A Dirty Dozen with ISAAC KRAPF from KRAPF – SEPTEMBER 2024

According to a recent press release: “Krapf is a progressive rock/metal band based in Baltimore, Maryland. The project is headed by multi-instrumentalist & singer/songwriter Isaac Krapf. Their first work, “Seasick,” was released in 2020 at the beginning of the COVID Pandemic. Throughout quarantine Krapf continued writing and in 2021 released their second record, “The Hollow.” In November of 2022 Krapf released their third record, “Gates.” We get band namesake Isaac Krapf to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

“The Hollow” is the embodiment of Krapf at its core. It brings together elements of rock / metal with low and heavy distorted chords that are complemented by higher guitar elements. Chordal extensions & time signature changes bring an uplifting / triumphant sound to the songs chorus. A fun fact is that the tuning of the guitars and bass are all different. Instead of the band all being in ‘standard’ tuning for example, one guitar is a half step down, one is in a low drop Bb tuning, one is in standard. This allows us to layer notes & chords in a unique way.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

At the end of my senior year of high school a classmate took their own life and it affected me in the sense that I wanted to do something that would last and hopefully be impactful. Realizing life is short and fragile, so pursue your dreams & passions.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

I saw the Devin Townsend Project in 2017 and was blown away by how big the band sounded. As a listener the wall of sound they delivered resonated with me and up until that point I hadn’t heard an artist that I connected with to that magnitude. I’d have to say the songs “Kingdom”and “Deadhead” were a borderline spiritual experience the first time I heard them.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

I would love to work with Manuel Gagneux from Zeal & Ardor / Birdmask. The range with his vocals from black metal to catchy pop tunes is captivating. I don’t believe there are any other artists like him in the industry right now. He is incredibly talented & unique with his songwriting and delivery.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

I am a big fan of tabletop gaming! Specifically Warhammer 40K & Middle Earth from Games Workshop. It is a nice reprieve from music and helps me reset & refocus.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Anthemic pop disguised as prog rock / metal. More times than not the comparisons have been positive or to bands/artists I like, so I can’t say that I’ve had a major “cringe” moment yet but I’m sure there will be one!

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

I typically am the one who would do the cooking, our bass player grabs the drinks and we banned acoustic singalongs early on haha.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I was traveling abroad earlier this year & attended a concert at random in Zurich, Switzerland where I was exposed to the band Ghøstkid. I was immediately captivated by their stage presence & the energy the band brought to their live show as well as impressed by the versatility of their vocalist, bringing brutal screams as well as soaring cleans to their music. I’ve been following them on social media since that show.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The fact that there is no shelf life to how long or short a career it can be. You can start at any age (obviously it is good to start young for the “technical” aspects involved) but this should never be viewed as a discouragement for wanting to pursue music later in life. If I wasn’t building a career in music I’d be interested in owning a dog kennel because of my love for dogs.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I’ve always been open to whatever the interviewer wants to ask because there is a rhyme and a reason why they are asking said questions. I have not grown tired of answering any specific questions because I’m just appreciative of people taking their time to learn more about me and the band!

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

There have been plenty of trial & error instances where I may have misused funds in the past BUT these were all pivotal learning experiences that I’ve used to guide future decision making for the band & the brand. I would have loved to pick up playing music in my childhood & teenage years for the experience aspect, but starting out at the age of 18 made me drive harder as I was playing catch up with a lot of the other talented bands and musicians in the local scene.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I would have loved to be a fly on the wall for Rainbow Rising by Rainbow. It was one of my initial exposures to hard rock / metal. Just to be able to listen to the thought process of how Ronnie James Dio approached vocals and the way Ritchie Blackmore approached guitar would have been a great masterclass experience! The record was influential to me in learning the guitar riffs of the songs as well as attempting to sing along to Dio’s vocals.

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Category: Interviews