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Synonym Dance

Indexical

Biography

Handjerks is a half-Norwegian, half-German musical project based in Berlin. Like the rest of the New Pangea roster, Handjerks share a sense of theatricality, but the similarity stops there. Dissonant folk intersects with glowing puffs of synthesizers, and dumpster- dived percussion reenacts medieval breakbeats, while a mournfully rich voice recites emotional manifestos. The debut EP by Handjerks is entitled Indexical, gathering five songs, including the centerpiece “On a Verge”. Its lyrics hint at the namesake of the project: “I construct hands that won’t touch the deeper meaning / I jerk my jerk off / He comes with game theories.” The accompanying video, replete with hand gestures and jerky choreography, is directed by Paola Calvo (whose documentary on a BDSM living community in Berlin, Violently Happy, was released in 2017). Handjerks' sonically adventurous EP – maximalist yet intimate – was rendered into HD by producer/sound designer/composer Sam Slater, known for his work with Jóhann Jóhannsson, Shapednoise, Árni Arnason (The Vaccines) and Hildur Guðnadóttir. In 2018 a remix of Synonym Dance was released by Swan Meat. Outside of the studio, Handjerks have performed throughout Germany, as well as in Norway, opening for acts such as FAKA or J.D. Samson. Although Handjerks share the respective dramatic and academic leanings of acts like Anohni or Arthur Russell they cite Nico, Whitney Houston, Abbey Lincoln or Spyro Gira as defining influences.