Artist Information

• Label: self-released
• Genre: art rock
• Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
• Influences: Naked City, Talking Heads, Fiona Apple
• Sounds like: Bent Knee, Ava Luna, Deerhoof

Biography

A kleptocracy is defined as a government comprised of leaders who exploit their people and natural resources; Kleptokrat embodies a benign representation of this dynamic. The band’s crime is a post-modern misdemeanor: Kleptokrat borrows from different genres, eras, and musical traditions to create a wholly unique sound.

“In the old days, a kleptocrat was a type of politician, rather than the standard, as it is now,” notes band mastermind and bassist, Danilo Randjic-Coleman. “It felt like our Kleptokracy consisted of taking inspiration from all these different influences and putting them into our own musical stew.”

True to the spirit of its name, Kleptokrat is always pulling a fast one, sneaking in intricate musical motifs and passages into soulful and highly listenable compositions. “We like to think of ourselves as a gateway drug to the esoteric” jokes Coleman.

Coleman composes the music before bringing it to the band, and Teagan Taylor writes the lyrics. Taylor, who came to New York via San Diego’s jazz scene, deftly crafts melodies and lyrics that bridge Coleman’s downtown New York eclecticism with sharp pop hooks.

The band formed in 2016 when Coleman assembled the quintet to perform a collection of songs he had written over the past decade. The group bonded over their love for such classic and contemporary cultural icons as Duke Ellington, Fiona Apple, Ingmar Bergman, and Roy Orbison. In addition to Coleman and Taylor, Kleptokrat is Alex Carter, saxophone; Graham Galatro, guitar; and Walker Esner, drums. The quintet’s musical dialogue includes vocabulary culled from rock, metal, jazz, soul, afrobeat, and psychedelic music. The band released its debut EP in August 2017 and followed that with a summer tour of the Northeast.

The quintet’s latest EP, Momentarily, to Grace, is as subversive as it is accessible. Here, the band’s synergy is on full display as the musicians navigate the deceptively complex compositions with ease. The EP’s curious name is a typical Kleptokratic gesture. “We stole it from Jimmy Carter’s press secretary’s obit” Coleman says with a slight chuckle.

Despite the band’s wry wit and playfully mischievous musicality, Kleptokrat is a creative outlet Coleman takes very seriously. “I feel like I started doing my own music late for a musician. Being able to go out and play this music, finding a vibe between us, and connecting with other people has been very momentous.”

Recent Press

• Playlistplay
• Rawckus Magazine
• Imperfect Fifth
• Caltify MX
• That Eric Alper
• Global Texan Chronicles
• Talk About Pop Music
• Cassette Exchange

Social Links

• Facebook
• Instagram

Upcoming Shows

• June 14th // Brooklyn, NY // Alphaville
• July 11th // Philadelphia, PA // Tralfamadore
• July 12th // Richmond, VA // Gallery 5
• July 13th // Asheville, NC // Fleetwoods
• July 14th // Boone, NC // Tapp Room
• July 15th // Raleigh, NC // The Wicked Witch
• July 18th // Saratoga Springs, NY // Super Dark Collective @ Deperate Annies
• July 19th // Boston, MA // ONCE Ballroom
• July 20th // Peekskill, NY // Peekskill Brewery

Watch

Photos