Having just released her debut EP, The Eye Against The Ashen Sky, London-based, Brandenburg-born artist Atka creates captivating cinematic soundscapes. Drawing on her studies into philosophy, intertwined with personal reflections on shame and paranoia, the EP shimmers with a dark, haunting energy throughout. A truly stirring collection showcasing the beguiling majesty of this innovative artist.
We think one of the best ways to get to know a band is by asking what music inspires them. So, to celebrate the release of The Eye Against The Ashen Sky, we caught up with Atka to ask about the music that has inspired her the most. Read about her five favourite albums and watch the video for latest single ‘Eye In The Sky’ below!
Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures
I’m gonna be honest, it was H&M who introduced me to Unknown Pleasures. I must have been fourteen or fifteen when they started printing the album logo on t-shirts everywhere in Germany. At the time, I was very into metal and hardcore, particularly System Of A Down. That was what was big in Germany, and classic rock of course. I hadn’t come across a lot of British music until then, particularly British post-punk. It took me a few attempts to listen to it and get what the whole genre is about, but once I understood it, it completely changed how I listened to and made music. I felt as if, for the first time, I gave myself permission to let myself be taken somewhere by music instead of stubbornly steering the ship to make something “good”, nails digging into the wheel and all.
Kraftwerk – Kraftwerk 1
Growing up in Germany obviously the name “Kraftwerk” has been floating around my orbit for as long as I can remember, though not as frequently as one might think. However, it was only a few years ago that I made an effort digging through the Kraftwerkian back catalogue and that’s when I discovered their first album, Kraftwerk 1. I remember sitting on the couch listening to it and my eyes just widening and jaw dropping further with every passing minute. I couldn’t believe it. They were constructing this electronic feeling music with orchestral instruments, flutes and all. This was exactly what I was trying to do with my record but reversed. I instead took electronic signals and gave them an organic, wood-like, orchestral touch – like in ‘Child of Rage’ – wanting to create a middle ground between the artificial and the organic.
Broadcast – Tender Buttons
I started listening to Broadcast about three years ago and got addicted to their whole catalogue. Each album is so very different, but Tender Buttons is definitely my favourite. Trish’s vocals are magically swaying over the beautifully organic, rough and sometimes distorted instrumentals, giving it the perfect balance – tender is really the perfect word for it. And the lyrics are straight up brilliant, I mean: “awkwardness happening to someone you love”. I aspire to one day make something that is only half as good as what they did. They are probably my biggest inspiration. And I think that their influence on me will become only more evident as I put more music out. I am still digesting, if you know what I mean.
Perfume Genius – No Shape
This is a truly spectral piece of work, in terms of production and experiments in song structure. I don’t know how they achieved half of the sounds on this record – hats off to Blake Mills, what a brilliant producer! Perfume Genius’ music has inspired me to just do whatever the heck I want – out of the window with standard song structure. Do I really want to have the drums to come in at only 1.30min? Definitely! Do I really need one minute of instrumental tail at the end of every other track? Yes I do. Does a song need a goddamn pay-off at some point? Hell no.
LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening
LCD Soundsystem to me is pure ecstasy. Every time I listen to this record I hear something new and I draw a lot of inspiration for instrumentation and what kind of backdrop suits which kind of song. I heard ‘Dance Yourself Clean’ for the first time when I was twenty one driving on a road trip through Scandinavia with my family, in a VW Transporter that I’d converted. I was driving for three weeks from Berlin to Aarhus, Gothenburg, up to Bergen and all the way back – it was a hell of a drive, jamming out to this record. I saw them live at Brixton Academy and they were phenomenal – it was just one big party!
Huge thanks to Atka for sharing her five favourites with us!
The Eye Of The Ashen Storm is out now. Catch her live tonight in London at Studio 9294 supporting Lucrecia Dalt.
Get In Her Ears 