Three years since their formation, UAE-based rock band Kicksound are finally ready to release their first EP.
The eponymous four-track record is a teaser of what vocalist-guitarist Olly Ephgrave, drummer Branislav Trkulja and bassist Will Skidmore have to offer. At the forefront of the songs are Ephgrave’s crisp vocals, switching seamlessly between nasally and dark, while Trkulja and Skidmore build wistful, often regretful melodies to set the mood.
“There is no set theme, but there was a real effort in the production to make the sound cohesive,” Ephgrave told tabloid! of the record, which was produced by Elvis Garagric at SoundStruck Studios.
By Now, the leading single off the album, is what Ephgrave describes as “melodic but meaty”. Brain Dead is “punk-influenced, up-tempo and in-your-face”. Find A Way is “radio-friendly” and Holy Prize is a “dark, twisted love song” that packs a dramatic punch.
After performing at Beats on the Beach in Abu Dhabi last month (alongside the likes of Miguel, Jason Derulo and Rita Ora), the band is gearing up to launch their EP with a performance at Legends, Chelsea Plaza Hotel, on November 14. There, they will be supported by various locally-based artists, including Neil d’Cruz of Nikotin and Colombian singer Fatiniza. Physical copies of the EP, which is currently streaming on kicksound.com, will be available for sale.
In the meantime, Ephgrave told us what inspires his songwriting process, and why their sound can be compared to a bowl of fusilli pasta.
Firstly, how did you come up with the name Kicksound?
Kicksound was a name that we came up with in a moment of desperation before our first gig. We had to come up with something and that was the name that everyone hated the least!
Why an EP rather than a full-length album?
We have enough material to record a full-length album but, as we are an independent artist, we wanted to do the most with our budget — it was about quality rather than quantity.
What are the lyrics inspired by?
For the EP, the music and lyrics were written by me. The lyrics are primarily on the melancholic side, but this is the case with most hard rock music. Heavy guitars and riffs tend to fit better with darker subject matter. If your favourite song is Happy by Pharrell, then you probably won’t like us. But I wouldn’t say we are a depressing band to watch or listen [to] — even though the subject matter is on the angsty side, we always try to make music with power, energy and melody.
How was your experience performing at Beats on the Beach? Did you run into anyone famous backstage?
The whole experience at Beats on the Beach was incredible. There were thousands of people there and it was by far our largest and most diverse crowd, from kids to elderly people. We even had people singing along to the songs, which was an amazing feeling. We were hoping to mingle with the international stars, like Rita Ora, but there were pretty tight security and privacy restrictions.
If your music was a food item, what would it be and why?
It would be whole-wheat fusilli pasta — dark, hard, raw and twisted.
— Tickets, available at the door, are Dh50 and include one beverage. Event begins at 8pm.
