Biography
Kevin Krauter crafts introspective, atmospheric lo-fi pop as a solo performer, incorporating delicate layers of rhythmic complexity. His entry into Bloomington, Indiana indie rock outfit Hoops as bassist occurred in 2014, preceding the 2018 issuance of his inaugural solo LP, Toss Up.
Born in Indiana, Krauter's upbringing involved the local theater community through his family, leading to youthful appearances in multiple stage musicals. He took part in several bands while in high school, although his own songwriting and recording efforts did not begin until his enrollment at Ball State University. Drawing partial inspiration from 1960s and 1970s folksingers, the EP Magnolia appeared in 2015 after being tracked inside his dorm room.
Meanwhile, Krauter had become part of Hoops, which originated as Drew Auscherman's solo ambient/noise endeavor. The project grew into a quartet in 2014 once Krauter joined on bass alongside Keagan Beresford on guitar and James Allen on drums. Their Tapes #2 EP gained widespread attention on indie music blogs after its 2015 YouTube upload. Strongly shaped by British acts Prefab Sprout and the Clientele, the band's hazy, melodic approach also invited comparisons to contemporaries such as DIIV, Ariel Pink, and Real Estate. Following two additional tapes, the group signed with Fat Possum Records, which released their self-titled debut EP proper in mid-2016; the earlier tapes received official digital distribution at the same time. Krauter issued the largely acoustic EP Changes near the end of 2016.
Hoops' first full-length album combined material from the band's initial studio sessions with further recording held in Krauter's parents' basement alongside Woods' Jarvis Taveniere. Titled Routines, the record appeared in May 2017, reached the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, and prompted Fat Possum to release the catch-up compilation Tapes #1-3 that November.
Between Hoops tours, Krauter devoted extended evenings to home recording for his debut album, developing layered, full-band arrangements that featured vintage keyboards. Additional tracking took place at Russian Recording in Bloomington with Ben Lumsdaine, who served as engineer, co-producer, and drummer on half the tracks. Conceived as a more overtly pop-oriented set yet still defined by rhythmic detail and a hazy, lo-fi surface reminiscent of his Hoops contributions, Toss Up arrived on Bayonet Records in 2018. That year he toured alongside Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Beach Fossils, and Sunflower Bean.
Hoops reunited in 2019 with Lumsdaine on drums and issued the single "They Say" in November. Krauter's follow-up album, Full Hand, came out via Bayonet in February 2020.
Born in Indiana, Krauter's upbringing involved the local theater community through his family, leading to youthful appearances in multiple stage musicals. He took part in several bands while in high school, although his own songwriting and recording efforts did not begin until his enrollment at Ball State University. Drawing partial inspiration from 1960s and 1970s folksingers, the EP Magnolia appeared in 2015 after being tracked inside his dorm room.
Meanwhile, Krauter had become part of Hoops, which originated as Drew Auscherman's solo ambient/noise endeavor. The project grew into a quartet in 2014 once Krauter joined on bass alongside Keagan Beresford on guitar and James Allen on drums. Their Tapes #2 EP gained widespread attention on indie music blogs after its 2015 YouTube upload. Strongly shaped by British acts Prefab Sprout and the Clientele, the band's hazy, melodic approach also invited comparisons to contemporaries such as DIIV, Ariel Pink, and Real Estate. Following two additional tapes, the group signed with Fat Possum Records, which released their self-titled debut EP proper in mid-2016; the earlier tapes received official digital distribution at the same time. Krauter issued the largely acoustic EP Changes near the end of 2016.
Hoops' first full-length album combined material from the band's initial studio sessions with further recording held in Krauter's parents' basement alongside Woods' Jarvis Taveniere. Titled Routines, the record appeared in May 2017, reached the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, and prompted Fat Possum to release the catch-up compilation Tapes #1-3 that November.
Between Hoops tours, Krauter devoted extended evenings to home recording for his debut album, developing layered, full-band arrangements that featured vintage keyboards. Additional tracking took place at Russian Recording in Bloomington with Ben Lumsdaine, who served as engineer, co-producer, and drummer on half the tracks. Conceived as a more overtly pop-oriented set yet still defined by rhythmic detail and a hazy, lo-fi surface reminiscent of his Hoops contributions, Toss Up arrived on Bayonet Records in 2018. That year he toured alongside Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Beach Fossils, and Sunflower Bean.
Hoops reunited in 2019 with Lumsdaine on drums and issued the single "They Say" in November. Krauter's follow-up album, Full Hand, came out via Bayonet in February 2020.
Albums
Singles
