Anyone who follows electronic music is probably familiar with Krewella's struggles over the past year and a half. In September 2014, producer Kris Trindl (aka Rain Man) filed a $5 million lawsuit against fellow members Yasmine and Jahan Yousaf for allegedly conspiring to unfairly kick him out of the group.
The Yousaf sisters filed a countersuit two months later claiming that Trindl had alcoholism and drug problems, as well as pretending to DJ onstage and doing minimal to no production on several recordings. Eventually, both the Yousafs and Trindl reached a non-disclosed settlement last August. Meanwhile, Trindl has continued to release music as Rain Main.
On April 29th, the Yousafs released a new track "Beggars," produced by the UK duo Diskord. This song was Krewella's first new song in over a year, and continues the metal/grunge influence heard in their previous post-Rain Man singles, "Say Goodbye" and "Somewhere to Run." This new sound was faintly apparent even in Krewella's material with Rain Man (Trindl played in metal bands before joining Krewella). However, the more pronounced metal influence helps the sisters of Krewella distinguish themselves from their dancier sound before the 2014 lawsuit.
On May 4th, Yasmine uploaded to Krewella's Facebook page a video of her and Jahan's journey in Krewella. Yasmine thanks the fans for continuing to support her and Jahan through all of the duo's struggles and announces that Krewella's "Ammunition" EP will be released May 20th.
Personally, I noticed that several fans and high-profile producers (such as Deadmau5) were critical of the sisters' decision to remove Trindl from Krewella. Several tweets and Facebook comments referred to the sisters as "whores" who should quit music and make sex tapes.
Granted, people wrote these comments before the sisters could explain their side of the story. The blame on the sisters before knowing all of the facts is unfair, immature, and grossly misogynistic. I commend the sisters for sticking together and for maintaining their love for music and their fans in the face of adversity.
As for their new music, I remember feeling underwhelmed upon first hearing Krewella's "Say Goodbye" and "Somewhere to Run."
Both singles are produced by the Scandinavian duo The Pegboard Nerds, who I love and have remixed for Krewella before. Both of these post-Rain Main tracks are not bad songs; it's just that both songs lack the spark of their 2012 singles "Killin' It" and "Alive." (Perhaps that was me slowly overcoming my pre-Rain Man preferences.)
I am also confused as to why the sisters continue to record under the Krewella name now that Rain Man is no longer with them. If the sisters want to move forward completely from the lawsuit, it may be time abandon the Krewella name and embrace their bond as sisters under a new name.
Overall, I am curious to see how their new EP and any future music will shape Krewella's destiny. I've been a fan of their music since the end of high school, and two of the sisters' greatest strengths is their perseverance and their sense of camaraderie. I am rooting for the sisters, and I hope that they move forward from their troubles as smoothly as possible.
