Interview: Reptile and Retard

Mads Damsgaard Kristiansen and Esben Valloe are the Danish lads behind Reptile and Retard. Their mix of electro-punk energy and gospel-soul singing has made them a hit in Shanghai, which was their adopted home during a study abroad adventure in 2009. They are returning to the city to support Peaches at Mao Livehouse on Friday night and are touring China throughout May, including a date at the World Expo’s Denmark Pavilion on 5 May.

How did you come up with the names 'Reptile' and 'Retard'?

Reptile and Retard are two dear characters of ours. Reptile is a hunter. Whenever he feels threatened, which is often, his ‘reptile brain’ takes over. This means that he often ends up paralysed and detached from the situation. Retard is a hillbilly. He is blissfully ignorant to the world beyond his comfort zone but also to the repetitive mistakes of his own. Often unknowingly he ends up being controlled by the outside world. Any resemblance with Mads and Esben is a coincidence.

What have you been up to since your last shows in Shanghai?

New songs! And working on new live visuals to go with the show. We have been working our asses off.

People can expect a new and even better show from us this year. We are for instance bringing the VJ Birk Marcus Hansen on the tour. He has earlier made visuals for names like Trentemöller and The Knife. Furthermore Michael Roloff and Lærke Marie Valum, two skilled fashion designers from Denmark, have made new outfits for the tour. We will look meaner than ever. Finally we promise to dance wilder and play harder than anyone you know.

Supporting Peaches must be a bit of a thrill?

She is a symbol of great integrity and she has the ability of keeping it real while enjoying success. In many ways she makes us feel inferior especially because Esben can't grow a full beard.

You originally came to China as part of a study abroad experience and used your music as a way of studying networking. What did you learn from the experience?

The main objective for our last trip to China was studying. You could say our curriculum changed as we went. We learned to take chances and take advantage of our networks. Reptile and Retard was a coincidence. Not a mistake but an entity with high levels of random – I think that's why we enjoyed it so much. But also there was a lot of time spent waiting for new gigs, this time it's a little more packed.

Is there much difference between your shows here and in Europe?

It's more of a challenge to connect with an audience that speaks a different language, but we can do it, it makes it more fun!

You're playing a show at the Denmark Pavilion in May. How did that come about?

Last year we met Martin Røen, the guru of music exchanges between Denmark and China. At that time he was organising a tour for Danish punk phenomenon Clean Boys. Later, he was hired by Expo to put together the official music program for the Danish Pavilion. Martin invited us, as one of the youngest bands, to officially represent Danish Culture at the World Expo.

What kind of crowd do you expect at your Expo show?

We've heard that the Danish ambassador blows a great trumpet and we've invited him to pop by and bring his friends. Although it might turn out less dirty than the Peaches show (except for the Little Mermaid), we encourage surprises and we're very much looking forward to that show as well.

You describe your music as appealing to the “little idiot” in people. What do you mean by that?

You got it deep inside you, now set it free!

23 April, supporting Peaches. RMB 200 (presale), RMB 260 (at door). Mao Livehouse, 570 Huaihai Xi Lu, near Hongqiao Lu. Tel: 6227 7332. Web: www.maolive-sh.com