinions but just learn not to let it affect you. At the end of the day, everybody is focusing on their own lives and their own problems.
My advice would be to just carry on, time is the greatest healer, look at yourself in the mirror and admire yourself, tell yourself “I love you”. You can train that voice in your head to say positive things, then once you start hearing words of kindness and love, you will start to believe in yourself.
“Erational” takes a turn, coming in with raw emotion. Could you tell us about the meaning behind the track’s title?
Olivia: Erational was the very first track we worked on together. I fell in love with the track so I found it really easy to write to. The concept of the song is that people behaving irrationally has become the new norm in our modern-day lives. Some humans enjoy suffering, feeling nothing, not being in control. Clearly, the title is spelled incorrectly on purpose, meaning this is the era we are living in.
Can you tell us a little bit more about how you all met in Mallorca? What was the specific moment you decided you wanted to work together?
Olivia: I was working on a project with one of my friends, we were filming a music video for one of my own tracks. She mentioned that she knew someone on the island that was involved with music, she didn’t tell me much about them. Igor and I got in contact, he eventually introduced me to Dan, and then they asked me to form a band with them. I thought it would be an amazing opportunity and knew we would make some great music!
Dan and Igor, you’ve made your marks in the music world. What have been some of your favorite projects you’ve worked on? What about working with Olivia was special?
Dan: Nothing comes close to working together with Olivia and Igor on this project. For the first time, we could express ourselves without expectations or limiting ourselves by genre. Over the years having the honor to work with some of the biggest inspirations in our realm, like Underworld, Jam&Spoon, Adam Beyer, and Monika Kruse. We’ve had an amazing journey however KRUDO is the icing on our creative cake.
Igor: I first met Olivia through a friend we have in common called Bella… She said I should invite Olivia to my studio and jam with her so I did… When she started singing and “Erational” basically happened I realised how special her lyrics and voice were and told Dan immediately, and the rest is history.
What are your goals for KRUDO in the future?
Dan: My Goal is to aim at gaining global recognition for a project that’s the real deal. KRUDO oozes depth all wrapped up with an unconventional lining. To watch this project blossom and evolve whilst knowing it’s music that’s inviting yet slightly outside of the comfort zone is what being an artist is all about. We didn’t set out to write an album that was designed for any particular market, it’s just pure authenticity that came to us from the soul. Personally, I guess my goal is to see this translates to those who listen to it.
