Holland has never been a country known for being a hot bed of musical talent, but Dutch dance trio Kraak and Smaak could be the best export from the Netherlands since cheese. Kraak and Smaak mix jazz, funk, and hip hop with new wave and break beat to create their own unique style of music. Lately the band has won fans on both sides of the globe with their smash hit Squeeze Me.

The three members of Kraak and Smaak met through a series of chance meetings in 2003. The team of Mark Kneppers, Oscar De Jong and Wim Plug quickly gelled, and started winning over audiences wherever they played. In 2005 they won the Best Newcomer in Holland award, and continue to garner praise from the likes of BBC Radio 1 and Perez Hilton. Whereas most Dutch dance music relies on trace music, Kraak and Smaak offer a more funky, danceable blend of tracks.

Recently Kraak and Smaak have started mixing live shows in with their DJ sets. In fact the trio has been booked for a live set at this year's Glastonbury Festival as well as Barcelona's famed Festival Cruilla de Culture. The Kraak and Smaak crew also focuses on making remixes for the likes of Jamiroquai, Richard Dorfmeister, 4Hero, Bitter:Sweet, Mark Rae and Soul of Man amongst others. In turn, K&S got the same treatment from Sharam Jey and Henrik Schwarz .

For a taste of Kraak and Smaak's groovy tunes check out their MySpace page. The guys plan to spend the summer on the European festival circuit, but hopefully they'll return to the States in the fall. If you'd like to find out more about R&S here's an interview with the trio by DJ Ron Slomowicz.


The PimpWiz.com Bottom Line: Kraak and Smaak's music breaks boundaries to deliver the goods. Pop in Squeeze Me next time you want to see the ladies get down.


A PimpWiz Exclusive by Scott Bernstein

Labels: Kraak and Smaak, Music, Scott Bernstein