This year has already seen Kids Can't Fly complete a tour and release a new EP. We recently caught up with the Southampton six-piece to find out a little more about them and their plans for the future...
R13: For those who have never heard of Kids Can't Fly, how would you describe your musical style?
Kids Can't Fly: Right now I'd say we are Pop-Punk/Rock with catchy choruses and horn lines with an uplifting feel good vibe!
R13: What made you decide on adding a horn section to your music?
KCF: The band was formed by the two horn players (Dave and Chris) so I guess we had no choice in the matter!
R13: How does it feel to be called an "English Fall Out Boy" or "Four Year Strong with horns"?
KCF: Very flattering, we all love both those bands! Perhaps we can tour with Four Year Strong one day!
R13: Over the last year the band has been getting much more attention. How does it feel?
KCF: It's exciting to see all our hard work paying off, we've put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into this band; often quite literally. So we are feeling rather chuffed with ourselves...but we know we're only just getting started.
R13: What can listeners expect from your recent EP 'Northern Horizons'?
KCF: Each track has something different and special about it for us, and lyrically it means a lot too; especially to Robin in the case of a few songs. We like to think they are very catchy tunes too, so expect big choruses with stick in your head with horns and harmonies to boot.
R13: Your single 'Stick To Your Guns', has been viewed over five and a half thousand times on YouTube within the last four weeks. That must be an amazing feeling?
KCF: Wow, I didn't even realise. It's pretty amazing that people care enough to check it out. We've not had this new video played on telly or anything, and with so much choice and entertainment on the web it's pretty special that all those folks bother to take three and half minutes to watch us muck about.
R13: What is this song about?
KCF: It's basically about believing in yourself, doing what you want to do, and not worrying about what other people think about it. It's a double meaning for us. A lot of young folks try to step outside the box and get persecuted by their peers... individuality makes the world turn and people should never have to suffer bullying anywhere or at any age however they choose to be. Also, we try to be a little different musically and from typical band culture, and sometimes people don't get us or put us down. So this a middle finger to all of them!
R13: What sorts of things inspire you when writing and making music?
KCF: Any kind of struggle is a big inspiration. Trying to overcome difficult things stirs up a lot of emotion and failing or succeeding at those things even more so. Whether it be keeping up with friends, family, work, money, love, health, society...who knows. Life is full of challenges and complex feelings.
R13: What is the concept behind the 'Esmeralda' video?
KCF: It's kind of an artsy and pretentious take on unfulfilled expectations, worked in such a way that we get to leap about in front of fancy lights and watch the lovely Rebecca Bone smash a load of stuff up.
R13: How are musical differences settled when creating music?
KCF: Topless wrestling.
R13: Is there any particular artist you would like to collaborate with?
KCF: I know that for some of us, Fall Out Boy are a mega favourite, but it's a little late for that one. It'd be awesome to do a collaboration with someone from a less obvious musical background like Imogen Heap or Tom Jones...that'd make something pretty fresh!
R13: What three albums couldn't you live without?
KCF: Puzzle (Biffy Clyro), Progress (RX Bandits), Escape (Journey)
R13: Who has been the most exciting band to tour with so far?
KCF: We've not done a lot of tours where we're not the headliner, but that doesn't mean we haven't loved touring with our friends in bands like the late Mimi Soya, The First and up and comers These City Lights. As for our favourite support slot, definitely LTJ, the nerves meant it wasn't one of our all time best performances, but it was a real honour to be on that bill for a bunch of blokes who grew up on Ska Punk.
R13: If you could support anyone who would it be and why?
KCF: We'd love to play with Fall Out Boy on a comeback tour!
R13: You recently played O2 Academy 2 Islington. How was that experience?
KCF: It was pretty cool. It's an awesome little venue with a wicked reputation. Academy shows are one for the bucket list, especially in the nation's capital. Bring on Academy 1!
R13: Of all the venues you haven played which has been the most memorable and why?
KCF: The Joiners is our favourite. Is an awesome little venue with a great reputation right in our home town. We've all watched and played countless shows there in various bands since we were kids and now being on that stage in front a sweaty and screaming sell-out crowd is just incredible.
R13: Which venue would you most like to be and why would you like to play there?
KCF: Wembley Arena just so I can shout "Hello Wembley" without it being a lame joke and also because it would kick such an incredible amount of ass to be able to play to like a bazillion people at once.
R13: You must have so many tales of the road, what's most memorable in your mind?
KCF: Wow... so many to choose from. Most of which are far too inappropriate to mention. There's a lot of drunken nudity involved. Once upon a time at a festival in a busy gents toilet, Robin and Dave decided (in a moment of Ghostbusters inspired madness) to try and cross the streams despite being separated by about 8 urinating chaps who were less than pleased by the crossfire. In the process they also noticed that they are apparently "dick twins", which in itself has led to all sorts of full frontal shenanigans. All a bit wrong really, but seems funny at the time.
R13: Lastly, do you have any plans for an album release?
KCF: We do indeed, we're currently finishing off writing and demoing our full length debut and gearing up for pre-production. It's going to be quite heavy and a little more progressive, but still catchy and uplifting with bouncy vibes and big horns. We're still deciding on a producer and studio for it, but you can expect some new singles that will feature on the album in the coming months, and the finished article itself in early 2013...providing the world hasn't ended!
Here's hoping all the 2012 World Ending chitter chatter is just that and bring on the album, we can't wait!