Not many bands make an international impact right from the start, but CARI CARI did it their own way. Dubbed the “lovechild of The XX and The Kills,” the duo first took on the global stage before making waves in Austria. Their single “White Line Fever” was licensed for the popular series Shameless, and they embarked on a no-budget tour of Australia (a documentary about the experience is in the works). Their music quickly gained attention, earning praise from blogs and online magazines worldwide.
CARI CARI’s sound is a fusion of the best elements they encountered while living in different cities: the boldness of East London, Melbourne’s DIY attitude, and the fascinating weirdness of Tokyo. They distilled these influences into their distinct musical style.
The two-piece band consists of Stephanie Widmer (vocals, drums, and didgeridoo) and Alexander Köck (vocals and guitar). In 2017, they won the inaugural XA Export Award at the Waves Vienna Festival. By 2018, they were performing at major showcase festivals such as ESNS, Primavera Sound, The Great Escape, and Reeperbahn Festival. That same year, they played at the Westway Lab Festival in Guimarães, Portugal, and were invited to take part in several artist residencies.
In November 2018, CARI CARI released their debut album “ANAANA”, which received international acclaim. The album quickly entered the Austrian charts, and the band has been touring consistently ever since.
As of 2025, CARI CARI continues to captivate audiences with their signature blend of bold, genre-defying sounds and captivating live performances.