Two massive papier-mâché masks onstage, black-and-white polka-dot costumes, guitar intervals deliberately drifting outside the standard scale—this is the first impression Quebec duo Angine De Poitrine leaves on people. But in a Guitar World interview, guitarist Khn delivered something closer to a near-religious defense of music theory.
Angine De Poitrine, comprising Khn and percussionist Klek, performs entirely anonymously and is known for its intricate microtonal rock. Asked whether he thinks in scales while onstage, Khn replied: "I'm always thinking in scales, or more precisely, in interval relationships within a specific context. But that's just a harmless piece of information sitting quietly in my consciousness." He added that many people assume this means the performer sits there stone-faced, mechanically thinking "I should play this note now because of some reason"—but that's not how it works at all.
He also called out a common myth among musicians—that theoretical knowledge somehow undermines creativity. "If I say I'm always thinking in scales, that doesn't mean 'a fixed set of rules dictates all my choices.' I don't create using only these tools in some sterile, deliberate way."
For Khn, terminology itself carries weight. "Terminology matters a lot to me," he said. "When someone uses the wrong term in conversation, it bothers me unreasonably. I deliberately hold myself back from being annoying about it. But when you play a chord, an interval, a melody, within the context of harmony and rhythm, everything that happens has a name." He pushed the point to its sharpest edge: "Why would anyone treat not knowing these names as some kind of stance? Terminology is humanity's last hope. Without it, chaos awaits us. Value terminology, worship terminology. Otherwise, you're just a monkey."
The interview comes amid a surprisingly breakout year for Angine De Poitrine. According to NME, the band went viral in February following a live session at KEXP's studio, then released their second album, Vol. II, in April. In May, they headlined the opening beach party of The Great Escape, presented by NME, with the performance described as "an absurd yet captivating spectacle." They also accepted Billboard Canada's Global Breakthrough Award in complete silence and drew one of the largest crowds in the history of the Montreal Jazz Festival. Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl also publicly praised the band earlier this year, saying they "completely blew my mind" and calling their performance "absolutely insane."
Angine De Poitrine is currently on tour across North America and will return to the UK for headline shows later this year. Details on dates and tickets are available through official channels.
