In Conversation With #101 - KID DAD
Alt-rockers KID DAD have just released their debut album ‘In A Box’ via Longbranch Records. They took a moment to talk to us about dealing with emotions and how the album came together.
Hey KID DAD - how are you? So the album is here - how does it feel to have the debut out there finally in the world?
We're perfect, thank you!
We worked for this album for years. The songs contain many of our deepest thoughts and fears and to release it feels like releasing all of them. It's like ending therapy somehow, but in a good, successful way.
It is titled - ‘In A Box’ - does that hold a certain meaning?
Yes, great that you ask! The songs on the album tell stories about dealing with certain emotions and intense, challenging situations. In some of them we feel like running away and breaking out of the box, in some we want to hide inside of it. Just imagine someone asking you if you are an introvert or an extrovert. Are you sure, that it's that easy of a question and correct to categorize people like that? I know people that are known for being cool and chill and have an iron heart but lose control about things a seemingly “weaker” looking person would laugh off. We're all different and we are all beautiful and it is absolutely okay to cry about things others don't cry about. Stay true to your heart and start finding yourself. We hope people who listen to our album start loving themselves by looking inside of their heads and hearts.
Where was the album recorded?
The recording process started in early 2018 and ended in fall 2019. We didn't have enough money to record a full album but we wrote many songs until 2018 so we released single by single by single to make people notice us and to figure out which recording setup is perfect for us and what we wanted to sound like on the album. While "Happy" was recorded in Hannover and "Naked Creatures" and "Window" near Bremen, the rest of the album was recorded in Berlin. In total we went to five different studios and switched from recording live to track by track recording to half-half to give every song what we thought it needed. We used the fact of not being a rich band to discover our preferences and we loved every second of it!
This creative process for this album was put together in a number of countries - England, China to name a few and even some time in Berlin. Do you feel the mixture of locations has helped shape the sound of ‘In A Box’?
That connects perfectly to the previous question haha! Yes, indeed, I personally love to write in different setups, places and vibes to get the maximum of inspiration. Some tunes were written on the floor in a storage room in China, others in a flat in London, some in my kitchen but they all came together in our practice room where all of us together shaped them into a record. We get bored quickly so we always want to make sure that our songs don't sound similar to each other, because life isn't uni-colored, either.
What are the key influences and themes on this album?
I think our main influence is the emotions we have. You know, we are super sensitive guys and feel uncomfortable very easily. These situations and the emotions following them is what makes us write songs and play music. It's our language. We can say things we couldn't even stutter or spell out in real life, but if we deliver it through a song, we can shout it out until we lose our voices. Funny, isn't it?
Our musical influences can either be titled as endless or not existing. I think the nineties shaped us very much because we grew up with its music but I think none of us would say that we are really a nineties band. There isn't a single artist, act or band all band members could listen to all day, but that's what makes it so beautiful for us. It gives us the chance to create our own style and songs and helps being more “unique”. If I had to choose three artists that inspire me the most making the music and writing the texts I write, I'd say Radiohead, Billie Eilish and Mac Miller, but that's just my personal preference. :)
Do you have a favorite lyric on the album? If so, which one and why?
For me they all describe feelings I had and I feel all of them again by reading them. One song that stands out for me lyrically is "Live With It", because of its unusual structure and the storytelling. The lyrics remind me of my post-childhood, which was a tough time for me and it feels like freeing myself from all of the shit that happened every time I sing it. But I also love "Window" because of its motives. For me it's like reading a book at night.
Now the album is out there - what next for KID DAD?
We hope that we can start touring as soon as possible. Writing and recording songs is only half of the game. We wanna play and take it to the streets. We are also already working on our sophomore album by writing songs and collecting ideas and concepts. We are also collecting money to donate to SOS Kinderdorf and NSPCC to support their fight against domestic violence against kids. It's a super important topic to us and we want to raise awareness, so if you wanna help please us check out our website!