Branko

Welcome to the electric world of BRANKO: a new band with a fresh sound and a clear focus on the good old craftsmanship of writing pop songs with a twist. However new? The pop-rockers of Branko have all individually left their tracks in rock n roll land, and now they have joined forces



Branko was conceived by lead singer and producer Jacko Kreukniet. Together with soul mate Ben Franswa, also a former band member in the promising group Spitball, he worked on Brankos debut album for two long years. Already in an early stage Branko was adopted by producer, mentor and former Urban Dance Squad drummer Michel Schoots, who clearly recognised and sponsored the potential of their music and even ended up playing drums on the album. During the recording process old friends Marcel Singor (guitars) and Ivar Pijper (keys) added their essential flavours to the album and later on joined the band. Bas Hebing (drums) was the last member to join and very eagerly took the offered drum seat.



Supported by some very important behind the scenes members of the rapid growing Branko-family, the band managed to produce an album with a true LP-vibe. Twelve strong songs under the title My World Electric, each with their own particular character but yet forming an unmistakable coherence. At the end of the album making process, Jacko travelled to Los Angeles to team up with a one of the newest members to join the Branko-family: mixing engineer Brad Gilderman. This celebrated technician, who already worked with US artists like Outkast, Brian Wilson en Tom Petty, mixed the album in his Little Big Room Studio and did a great job Besides being a huge fan of the band and a terrific person to work with, Brad definitely contributed to the genuine album feel and added a competitive and professional sound.



The album My World Electric was released in May 2006 as a special feature Hybrid-CD. This means that besides the normal CD-layer, the album contains a SA-CD-layer and an 8-channel surround mix (also by Brad Gilderman)!



Branko: Influences?

We all have our roots in the 80s and grew up musically in the 90s. Our mutual musical influences therefore vary from Prince and 80s New Wave (like The Cure) to the alternative rock of Incubus and Queens of the Stone Age.



When they would unleash this band, our album would probably wind up being a mishmash of heavy rock songs with weird electro pop and everything in between! Fortunately we hooked up with Michel Schoots who guided us and organised our work.



Branko: Happy or sad?

Because the making of the album stretched across a pretty long period of our lives, a variety of emotions can be heard in the songs. However, even in the happier sounding tracks there is always this cynical undertone. The reason happiness is boring and only interesting when it doesnt last too long



Jacko: Besides the inevitable themes like love and pain, a lot of the lyrics deal with doubt. I guess Im a doubter and a sceptic and thats OK!.



Please also visit www.branko.nl