A Place To Bury Strangers (Commonly known by the initials APTBS) is truly a force to be reckoned with. Formed in 2002 in New York City, the band has had members come and go throughout the years. Currently composed of Oliver Ackermann, John Fedowitz and Sandra Fedowitz, they are self-proclaimed as “the loudest band in the world”. APTBS puts on a truly immersive show that member Sandra said left a great impact upon her before she was a part of the band and after watching them play live, we think that we can say the same- the trio’s atmospheric performance is something that you can feel in your whole body as their famous “Wall of Sound” hits you head-on. Despite their kind and calm demeanor, APTBS decidedly lives up to their noisy fame. 

Jittery from our long drive from Salt Lake City, Utah and thrust headfirst into a night of music at Shrine Social Club,  K-UTE Radio had the chance to interview APTBS at Treefort Music Festival in Boise, Idaho this last March before their show. The Shrine Social Club ended up being our favorite venue at Treefort. (Neurolux a close second…) The festival was incredibly organized, impressive, and ran so smoothly. The staff, artists, and patrons were all incredibly kind, helpful, and there for the love of good music. After being taken backstage with some supplying of snacks from member John Fedowitz, we had a conversation about the influence of technology, the sentience of sound and instruments, the origin of their visuals, and more. 

It’s no secret that technology and social media have massively changed the music industry as a whole, and we wanted to hear how a band who’s seen its progression firsthand felt about it. The general consensus was that social media has completely changed the game, but its power must be wielded carefully. While it can be used in such a way where bands can fully curate their social media presence, Ackermann says that this can sometimes be too informative. The mystique of a band is a powerful tool if wielded properly, and in the digital age this surplus of knowledge about musical acts can inform audiences for better or for worse. 

Oliver Ackermann: “I think that artists just have to be different kinds of people now…it’s just something totally different than it ever was. ”

It’s clear that the digital age of the music industry is here to stay, whether we like it or not. The question is: how do bands choose to (or choose not to) utilize it? Social media has become a key component of promotion yet some artists actively choose to abstain from it- which can also attract attention. Bands opting out of social media is a statement within itself, but one that can have drastic consequences when it comes to gaining traction and fame.

The conclusion: it’s a double-edged sword. While useful in its early years, the now-constant obligation that musicians have to satisfy the algorithm in order to maintain an online presence is oftentimes frustrating. Perhaps with the potential censorship of certain social media platforms such as TikTok, we will see a resurgence of grassroots and community-driven promotion as Ackermann mused about the Sonic Youth fanclub he was once a member of. 

Sandra Fedowitz: “(It’s a question of) Why do we have to do this? But you kind of have to do it. It puts a lot of pressure on you at the same time to make the decision of how much to do…Do I give the algorithm what it needs because I want to go higher?”

Images by Lily Rutherford.

When asked about their title of being “the loudest band in New York” and whether this felt like something that was challenged or uniquely theirs, the band explained that this title was simply a byproduct of their passion for the life-of-its-own that loud music takes on: that being a musician means to be working in collaboration with (or fighting against) the instruments that you use.

Oliver Ackermann: “...We love to be able to feel the music when you're playing it, and that's an important part of how we make the music is having the amplifier talk to you- and the rattle of the drums, so you’re fighting against the rhythms of what’s going on. There’s all these magical things that happen when you’re playing at extremely loud volumes. We’re just dumb enough to do it.”

In their live performances, APTBS utilizes a variety of lights, visuals, and other elements as they create a fully immersive experience for their audience. Regarding the origin of their visuals, Ackermann said it varies from show-to-show as the band has an entire warehouse full of equipment such as ipods, projectors, strobe lights, lasers, and more to use in whatever way they see fit- even doing their own electrical work when necessary. The result is a creation of seemingly 3-dimensional displays that fill up the entire room, resulting in a truly one-of-a-kind sensory experience. 

Despite the band having several members come and go since its formation in 2002, both Ackermann and John Fedowitz expressed that this was never an issue in terms of creative blocks or a push to keep moving forward. Artists such as Sextile, Eyedress, Yves Tumor, and more were referenced when considering artists that the band feels particularly inspired by- especially the idea that you never know what will come next, trying to top the last amazing thing they did. 

John Fedowitz: “We just love making stuff so much, so there's always the opportunity for something different and exciting to come along. I think though that we are in some ways in our own little world… I would love to see another band like A Place to Bury Strangers, but I dont think its going to happen.”

They certainly earned their title of “The Loudest Band in New York” and we were eternally grateful that Treefort gave us all free earplugs. The constant noise was intensely satisfying. On top of the music immediately sucking you in, their stage presence was mesmerizing and you couldn't help but watch. A fog machine working overtime, psychedelic visuals projected across the entire ballroom, a flashing strobe light- it was an overload but everything felt just right. The lighting was the most intense it could have been when Oliver lifted his guitar into the sky- the crowd following his action by raising their own arms towards him. It looked like a renaissance painting and the crowd was incredibly pleased- such great music, visuals, and performers…. What more could we need?

Despite an already fantastic show, the real thing hadn't even started yet. About 30 minutes into their set, they began taking their instruments into the crowd. One by one, they held their equipment over their head and jumped off the stage, heading towards the center of the large room. A respectful circle formed around them and we were lucky enough to be at the center. It was so intimate but so ferocious. Watching Sandra put her whole body into hitting her drum, John bending over to play his bass guitar, Oliver fiddling with the knobs on a giant amp- saying what sounded like nonsense into the microphone- truly an unforgettable experience of a show.

A Place to Bury Strangers has several tour dates in both the US and Europe in the following months. If you get the chance to see them, K-UTE highly recommends it. This is a band you definitely don’t want to miss out on.