CONTACTS &
NEWS
BIOGRAPHY
Who could possibly be hiding behind that mysterious hood? Gabriel Kröger moves about in disguise, perhaps to dare to go even further in his art, in his ruthless self-examination. It is the eternal paradox of those artists who prefer to conceal themselves in order to lay themselves bare all the more.
His first full-length album, “Journal d’un jeune dégueulasse,” inspired by the folk-punk of artists like Crywank in England and by the darkness and humor of the writings of Bukowski and others, was released in 2020. This idea of separating artistic expression and the often-intimate lyrics from the performer’s “human” face continues on stage with the use of hand-crocheted hoods, starting in April 2022. At the same time, numerous singles are released—all produced entirely independently—as well as an EP in 2023 titled “vieilleries.” In 2024, Gabriel announced "Mémoires d’un jeune dégueulasse", a complete reworking of his first EP, which would be his first studio-produced project performed by the musicians of his live band (whereas on previous releases he had played all the instruments himself). He nevertheless retains control over the mixing and production more broadly, blending acoustic and electric recordings with more electronic production techniques, samples, and digital effects. After winning the Inrocks Super Club final earlier this year, the French artist released the self-produced EP “Un an sans soleil,” which he describes as the first installment of his “sunless trilogy.” Here, folk, melancholy, the DIY spirit of punk, raw lyrics, spoken word, and electrifying crescendos all blend together in a chaotic mix. Listening to these confessional tracks, you realize that Gabriel Kröger doesn’t need to show his face to reveal who he is: a major breakthrough in today’s young French-language music scene. Having performed at Rock en Seine, the FGO Barbara, the Inrocks Festival, Supersonic, and We Love Green, Gabriel Kröger will take the stage at MaMa on October 14.
