Volk Soup + Janani.fx & Hang Linton

Drab presents…

Volk Soup + Janani.fx & Hang Linton

Over the last 18 months Volk Soup have not only been steadily releasing singles but have also been developing their stage act. In that time they’ve become one of the most intense, captivating live spectacles in Leeds. These songs take on a whole new form in the live setting, never the same twice. With the addition of a brass section and another guitar, the singles from their upcoming debut, a best of ‘Incompetent Hits’ have become a sign of the band’s shapeshifting, while maintaining the intensity that’s captured on those instinctive early recordings. The culmination of “Volk”, meaning ‘people’ in German, and “Soup” meaning ‘soup’, summons grotesque images of a vile human conglomerate with limbs jutting out at every angle and gut-wrenching screams as the abomination hurtles towards you. Well, that is exactly what to expect when you come face to face with Volk Soup’s sprawling shenanigans. Absurd theatrical kinks riddle the chain of command, as members dart around the stage forcing the eyes of onlookers towards numerous near misses and suggestive contortions.

Janani.fx (ஜனனி.fx) is fronted by Eelam Tamil creative, Janani A (they/she). Despite not being musically trained, Janani has been fascinated by sound from a very young age, quietly singing and tapping out rhythms with their hands and feet. They began their musical journey officially as a key member of Gladboy, providing ethereal backing vocals and stimulating percussive sounds to the junkedelic band. Now having had a few years of experience, and with bandmates by her side, Janani is ready to embark onto the scene as Janani.fx. As a Tamil person with roots in Jaffna, born in Berlin and later living in London and Norwich, their sense of displacement forms an integral part to the music that is produced.

Just like their boundless array of influences, (scores from classic Tamil films, Carnatic styles, Tamil folk, early Krautrock, ambient, poly-rhythms, highlife, experimental, and triphop) the holistic music of Janani.fx cannot be abruptly defined. Simply put, it is one of the ways in which Janani connects to their ancestors!

Hang Linton: Splicing avant-funk, dance punk & breakbeats, Hang Linton is an interdisciplinary artist based in Leeds. After cutting their teeth in Berlin across multiple projects & collectives, Hang has landed on home soil & is ready to make his mark.
Their art is a rebellion against clean aesthetics, inspired by past experiences, changing global events & the ugliness in the world. It’s not pretty – but it’s important & Hang will make sure you enjoy the ride.
Armed with a setup of a sampler, synths & visuals, Hang bends your ear around the counterculture sounds & movements that have shaped him.
Hang has recently been featured in The Guardian’s Cultural Prescription & selected as part of the BBC 6 Music Introducing Mixtape of 2022.