IDIOPHONIC
Likened to a “three-way fist fight to the death between IAMX, Dresden Dolls, and Martin Grech”, Idiophonic draws from a broad range of electronic, industrial, alternative rock, cabaret, and classical influences to produce an eclectic body of work that you might expect to hear “in a darkly lit and exclusive warehouse gig”, as a soundtrack to modern art pieces, or while exploring an abandoned Sisyphean office park from the 70s. There’s jaunty electro-pop, dystopian ambience, atmospheric classical passages, plodding industrial tracks, dark and macabre love songs, and an occasional brass section propelling you through metropolis-inspired dreams. It is a ‘listening journey into a man’s musical odyssey that references Claude Debussy, Regina Spektor, Aphex Twin, and MassiveAttack”, and a good dose of Radiohead, Muse, Smashing Pumpkins, Doves, Sigur Ros, Kraftwerk, and The Prodigy.
Karl Jenkins is the York, UK –based electronic musician and singer/songwriter behind Idiophonic, who writes most of his songs at 4am during terrible bouts of insomnia, and has developed a unique songwriting and production style influenced by 21st century electronic music and the French impressionist composers. Often, the only way to stop the melodies going round and round in his head after waking up from dreams is to write them down, resulting in songs that can be dark, moody, and atmospheric, with Orwellian lyrical themes, and refrains of paranoia. Traditional, classical-style piano sometimes serves as a ‘perfect backdrop for Jenkins’ earnest vocals and lyrics’.
Jenkins studied music production and composition to the postgraduate level at Leeds College of Music, was shortlisted for the Tate Modern London ‘Tate Tracks’ prize for songwriting inspired by modern art, and has collaborated with acclaimed deep house producer Lukas Greenberg of Germany on various works for Greenberg’s albums Rhode Stories and Prisoner With A Key. Jenkins’ recently released a 7-track album, ‘Black House’, and is currently working on followup material, while also looking to perform throughout the UK as well as in the US.
