Getting to Know Local Instrumental Band, Krejon
There’s no shortage of great up and coming bands on the Maltese Islands and if you are visiting and hoping to catch a live gig or too, Krejon is one band you should put at the top of your list! Catch them at Earth Garden Festival on 6 June 2024!
The instrumental band comprises five talented members: Mario and Manuel, wielding guitars with finesse, Steve masterfully commanding keyboards, Alan anchoring the rhythm on bass, and Chris driving the beat on drums. Originally founded by brothers Manuel and Mario, their musical journey truly blossomed with the inclusion of Chris and Alan, forming the cohesive unit known as Krejon. Following the recording of their debut EP, “Klorophyll,” and a series of electrifying performances, Steve’s keyboard prowess enriched the band’s sound, completing their dynamic ensemble. We caught up with the band to find out more!
First things first, why are you called Krejon?
The band’s name was inspired by comparing a musician with their instrument to that of a young child with crayons and paper. The child creates without being influenced by a particular structure or strict form. This is what we feel best represents us. We use this analogy when it comes to writing our music. We are very interested in experimenting with different styles and fusing types of music. That is how the band’s name came about – Krejon, or in English, Crayon!
Can you share some insights into the creative process behind blending various musical ideas and experiences in your compositions?
Not all compositions have the same form: some have an idea or a phrase that would be the song’s anthem, so to speak- almost like a chorus where we would refer to parts of the song as the typical verse, chorus and bridge (obviously all instrumental). Others have no form where you might have 7-minute songs with different sections.
As a creative process, most of the ideas are brought in by our guitarists in a raw and somewhat incomplete format. When all band members add their musical ideas and creative input, the song will be in a more complete form. We then play the song several times as a band- perhaps eliminating sections and adding others- until we are satisfied that the tune would work.
How do you maintain cohesion while exploring diverse musical influences within Krejon’s repertoire?
This comes unconsciously, but more importantly, we believe that we are not too concerned about cohesion or consistency in any way. While you might be able to pinpoint songs that are similar in style, that is because it just so happened coincidentally. Krejon is about prioritising creativity and free form—it is our outlet for unspoken ideas that we believe can only be expressed musically.
Are there specific experiences or moments that have significantly shaped Krejon’s musical direction or experimentation?
We feel the musician or artist is often the worst judge of what works and what doesn’t. The answer is in the audience! Our gigs enable us to understand what people like and don’t like and what people seem to connect with most. We prioritise creativity, but we do try to keep put to ourselves in the listeners’ seats.
In what ways does Krejon strive to push boundaries or challenge conventions within instrumental music through its experimental approach?
Our compositions keep creativity in its rawest form, and we try not to stick to a specific style or structure. Other ways we push boundaries, apart from what happens unconsciously or unintentionally, are when we deliberately add an unexpected peculiar idea or change a time signature or phrase at the least expected moment.
Where can we catch you next?
Our next gig will be at Earth Garden on 6 June 2024. We plan to continue gigging to promote our EP, Klorophyll before we get back in the studio.
