I find the mix of musical influences so interesting and refreshingly original while still being great pop and party music. Thank you Jeff, also for your cultural reflections. ❤
For a band made up of singers of Egyptian and Indian origin, they sound spectacularly Norwegian. Ethnic fusion, no doubt, but Norwegians in their traveling spirit. I like it, really. You're also right, Jeff, about the quality of the production.
Janove Ottesen in Kaizers Orchestra said in an interview from 2022 that he and the rest of his band went to one of these Karpe shows and were impressed, but that Kaizers have a different reasoning and approach to their live concerts, they are looking more towards Nick Cave. “We have played for 5000 people in Stavanger which is our Spektrum Arena.” Chirag said in a Norwegian podcast in 2023 that when they won Norwegian music awards the last years, he can feel the animosity in the room. “People are applauding but I gain 10 new enemies for each applause. And in get it, because there is so much talent in the room, and frankly, I’m not really a scholarly musician.” He also said that many, many years ago Karpe had a Swedish manager who told them the physical cover of one of their albums was a piece of crap, that it looked awful. That was when they became aware of putting attention into more than just the music and lyrics, but went towards a more holistic approach to the experience they wish to give their audience. In more recent times almost from the moment their audience step out of their house, the transportation routes and transportation possibilities people will have to be able to arrive to their concerts, that the experience actually starts there. And the fact that Chirag is a vegetarian while Magdi doesn’t drink alcohol. “Today, some of the young kids are impressed by the fact that Magdi has been in the music business for over 20 years and never been drinking a drop of alcohol, in an industry where the alcohol often is flowing. I have always been the guy who had to sit down and take a beer with the industry people.” And “When we were touring in Norway back in the days when being a vegetarian wasn’t a thing, all the crappy meals I have been served….” “We’re like an old married couple. We disagree on things, we argue, we’re bringing different things to the table, but that’s part of the beauty too. The fact that we have been doing this for so long now, and didn’t split up after 2-4 years.” Magdi is married with four kids, Chirag is single with zero kids.
I find the mix of musical influences so interesting and refreshingly original while still being great pop and party music. Thank you Jeff, also for your cultural reflections. ❤
For a band made up of singers of Egyptian and Indian origin, they sound spectacularly Norwegian. Ethnic fusion, no doubt, but Norwegians in their traveling spirit. I like it, really. You're also right, Jeff, about the quality of the production.
If you haven’t already, you should definitely react to “PAF.no” by Karpe as well !!
Janove Ottesen in Kaizers Orchestra said in an interview from 2022 that he and the rest of his band went to one of these Karpe shows and were impressed, but that Kaizers have a different reasoning and approach to their live concerts, they are looking more towards Nick Cave. “We have played for 5000 people in Stavanger which is our Spektrum Arena.” Chirag said in a Norwegian podcast in 2023 that when they won Norwegian music awards the last years, he can feel the animosity in the room. “People are applauding but I gain 10 new enemies for each applause. And in get it, because there is so much talent in the room, and frankly, I’m not really a scholarly musician.” He also said that many, many years ago Karpe had a Swedish manager who told them the physical cover of one of their albums was a piece of crap, that it looked awful. That was when they became aware of putting attention into more than just the music and lyrics, but went towards a more holistic approach to the experience they wish to give their audience. In more recent times almost from the moment their audience step out of their house, the transportation routes and transportation possibilities people will have to be able to arrive to their concerts, that the experience actually starts there. And the fact that Chirag is a vegetarian while Magdi doesn’t drink alcohol. “Today, some of the young kids are impressed by the fact that Magdi has been in the music business for over 20 years and never been drinking a drop of alcohol, in an industry where the alcohol often is flowing. I have always been the guy who had to sit down and take a beer with the industry people.” And “When we were touring in Norway back in the days when being a vegetarian wasn’t a thing, all the crappy meals I have been served….” “We’re like an old married couple. We disagree on things, we argue, we’re bringing different things to the table, but that’s part of the beauty too. The fact that we have been doing this for so long now, and didn’t split up after 2-4 years.” Magdi is married with four kids, Chirag is single with zero kids.
❤
TY hilsen norge