Angine de poitrine: aliens, monkeys, and a whole lot of papier-mache
Forget Lady Gaga and Elton John – the latest musical weirdness comes from Quebec with Angine de Poitrine, a duo whose microtonal rock and unsettling visuals have taken the internet by storm. But behind the polka-dotted masks and bizarre stage presence lies a surprisingly grounded story of long-term gigging, DIY craftsmanship, and a deep-seated love for the strange.
The masks, the myths, and the mess
Initially conceived as a quirky way to cope with soggy masks after months of relentless touring, Angine’s distinctive appearance quickly transformed into a central part of their lore. Guitarist Khn and drummer Klek insist they aren't trying to hide their identities, but the band’s commitment to maintaining an air of mystery – complete with an “interpreter” – has only fueled speculation about their alien origins, inspired by Borneo monkeys and a 333-year-old time-traveling past.
“When I looked at mine, I was like: Jesus Christ, did I really play that much with this?” says Klek, referring to his disintegrating papier-mache mask. “It was falling apart. It was like putting a Christmas box outside when it’s raining.” The band’s reluctance to overhaul their costumes, despite a larger budget, stems from a desire to preserve the “lived-in” quality that fans have come to adore. “People have fallen in love with the band as it’s always been,” Khn explains. “So we’re not gonna change everything [because] we have a bigger budget now. We’re emotionally attached to our old beaten-up costumes that have been in car accidents and are full of snot.”
Beyond the viral hype
While Angine’s rapid ascent – fueled by 13.7 million YouTube views – has sparked concerns about fabricated popularity, the duo remain resolutely unconcerned. “It’s only Music,” Klek states. “I’m just playing drums. One comment on KEXP said: ‘Now there’s a reason to live.’ I was like: calm down, man. Go kiss your mother or something – that’s a reason to live.” Despite the buzz, they’ve actively resisted attempts to unmask them, preferring to let fans interpret their story.
“I’m proud of that,” Klek adds, “of people enjoying it like it’s supposed to be.” The band’s influence extends beyond the digital realm, inspiring a young fan to attach cable ties to his guitar neck, creating microtonal frets to accurately reproduce Angine’s sound.
A quebecois roots story
Angine’s story begins in Saguenay, Quebec, where Khn and Klek first met as teenagers. The duo’s early musical influences – from King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard to Voivod – reflect the region’s unique DIY arts scene and its embrace of experimental Music. “People in Saguenay are down for intense, loud Music,” Khn recalls. “If you want to stand out, you have to blend all those influences together.”
“We always do caricatures to get a laugh,” Khn says. “It’s a spasm we have often.” The pair’s commitment to embracing the absurd, combined with a shared love for improvisational jams, set the stage for their distinctive sound and aesthetic. The fact that they continued to play together long after their initial foray into Music underscores the enduring power of their creative connection. “We’re not Lady Gaga. We’re not Elton John. We’re two random dudes,” they conclude, a surprisingly grounded statement from a band that has captivated the world with its outlandish persona.