Like a shape-shifting creature of spurious origins, Xtatika has gone through several stages of incarnation since its humble beginnings in 1999. South Korean-born artist Haena Kim started the band under the moniker Toilet Maiden and the Hands, recruited Korean drummers Kyungwook Jung and Vongku Pak, and along with Mas Yamagata on bass the group recorded their first demo and started playing out in the downtown clubs of New York City. The demo caught the attention of John Zorn, who offered to release their first album on his experimental-music label Tzadik in late-2000.
Early 2001 saw the band recording with Martin Bisi (Sonic Youth, Swans, Dresden Dolls) in Brooklyn, New York, and just before the record went to press the new name was chimed in: Xtatika (say it like ex-TA-tika). Incorporating the traditional Korean percussion of p'ungmul, with the hourglass changgo drum, the puk bass drum, and the handheld metal gong kwenggari, the post-modern rock album Tongue Bath boggled minds and bewitched ears upon its release in mid-2001. It even pushed Zorn to initiate a new series on the Tzadik label, with Xtatika's debut inaugurating the now successful "Oracles Series".
The album Tongue Bath was the first of its kind to bring together elements of ritual drumming, dirty driving bass, and a heart-stopping menagerie of vocals which show Haena drawing from her performance art days, inhabiting characters such as a vengeful warrior, a giggly-girl, a schizophrenic witch, and also witch-burner, sometimes all in the same track. These elements made for a frenetic tapestry of texture which were based on the traditional beats of p'ungmul, straight from the farming fields of Korea itself. The album received encouraging reviews, but was, perhaps, a bit ahead of its time.
The band continued to play a slew of shows on the east coast through 2001. But the pressures of city-living and increased attention caused Haena to have a breakdown and she moved back to the New Jersey countryside in 2002. Starting from scratch, Haena followed a yen for electronic music, and began work with drill n bass whiz-kid Denim Venom. The two hit it off as collaborators and then as friends, and eventually began dating and were sharing a studio in Brooklyn by 2003.
As the electronic incarnation of Xtatika, the duo independently released several EPs, such as The Powers Street EP, Snake Ring, and My Heart Is A Knife. My Heart Is A Knife EP was recorded in Brooklyn with John Chang on guitar, and was their final release on their own Detention Span Recs with the definitive sound from that era. Shady industrial beats, set to an urban angst-track of dark girlish vocals and sinister samples take the listener to new levels of dance-sexy, or to coin a phrase: Noir Wave. Electronic Xtatika continued to play the northeast USA and toured Europe in 2006 to welcoming audiences. Then Haena and Denim Venom saw through their relationship as lovers and collaborators which ended in the summer of 2006. They remain friends to this day.
Later that year Haena took a break from music and began dividing her time between New Jersey, New York City, and Paris, France. Inspired by her recent travels she started writing the songs for the new Xtatika album early 2007. It was this powerful choice that led her to write 21 new songs and ultimately lead her to break out on her own as the international star and agent of intrigue, Tora Brava .
Pix taken at Festival Klosturruine Arnoldstein in Austria 2006. Big hearts and thanks to our peeps over at Aktion Mutante !
What people are saying about Xtatika:
"They are captivating onstage." - Downtown Music
"Like a breath of fresh air..." - L'Oeil Electrique
"...enjoyably dramatic songs of emotional exorcism..." - All Music Guide
"This is a band that opens up an exciting new world of sound..." - Boomkat Review
