Kraak & Smaak talk about music, gigs and Amsterdam Dance Event culture
As the sun sets over Amsterdam’s canal houses, the city buzzes with the energy of ADE. The Amsterdam Dance Event - the world’s leading electronic music conference and festival - transforms the Dutch capital every October into a meeting point for DJs, producers and fans from across the world. From small club nights to large-scale live shows, it’s a week that captures the full spectrum of electronic music.
At one of the city’s early evening showcases, Dutch trio Kraak & Smaak consisting of - Oscar de Jong, Mark Kneppers and Wim Plug - are preparing to perform. Known for their blend of funk, disco and electronica, the group have spent over two decades building a reputation as one of Europe’s most distinctive live acts.
Backstage, they describe ADE as a busy but inspiring time. “The vibe is very intense, very vibrant,” says Wim. “A lot of hands to shake, a lot of people to talk to. We did an album release party, and today we’re hosting a mixer. Everybody’s here - everyone you want to see and speak to.”
That spirit of connection feeds directly into their creative process. “We’re always listening to new music,” Wim says. “All three of us are DJs, and Mark has a record store, so there’s always something new coming in.” Mark adds: “Our sound is broad. We work with a lot of different artists, and they bring new ideas.”
Every few years the group head to Los Angeles to write and record. “We rent a house with a few producers,” Wim explains. “You text someone, say you’re nearby, and suddenly you’ve got a session. The culture there is very open. In the Netherlands, we usually work more with our band members.”
That outward-looking approach is something Mark believes is typical of Dutch producers. “The Netherlands has always looked internationally,” he says. “It’s a small country, so you naturally focus outward. That pushes you to work harder and be more creative.”
Their label, Boogie Angst, follows the same principle. “We listen constantly,” he continues. “You hear about new producers all the time, but every so often, someone really fits the label’s sound.”
Looking ahead, the trio plan to keep evolving. “We’ll revisit some older material, explore new ideas and see where that takes us,” Wim says. “In the end, it’s always Kraak & Smaak.”
Joining the trio at ADE is drummer and producer Feiertag, who also performs under his own name and as Alexander IV.
“I always love ADE,” he says. “The vibe is great today - I played drums for Kraak & Smaak on Wednesday, and this is day two for me.”
His live sets blend drums, vocals and electronic production. “It might look improvised, but it’s quite structured,” he explains. “I know when to sing and when to switch instruments. If it’s beat-driven, I’ll play live drums; if it’s house-oriented, I’ll do live production instead.”
Feiertag describes his sound as eclectic, balancing energy and atmosphere. “My newer tracks are more dancefloor-focused, but I still love the chilled, melodic side. Artists like Caribou, Bonobo, Four Tet and Bicep do that balance really well.”
Performing under Alexander IV allows him to explore a more minimal, DJ-driven style. “Feiertag is the full live act,” he says.
“Playing drums for Kraak & Smaak and doing my own thing both feed each other. I’ve never been happier in music than I am right now.”
