Jump to content

Kill It Kid

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 86.174.168.6 (talk) at 01:25, 29 January 2012 (PIAS link). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Kill It Kid
OriginBath, England
GenresBlues/rock
Years active2008-present
LabelsOne Little Indian, EMI


Kill It Kid (sometimes shortened to KIK) are a four-piece British blues/grunge/Americana band based in Bath and fronted by both Chris Turpin and Stephanie Ward.

Their first album Kill it Kid (2009) was widely recognised as one of the best new acts of 2009, with magazines such as NME and Clash rating the debut album 8 and 9 out of 10 respectively; the album was nominated for XFM's New Music Award 2010. [1] [2][3][4] [5][6][7][8]

Kill it Kid signed a publishing deal with EMI in 2011[9]. They released their first two albums on London indie label, One Little Indian Records[10], whose roster includes Bjork and Skunk Anansie.

Influences and Sound

The band have a unique sound, and features lead vocals by both Chris Turpin and Stephanie Ward; their line-up has included slide guitar, fiddle and at times banjo. Although the band never really saw their music as folk, [11] they were originally linked to British nu-folk.

Now a four piece, [12] their music, as showcased in their album 'Feet Fall Heavy' (2011), has is more guitar-driven and overtly bluesy. Chris Turpin describes the change in a 2011 interview: ‘It’s an entirely different record, it almost feels like a different band, to be honest. It’s just the reality of living and working in the music industry for two years and turning into a family band. You all become siblings which is a bit peculiar after like, the seventeenth day on the road. The main difference is there’s no violin and there’s no acoustic guitars, it’s a much heavier process. [...]'[13]

The band are strongly influenced by British Blues, Delta Blues, roots and Ragtime; the band's name is a reference to a Blind Willie McTell[14] song, 'Kill it Kid Rag'.

History

Kill it Kid met and formed in Bath, where its original members lived (most were students at Bath Spa University):[15][16]"I [Chris] was gigging on my own doing solo pre war acoustic blues, Steph was doing similar on the other side of the scale, Bessie Smith and all the early female blues. We started playing together in different little groups, I was playing behind her in some jazz concerts and she had come to see my shows. Mark [sic.] saw me at a solo gig and we all decided to get everyone in a room together." [17]

In February 2008 John Parish [producer of PJ Harvey, Eels] was invited by a tutor at Bath Spa University to exhibit his recording skills by taking a group into the studio and letting students watch - Big Brother style. Kill It Kid were that guinea pig band. "We sat and slogged for like 12 hour days singing over and over again trying to get these songs right whilst about 20 students sat in the other room listening to us," explained KIK's vocalist Chris Turpin. "It was a bit strange - I don't know if there was tutoring going on or what." However, behind the glass screen and under the pressure Richard Jones [violin], Adam Timmins [bass], Stephanie Ward [vocals/piano], Marc Jones [drums] and Turpin produced their debut EP, which drew increasing label interest. [18]

Kill It Kid were signed to One Little Indian Records three months later and began touring the UK widely. In January 2009 they were flown to Seattle to record their debut album with the legendary producer Ryan Hadlock (Foo Fighters, The Gossip, The Strokes) in the world famous Bear Creek studio.[19] After two successful single releases from that album they released their self titled debut album in October 2009 to critical acclaim. Subsequently the album was nominated for XFM's New Music Award 2010.[20] [21][22][23] [24][25][26][27][28]

They were due to release their second album Feet Fall Heavy on One Little Indian on September 19, 2011. However, the majority of the stock for the album was destroyed when a Sony/PIAS-owned warehouse in Enfield, North London containing stock belonging primarily to British indie labels and the British film industry was set on fire by rioters (2011 England riots)[29]. Despite this, the band stated on Twitter that the album release would not be delayed. The album in question, Feet Fall Heavy, was produced by Leo Abrahams and recorded in Shoreditch over a period of ten days [30]; it features samples of Alan Lomax [31] recordings.

Kill it Kid have toured the UK and Ireland extensively, both as headliners and as supporting acts for the likes of Brandi Carlile, Feeder, Foy Vance, Pete and the Pirates. The band have also toured throughout Eastern Europe and Western Europe, supporting bands including The Real McKenzies, and have gigged in the US, notably at the spring break festival South by Southwest (Austin, Texas) in 2010 and 2011.[32][33][34][35]

Members

Current Members

  • Chris Turpin - Guitar, Vocals
  • Stephanie Ward - Piano, Vocals
  • Dom Kozubik - Bass - (2011-present)
  • Mark Jones - Drums, Percussion

Former members

  • Richard Jones - Violin, Backing Vocals. Left band in 2011. Credits: 'Burst its Banks' EP;'Kill It Kid' album
  • Adam Timmins - Bass, Banjo. Left band in 2011. Credits: 'Burst its Banks' EP; 'Kill It Kid' album; 'Feet Fall Heavy' album [36]

Discography

Albums

Singles and EPs

  • Burst Its Banks, LTD edition EP, (2008)

References