Fräulein

Name, where are you from?
Joni hails from Northern Ireland and Karsten’s from The Netherlands, but we met in Bristol.

Describe your style in three words?
Dead grandparent’s closet.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
J: Patti Smith at the Roundhouse in London. She’s still as punk and inspiring as she was back in the '70s. She kept spitting on the ground whilst singing, but as soon as the performance was over, she cleaned it all up with a handkerchief. I thought that was so cool.
K: JID at the O2 Academy in Bristol, his energy was so infectious it made the entire room turn into a mosh pit.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
K: I’d like to play with Fugazi but only on the condition that Guy Picciotto grows back his unibrow for the show.
J: Jeff Buckley because I’m a sucker for voices and I think being able to see him sing from the side of the stage would have been intense and life-changing!

Which subcultures have influenced you?
J: The '90s alt-rock scene. I pretty much exclusively listen to bands from this period. I think there was a lot of freedom, creativity and fun in rock during this time.
K: Math rock, like CHON, Polyphia, etc. I love odd time signatures and intricate guitar/drum parts because I feel like there’s always something new to be discovered in every listen.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
K: Steve Irwin! I have a fascination with animals/insects, but I tend to keep a comfortable distance from them. Sharing a beer, sitting on plastic deck chairs and learning about nature with Steve Irwin sounds like a pretty good time to me.
J: Kim Deal. I feel like we would get along, and she seems to be a bit of a chatterbox like me! Also, I want to pick her brain about songwriting.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
K: The Bell in Bath - it’s the venue of the best open mic night in Bath and the one that brought Joni and I together. When we were still based in the area, we played a small (2 song) set there every Thursday, and mingled with the locals who quickly became good friends.
J: Agreed. But a venue I have to mention because I love it so much is the Brixton Academy. I’ve seen so many of my favourite bands there and hope to play there one day.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
K: Not unsung, but the trajectory of Noname and her career has been incredible to watch. Not only is she an incredibly talented rapper, but she strikes me as a politically engaged member of her community and seeing her uphold her own morals/values and how she does so is something that inspires me.
J: Adrianne Lenker from Big Thief. I think her music is so powerful, personal, and raw. She’s a really big proponent of being authentic and being in touch with yourself, which is something I really admire and find inspirational. Plus, she can shred.

Fräulein will be playing the Bad Vibrations all-dayer at The Shacklewell Arms, London on 31st July 2021. For more information check out the event page or for tickets, head here.