Click Interview with Kanka Bodewell: ‘We didn´t want to sound like Orange Sector or Armageddon Dildos’
Kanka Bodewell
Uwe Kanka (Armageddon Dildos) and Martin Bodewell (Orange Sector) are both part of the collective memory of EBM fans. Imagine both guys releasing an album together. They simply called the project Kanka Bodewell and first surprised us with the release of the heavy, retro-EBM-driven EP “Herzblut”. It was released in 2022 by Infacted Recordings. And two years later they hit back with the album “Stroboscope”. The full length is more diversified with, in addition to EBM, also strong Electro-Pop pieces and even a kind of retro-Techno track that takes us back to the 90s in the Frankfurter Techno Club. I contacted both artists to learn more about their collaborative work. (Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)
Q: I think this collaborative project was already in the pipeline for a while, but what finally made it happen and what ideas did you have in mind when you decided working together?
Kanka: The idea for the project was born at a joint gig in Frankfurt twelve years ago. Martin suggested a collaboration and I agreed without any reservation. However, years went by and nothing happened. As Martin called me last year and told me that he had some tracks and that he could very well imagine releasing them with me I said yes and so the story went on.
Bodewell: We decided to call our project Bodewell & Kanka. The first ideas were Armageddon Sector or Orange Dildos. It is unbelievable what we think about. The first ideas were not good but very funny.
Q: You both can look back at incredible and successful careers so I guess it must be also exciting and challenging to set up something new. How did you experience this new project, the collaboration itself and what are the expectations?
Kanka: It was from the beginning and still is a very relaxed way of working for me. I liked the tracks straight away and felt very comfortable writing the lyrics and recording the vocals. I immediately had vocal lines for almost all the tracks Martin sent me and plenty of scope to play around with my voice in different styles and quickly realized that vocals and instruments harmonized very well.
Q: I can imagine that you got in touch with each other during the legendary Zoth Ommog years. How did you view each other’s respective bands Orange Sector and Armageddon Dildos and what are the influences from both bands you find back in Kanka Bodewell?
Kanka: As far as I remember, we didn’t have any intensive contact during our time together at Zoth Ommog. Lars and Martin lived in Hanover and Dirk and I lived in Düsseldorf. But we always had a lot of fun at occasional meetings in Frankfurt or at concerts together. I liked the guys’ musical style and energy right from the start. I think the way Martin uses the synths and his understanding of this kind of music has a big influence on the music of Kanka/Bodewell. It also gives me the opportunity to go new ways with my voice and the melodies of the vocals.
Bodewell: We find a good mixture of classic EBM and eighties-influenced Electro-Pop. Everything was allowed, but we didn´t want to sound like Orange Sector or Armageddon Dildos.
Q: Your debut EP “Herzblut” sounded like good, old EBM which can also be heard on the album “Stroboscope” although it is also featuring some Pop elements. Tell us a bit more about the album, the songs and its inspiration? And what have been the different stages to achieve the job?
Kanka: In a nutshell, it was like this: Martin sent me rough version of the tracks, I worked on the lyrics and vocals and sent him back the final recorded vocals. Mixing and mastering took place in Hannover. In my opinion, the work on “Stroboscope” actually took place without too much talking, rather intrusively and, above all, quite quickly.
Q: A very striking track is “Techno Club” which has a strong 90s Electro influence and is especially reminiscent of the legendary Techno Club in Frankfurt. I assume this is not a coincidence, but what have you been trying to express here? And how do you guys remind those unforgettable 90s and the Techno Club located in the Frankfurter airport?
Kanka: The nights at the Techno Club were often insane. Fans and bands from Music Research met up to have fun, exchange news and simply dance the night away. I have an incredible number of images from that time in my head and some of them inspired me to write the text for “Techno Club”.
Martin: The song “Hass Und Liebe” from ECO inspired me a lot for this idea.
Q: Do you consider Kanka Bodewell to be a one-shot project or are there future plans like new songs, remixes, new clips and why not a gig?
Kanka: I can very well imagine a continuation of the Kanka/Bodewell project. However, now is not the time to think about it. I’m in the middle of working on a new Armageddon Dildos-album. Unfortunately, I had a serious knee operation and am currently undergoing rehabilitation. Of course, that sets me back for a while. That’s why my focus over the next few months will naturally be on completing the new Armageddon Dildos-album.
Bodewell: The new Orange Sector will be released in the autumn of 2024. At this moment I work very hard on it. At the end of this year we will talk about the future. But performing the music of Kanka & Bodewell on stage is a very interesting idea.
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