Camo & Krooked

Austrian drum’n’bass duo Camo & Krooked were founded in 2007. Both Camo (born Reinhard Rietsch on April 23, 1983 in Salzburg) and Krooked (born Markus Wagner on July 31, 1989 in Lilienfeld) had been active since 2002, before they teamed up and released their first singles from 2008 onward. Their first album, Above & Beyond, was released in 2010 and introduced their blend of drum’n’bass enriched with house, dubstep, and fun. At that year’s Drum & Bass Arena Awards, they won the Best Newcomer DJ award. Their sophomore album, Cross the Line, appeared a year later on Hospital Records, and a remix album, Between the Lines, followed in 2012. With the release of their third studio album, Zeitgeist, in 2013, Camo & Krooked made their debut in the Austrian album charts, coming in at number 22. The duo became well-known for their patented “anti-drop” style, and their profile gradually increased as they performed all over the world, released a slew of singles, and turned in numerous remixes for everyone from Metronomy to Lana Del Rey. Their fourth album would not appear until 2017, as they toiled to create a fresh sound. Entitled Mosaik and released on Ram Records, it was pop-oriented and melodic, stadium drum’n’bass stripped back to its essence. The single “If I Could” featured previously unknown British singer Joe Killington. ~ John D. Buchanan