Ana Threat and Kate Kristal make up Kristy and the Kraks, a Viennese two-piece who play a fierce but simple take on rock and roll.Though they may live on the banks of the Danube their music draws inspiration from Phil Spector and the Shangri La’s, the late 70s punk of the Lower East Side and Billy Childish live on stage at London’s Dirty Water Club.After a well-received four track 7”, Ana and Kate have just released their album Smile on Austrian label Totally Wired records.We sent them some questions to find out more about their music and what it's like living in the City of Music.Noisey: The album is called Smile though on the album cover neither of you are smiling. Do these songs make you smile?
Ana Threat: Yes. I’m constantly smirking, rubbing my hands and patting my back, congratulating myself for my genius songwriting skills. Only in private, naturally.Your set up and style is very simple. Do bands over complicate things with members and instruments?
Ana Threat: That’s a matter of taste. I like it simple because I hate carrying stuff and having to set up doodle polls about when to rehearse.
Kate Kristal: Some people might think we understate with our set up. And yes, for my taste a couple of bands overdo with staff – but at the same time you have The Velvet Underground, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Roxy Music and The Fall (to name just a few) – so I’m reluctant to generalise. Do you have a favourite Cramps song or album?
Kate Kristal: It’s a challenge to pick one favourite from a band you really like, especially speaking of The Cramps. "Greenfuz" hooked on me about ten years ago and never let me go. But "Greenfuz" is a cover, so I choose Surfin’ Dead It has all those Cramps-ingredients I’m attached to – including Kid Congo Powers.
Ana Threat: "What’s Inside A Girl!"I love that you cover the great surf instrumental “Nautiloid Reef”. Have you heard the Gories version?
Kate Kristal: Funny that you mention that – we’ve discovered their version just a few days ago, it’s brilliant of course, The Gories hardly ever fail.
Ana Threat: The Gories are a great source of inspiration, but in this particular case we figured it out for ourselves.Do you listen to much surf music at home? I don’t imagine there are many beaches in Vienna.
Ana Threat: You’re right about the beaches, but I do. The fact that there IS no surfing in Vienna is the only reason why I can actually listen to surf music at all. Who would want to party to music that makes you think of an actual sport? Ugh.
Kate Kristal: At home I prefer the less sunny sounds from the postpunk era. Luckily the Danube River spreads its arms through the city and provides at least the taste of beach for my happy hours.What do you have coming up next?
Ana Threat: Buying a Spector-style mansion with the revenue from Smile. Hey wait, wrong decade. I guess we’ll continue working our day jobs, playing nights, and touring during our annual leave until we have enough material for the next album.
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Ana Threat: Yes. I’m constantly smirking, rubbing my hands and patting my back, congratulating myself for my genius songwriting skills. Only in private, naturally.Your set up and style is very simple. Do bands over complicate things with members and instruments?
Ana Threat: That’s a matter of taste. I like it simple because I hate carrying stuff and having to set up doodle polls about when to rehearse.
Kate Kristal: Some people might think we understate with our set up. And yes, for my taste a couple of bands overdo with staff – but at the same time you have The Velvet Underground, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Roxy Music and The Fall (to name just a few) – so I’m reluctant to generalise. Do you have a favourite Cramps song or album?
Kate Kristal: It’s a challenge to pick one favourite from a band you really like, especially speaking of The Cramps. "Greenfuz" hooked on me about ten years ago and never let me go. But "Greenfuz" is a cover, so I choose Surfin’ Dead It has all those Cramps-ingredients I’m attached to – including Kid Congo Powers.
Ana Threat: "What’s Inside A Girl!"I love that you cover the great surf instrumental “Nautiloid Reef”. Have you heard the Gories version?
Kate Kristal: Funny that you mention that – we’ve discovered their version just a few days ago, it’s brilliant of course, The Gories hardly ever fail.
Ana Threat: The Gories are a great source of inspiration, but in this particular case we figured it out for ourselves.
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Ana Threat: You’re right about the beaches, but I do. The fact that there IS no surfing in Vienna is the only reason why I can actually listen to surf music at all. Who would want to party to music that makes you think of an actual sport? Ugh.
Kate Kristal: At home I prefer the less sunny sounds from the postpunk era. Luckily the Danube River spreads its arms through the city and provides at least the taste of beach for my happy hours.What do you have coming up next?
Ana Threat: Buying a Spector-style mansion with the revenue from Smile. Hey wait, wrong decade. I guess we’ll continue working our day jobs, playing nights, and touring during our annual leave until we have enough material for the next album.
'Smile' is available June 26 from Totally Wired records.Like this story? Like NOISEY on Facebook.