Kill It Kid

Influences and sound

Kill it Kid originally blended roots, rock and blues lead by vocals from both Chris Turpin and Stephanie Ward; their line-up has included slide guitar, fiddle and on rare occasion banjo. Although the band never really saw their music as folk, the band were initially linked to the British nu-folk revival.

Now a four piece, the band's output, as showcased in their album 'Feet Fall Heavy' (2011), is guitar-driven, drum heavy and raw, and has drawn comparisons to bands like The White Stripes. 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. [...]'

The band are influenced by British Blues, Delta Blues & roots; the band's name is a reference to a Blind Willie McTell song, "Kill it Kid".

History

Kill it Kid met and formed in Bath, where its original band members lived (most were students at Bath Spa University): "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. Marc [sic.] saw me at a solo gig, he backed me at some gigs. we then decided to get everyone in a room together."

In February 2008 John Parish [producer of PJ Harvey, Eels] was invited by a tutor at the University Chris, Marc & Steph attended to discuss recording. He took a group into the studio whislt students watched – Big Brother style. Kill It Kid were that guinea pig band. "We sat and slogged for 12-hour days singing over and over again trying to get these songs right whilst 20 or so students sat the other room listening" explained KIK's vocalist Chris Turpin. "It was a bit strange – I don't know if there was tutoring going on or what." The finished product became their debut EP, which drew increasing label interest.

Kill It Kid were signed to One Little Indian Records three months later and began touring the UK. In January 2009 they went to Seattle to record their debut album with producer Ryan Hadlock, (Foo Fighters, The Gossip, The Strokes) in Bear Creek Studios After two successful single releases, they released their self-titled debut album in October 2009, to critical acclaim. The album was subsequently nominated for XFM's New Music Award 2010.

Kill it Kid's second album, Feet Fall Heavy was produced by Leo Abrahams and recorded at Fortress Studios in Shoreditch over a period of ten days; it features samples of Alan Lomax field recordings, and has received widespread critical acclaim. Feet Fall Heavy was to be released on 19 September 2011 but distribution was disrupted after rioters set fire to and destroyed a Sony warehouse in Enfield, North London (used by independent-music distributor PIAS) in which most of the existing physical copies of the album were being stored (see: 2011 England riots).

Kill it Kid have toured the UK and Ireland extensively as well as throughout Europe, with occasional US appearances. They have played festivals including South by Southwest (Austin, Texas), and Hop Farm in 2010 (headlined by Bob Dylan).

Their song "Run" featured on the 2013 Samsung commercial "Charge" Directed by Romain Gavras. The commercial depicts a man sitting on a beach with scenes from multiple movies rushing at him before he uses voice and motion control to select a movie.

Current members

Former members

Studio albums

Live albums

Singles and EPs