Capitol K

{{for|the baseball player|Kristian Robinson (baseball)}} {{BLP refimprove|date=March 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}} {{short description|Brirish musician}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Capitol K | image = | caption = | image_size = | origin = | instrument = [[Guitar]], [[Keyboard instrument|Keyboard]], Electronic Effects, [[Laptop]] | genre = [[Folktronica]], [[Indie-Pop]], [[Experimental music|Experimental]] | occupation = | years_active = | label = [[Faith and Industry]] | associated_acts = | website = [http://www.capitolk.com Official website] | current_members = | past_members = }}'''Kristian Craig Robinson''', known professionally as '''Capitol K''', is a Malta-born musician, producer, and recording engineer based in London. He is a prominent figure in the [[folktronica]] scene, having released music through labels such as [[Planet Mu]] and [[XL Recordings]].<ref name="PlanetMuBio">{{cite web |title=Capitol K - Artist Profile |url=https://planet.mu/artists/capitol-k/ |access-date=January 10, 2026 |publisher=Planet Mu Records}}</ref>

Robinson is the founder of the '''Faith and Industry''' record label and runs the Total Refreshment Centre recording studio. His recording and production credits include notable artists such as [[The Comet Is Coming]], [[Alabaster DePlume]], [[Thurston Moore]] and Dry Cleaning. <ref name="TotalRefreshment">{{cite web |title=Total Refreshment Centre: The London studio at the heart of a new jazz scene |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2XpY6pX0S0f5Q0H1W0j0B0G/total-refreshment-centre |access-date=January 10, 2026 |publisher=BBC Music}}</ref> His work often blends [[field recordings]] with electronic and indie-pop elements.<ref name="Bandcamp">{{cite web |title=Capitol K - Andean Dub |url=https://capitolk.bandcamp.com/album/andean-dub |access-date=January 10, 2026 |publisher=Bandcamp}}</ref>

He was born in [[Malta]] and raised in [[Dubai]], [[Brunei]] and [[England]], and now based in [[London]].

Capitol K first came to prominence from the single "Pillow" which peaked in the [[UK Singles Chart]] at number 99 on 9 March 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/interviews/capitolkiw.htm|title=CAPITOL K Interview|website=Themilkfactory|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205121802/http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/interviews/capitolkiw.htm|archivedate=5 December 2008|url-status=dead|accessdate=16 April 2013}}</ref> His early releases combined, found sound, [[lo-fi music|lo-fi]] aside [[hi-fi]] production, [[electronica]] and [[Indie pop|Indie-pop]] that went someway to establishing the [[folktronica]] genre along with fellow artists, [[Leafcutter John]], [[Four Tet]] and [[Tunng]].

Robinson was first signed to the record label [[Planet Mu]] (1999) who released the debut album ''[[Sounds Of The Empire]]'', and then to [[XL Recordings]] (2002) who released the album ''[[Island Row]]'' before he created the Faith and Industry label (2004) which has released recent Capitol K material as well as artists, John Johanna, Mermaid Chunky, Blue House, and [[Super Best Friends Club]].

Capitol K currently runs the recording studio Total Refreshment Studio part of the Total Refreshment Centre.

Capitol K's work as a producer and recording engineer notably includes, [[The Mercury Award|the Mercury award]] nominated [[The Comet Is Coming]], [[Rozi Plain]]'s album ''Friend'', [[Ibibio Sound Machine]]'s second album ''[[Uyai]]'', Flamingods' ''Majesty'', and [[Patrick Wolf]]'s first album entitled ''[[Lycanthropy]]''. [[Serafina Steer]], Bas Jan and [[Bradford Cox]] of the bands [[Deerhunter]] and [[Atlas Sound]].

He was a member of the Brazilian artist singer [[Cibelle]]'s band. And a member of [[Beth Jeans Houghton|Du Blonde]]'s band for her [[Welcome Back to Milk|Welcome back to Milk]] tour.

The period 2009 to 2015 Capitol K played synth and bass with the [[Archie Bronson Outfit]]. He also performed on and co-produced their 2014 album ''[[Wild Crush]]''.

in 2005 Capitol K release the album ''Nomad Junk'', composed from field recordings made in [[Hong Kong, city|Hong Kong city]], [[Taipei]] and [[Tokyo]].

In 2012, Capitol K released the album ''Andean Dub.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://capitolk.bandcamp.com/album/andean-dub|title=Andean Dub, by Capitol K|website=Capitol K|publisher=[[Bandcamp]]|accessdate=7 March 2018}}</ref> The album combined the sounds of Peruvian ''[[huayno]]'' music and more broadly Latin American [[cumbia]] with electronic sounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soundsandcolours.com/subjects/music/i-got-my-petri-dish-of-latin-cultural-influences-capitol-k-discusses-love-travelling-and-cumbia-15218/|title="I got my Petri dish of Latin cultural influences": Capitol K discusses love, travelling and cumbia|date=14 August 2012|publisher=Sounds and Colours|accessdate=7 March 2018}}</ref>

In 2015 Capitol K programmed, produced and co wrote the debut Loose Meat album.

In 2018, Capitol K released the album ''Goatherder''.

On Nov 14th 2025, Capitol K released his milestone 10th album, ''Artichoke''.

==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable" !Release date !Title !Label |- |1999 |''Sounds Of The Empire'' |[[Planet Mu]] |- |2000 |''[[Island Row]]'' |[[Planet Mu]] |- |2002 |''[[Island Row]]'' |[[XL Recordings]] |- |2004 |''Happy Happy'' |[[Faith and Industry]] |- |2005 |''Nomad Junk'' |[[Faith and Industry]] |- |2008 |''Notes From Life on The Wire With a Wrecking Ball'' |[[Faith and Industry]] |- |2012 |''Andean Dub'' |[[Faith and Industry]] |- |2018 |''Goatherder'' |[[Faith and Industry]] |}

===Singles/EPs=== {| class="wikitable" !Release date !Title !Label |- |1999 |''Capitol K EP'' |[[Elf Cut]] |- |1999 |'' Roadeater EP'' |[[Planet Mu]] |- |2002 |''Pillow'' |[[XL Recordings]] |- |2008 |''Libertania/Go Go Go'' |[[Faith & Industry]] |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.capitolk.com/ Capitol K official homepage]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Capitol K}} [[Category:20th-century Maltese musicians]] [[Category:British intelligent dance musicians]] [[Category:Folktronica musicians]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:XL Recordings artists]] [[Category:Planet Mu artists]] [[Category:21st-century Maltese musicians]]