K not K + DJs: Rune Lindbæk & Helene Rickhard

K not K (formally known as Karpov not Kasparov) makes optimistic-electronic music inspired by the game of chess, basing their choices on the rules and strategies of the greatest board game of them all.

They name their tunes stuff like “Bad Bishop” and “Pawn Storm”, slightly tongue in cheek, but it is also indicative of the action-packed, vivid musical storytelling going on throughout an album like Soundtrack for a Game. The duo plays around with allusions from Western Classical Music and different Asian traditions, harkening back to the origins of the game. At the same time, K not K’s music is a powerful dance-floor bass-driven sound, made for movement. They have collaborated with ballet dancers and theatrical performances, and have performed live soundtracks for avant-garde silent films. They have – of course – also accompanied chess games played by the audience.

The last decade, K not K have played all over Europe, visiting festivals and clubs. It is about time they visited Oslo, a city where chess culture is on the rise – and where the same can be said for all kinds of unconventional musical experiments. One of K not Ks earlier collaborators is the legendary DJ Rune Lindbæk. They have played together before, in Bucharest. After K not Ks concert, Lindbæk will play into the night together with Helene Rickhard.