This is Tom
and Jon from KUBE Radio here with Adio Marchant and Simeon McLean from KID BRITISH.
Your sound is a mix of indie rock, ska and hip-hop, what were your main influences when growing up?
Adio: Mainly hip-hop
Simeon: Yeah, we’re more into hip-hop, but the other members of the band have many other influences so when it comes to recording we all bring different things to the table and our sound goes from there.
When did you first start playing together?
A: About 4 years ago
S: We had all been doing our own projects but Kid British as a band came together about 4 years ago.
You’ve covered a wide range of songs from Katy Perry (Hot & Cold) to Green Day (Know Your Enemy), where do you get the ideas to play such a variety of songs?
A: As we said, we all have so many influences so someone will come into the studio with a song they like and we’ll work with it
S: We try to play songs that you wouldn’t expect from our sort of genre, and rather than just cover it we like to put our own sound on it
A: It keeps it fresh as well; we like to make it sound different so it almost gives the song a new meaning, as the lyrics come out in a new way.
In the past you’ve done end of season football raps for Soccer AM, will you be doing one this year?
A: I probably will do one this year actually
S: I’ve just been texting Tubes (from Soccer AM), so we should probably do a rap battle (laughs).
A: Yeah, the season’s been really close this year so it will be interesting, I’m a Man City fan while the rest of the boys are United, so I’m just praying we can win the FA Cup!
You’ve supported the likes of The Enemy and The Specials, who is the best to tour with and why?
A: It’s all about having the best time together, and all the bands have been great, but I have to say that the UB40 tour we did last year was great, just to see a band like them who’ve kept going after all these years and still really enjoy it and play well, it was a real eye-opener for us
What kind of advice to get from older bands such as UB40 and The Specials?
A: Just to keep on going, keep doing what you’re doing, enjoy it and never give up, because as soon as you stop obviously you have no chance.
S: People say that we are kinda like these bands, and to hear from UB40 and The Specials that what we are doing is good is the best kind of recognition we can get and will always make us keep going.
Would you compare yourself to any other artists out today?
A: I’d say that we know other people who are trying to bring out that ‘youth’ sound, like the Eliza Doolittle’s, that quirky, fun sound. I think artists like her share the same ethos as us.
Where’s your favorite place tour and what’s the best venue you’ve played at?
S: We always like playing in Manchester, where we’re from, because you get to see your home fans come out and still supporting you.
A: On the UB40 tour we played Brixton Academy and the Apollo, it was great to play such historic venues like them
S: Oh we also played the Barrowlands in Glasgow with The Enemy; the atmosphere was amazing it was really bouncing there. Also, when promoting our London tour we decided to play at stations in the underground, which was really fun. It was exciting because we never knew when we were going to get moved on by the police. We even ended up in the same carriage as Boris Johnson; I think he thought we were protestors (laughs)
What do you think of Keele?
A: It’s nice, especially compared to other student unions we’ve been too. It’s great because we’ve been given a great spread of food, Coronas and Red Bull
S: The only problem is, with a band this size, it only means two Coronas each (laughs)
Do you ever get nervous playing such big gigs?
A: Yeah, our old bass player was sick before we opened for The Specials (laughs). But I think with gigs like that it progresses, you go from seeing the Specials, talking to them, certain members speaking to you on a first-name basis, to them playing with us and liking our music, its really good.
What’s the most embarrassing moment you’ve had on stage?
A: Probably saying the wrong city! I was in Newcastle and I’d had a heavy one the night before, and I just stared into the mic and shouted ‘how you doing, Birmingham?!’ and the next thing I knew everyone was booing us.
S: Whenever something that happens we always try and improvise, say something like ‘lets make sure they can hear us over in Birmingham!’
What are your plans for the rest of 2011?
A: We’re just going to see if we can get some releases out this year, we have everything ready we just need to find a way to release it, that’s the next big step forward for Kid British.
S: We’re also playing a few festivals, the dates are on our website, some little ones and a couple of big ones, but you’ll have to wait until the line ups are announced, so watch out.
