Avant-garde pop duo ÄTNA and techno marching band MEUTE have partnered up to release their new single “Weirdo”, out today. 

The world came to a standstill immediately after the release of MEUTE’s second studio album Puls in February 2020 and ÄTNA’s Made by Desire in March 2020. Both bands stayed at home instead of going on tour and performing at festivals all over Europe: “I watched all the seasons of Game of Thrones and started growing courgettes, tomatoes, raspberries and kohlrabi, but then quickly realised that we couldn’t afford to keep it up. We had to resume working on new material,” singer and keyboardist Inéz said. 

ÄTNA and MEUTE first met in the summer of 2019, and immediately clicked, “We have been big fans of ÄTNA for a long time. The videos, the music, the talent and the overall style are a blast and now a collaboration has come out of it – how cool is that?” says Meute. 

“Weirdo” is MEUTE’s first release of 2021 and also marks the announcement of their upcoming album Taumel, scheduled to be released Summer 2022. “Weirdo” opens up a new world of sound for MEUTE. In addition to the usual sounds of marimba, horns and drums, their typical analogue-technoid profile is stylistically enriched by the collaboration with ÄTNA.

ÄTNA are singer and synth player Inéz and drummer Demian Kappenstein. They focus their shows around synth/piano, with analogue effects mixed in directly. They’ve played sold out tours and multiple festivals including highlights such as Montreux Jazz Festival, won Reeperbahn Festival’s Anchor Award judged by Mel C and Tony Visconti and gained over 30 million streams with their first releases. Earlier this year they released the song “Tuk Tuk” with internationally renowned DJ and producer SOLOMUN, the duo are also featured on two tracks off of his latest album, that also features Jamie Foxx, Tom Smith, and more. 

Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?

Inéz and I come from an instrumental background of handcrafted music. We studied jazz and had both lots of love for electronic sounds all along the way. It was only a matter of time to incorporate all that in a common band. ÄTNA.

What’s a musical guilty pleasure of yours?

Definitely Eurotrash of the 90s. Whigfield, Haddaway and all covers of the smurfs!

What are some sources of inspiration for you? 

Some in the music – some in life. Experimental jazz, some charters and a lot of folkloristic music based on voices. Things that bother us in everyday life can become a theme of our songs.

Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?

Joni Mitchell

Favorite activity to blow off some steam?

Sauna! Inéz: Gym Workouts

Demian: Cycling

What are some things you do to deal with anxiety and creative blocks? 

Acceptance seems to do best.

What inspires your visuals, videos, looks etc?

Artists of all genres i.e. architecture, fashion but also painters. Mies van der Rohe, Jackson Pollock & Edoardo Fendi

Where do you think the music and entertainment industry is headed after this past year?

They are all so ready. It’s gonna be intense!