Artist of the week

Sunday, January 27, 2013

KILL IT KID









-Who are you?

Kill It Kid is Chris Turpin, Marc Jones Stephanie Jean Ward and Dom Kozubik. I'm Chris- the short bloke at the front who writes em, sings em and strums em. 


- Why did you choose this pseudonym?

Our name is taken from a very rare early country blues song, by a player called Blind Willie Mctell. I heard it on a rare copy of his last recording session. The track was inspired by a barfly that would holler this at him as he took to the stage. It for us very neatly embodied what we wanted to do. 

-Why do you make music and what does it mean for you? 

Making music is in all of our blood, we come from musical families. Growing up in an environment like this means it music just becomes inherent in what you do and who you are. Music means nothing and everything all at once. It has become increasingly important to me to create something of worth to others that will far out live me. That a big question....could spend the rest of your life answering it!



-Your song “Home“ is simply amazing. What’s the story behind it?

Thank you. It is a very private and close account of moments when a love breaks down.


-Is There a link between “Kill It Kid” (2009) and your last album
“Feet Fall Heavy” (2011)?

It says in the insides sleeve our first  record "songs of love and debauchery", the same counts for our second record Feet Fall Heavy and will count for our third. 
"Feet Fall Heavy" cover



-Talking about the compositions of your songs: how and where they born?

The songs come from anywhere, turns of phrase, books, people, relationships written anywhere- on the road at home in the rehearsal room. 



-Talking about your traks ,what is your favourite?

My favourite Kill It Kid song is always the last song I've written.


- How would you define your sound?


Our sound is heavy British garage blues.


-What genres and artists influenced your music the most?

Kill It Kid Began as a reaction to our dislike and frustration with modern commercial music and rock acts. This band is an attempt to re-voice some of the intensity, intention and heart we could hear in very early pre war blues which we didn't hear in any new music. This has been the biggest creative influence on our music. 


-You come from Bath, England. What do you think about the music coming
from your country and how how do you see yourself in relation to them?
Kill It Kid

England has such an incredible creative heritage, for many English kids being in a band is almost a right of passage. Having toured outside of the UK we have been fortunate enough to see how other countries and cultures see the UK...we just see ourselves as a very insignificant part of this lineage. The industry here, although it is over focused on young new music, is globally renown for incubating and supporting unique new acts. It's cool to be part of this culture. 


-What's your favourite artist and song?

Blind Willie McTell and Fred McDowell were both real Musial revelations. The eternal songwriters cliched love of Bob Dylan hangs true for me. I love 'Wedding Bells' by Hank Williams. 



-Who do you think are the most relevant musicians nowadays and who are
you listening to the most?

Some current acts for me right now...Laura Marling, Tallest Man On Earth, Fionn Regan, Cold War Kids, Villagers, The Low Anthem, Rival Sons...off the top of my head. 


-How much does the live element matter in your music? You have toured
almost all of europe and have gigged in america: what's your
relationship with the stage?

Playing live and touring is essential for us as musicians. I become restless at home, a good show places you right in the moment. It becomes addictive. On the road there are zero responsibilities and it gives you a very clear focus on the music and what you want from a show. Our music is meant to be played live. 



-If you could pick an artist or a band to play with on a stage, who
would you choose?
@Kill It Kid on stage

I'd like to play with a band or artist I respect hugely...maybe Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Jack White...there is so many!


-What do you think about the music industry nowadays?

I try to think about it very little. 


-What is the message that you'd like to express to the people who
listen to your music?

We have no overarching message. Just that we care about what we do, we mean it and are appreciative we have people to share it with. 


-”Feet Fall Heavy” feautures samples of Alan Lomax, wanna talk us
about this character?

They aren't samples of Alan Lomax. If you listen through to the record you'll hear the samples are a host of pre war musicians, preachers and prisoners. John and Alan Lomax were archivists and ethnomusicologists, the samples we chose were collected by him for the archive of American Folk Music. 



-What is your favourite book and movie?

I love The Subterraneans by Kerouac...and Another Country by James Baldwin. I'm obsessed with early Hitchcock films at the moment. 



-How and where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

I have no idea, hopefully playing music for a living. 


-Beatles or Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones






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