Fazer (8)

One of Fazer’s first shows, after solidifying their lineup at the Academy for Music and Theatre in Munich, was in an old studio meant for scoring films, with ample space for a full orchestra. Virtually unknown at the time, the band invited friends and family to attend, not expecting to come anywhere close to filling the venue. Word spread, and once it was time to play that show they found themselves in the company of about 200 people. Situated in the middle of the room, the audience surrounded them in a circle as they played completely unplugged, allowing the acoustics of the venue to carry the sound. That unexpected instant in which the band played off the energy of a crowd bigger than anticipated, the sonics of the space they were in, and off of each other, Fazer says, was formative for them. They’ve always been about seizing the moment. Each musician comes from a disparate musical background, and together, they form a complex tapestry of influences—big band jazz, krauty grooves, straight-ahead rock, and even a tinge of electronic music. Their unorthodox lineup, which consists of both Simon and Sebastian on drums performing as a singular unit, codes a strong influence on rhythm directly into the band’s DNA. The trumpet player Matthias’ musical upbringing was primarily on guitar, which lends him a play style more similar to a guitarist, occupying the middle range rather than playing high notes. With two drummers working in tandem with one another while also following Martin on bass, and a trumpet player that frequently meets on the same eye level as Paul on guitar, every member of Fazer is always focused on interplay. They describe it as moving like a school of fish; each player has their eye on everyone else, ready to switch course at a moment’s notice.