News

Introducing… The Kixx

• 4th Aug 2010

The Kixx want to be known as a pop band. But there’s a lot more to them than most pop bands. The Kixx don’t do dance routines or sit on stools. They’re way too busy causing chaos by playing their music for real. And it really is their music – all ten tracks on their debut (as yet untitled) album were written by the band. That’s the same four, good-looking lads from Reading – now aged between 18 and 20 – who have been writing songs and organising their own gigs since two of them were 12.

The Kixx are happy for their music to be branded pop. But as fans of everyone from Muse and Matchbox 20 to the Beach Boys and Buddy Holly and even Johnny Cash and Rascal Flatts, they’re not interested in sticking to one style. Their debut record runs the gamut from fast-paced, hook-laden synth-pop (first single Already Gone) and big, heart-rending ballads (Apology and Breathless) to stadium-sized rock (There She Goes Again, We Begin At The End) and even a stripped-down, strings-backed, acoustic song (Close To Me). All four members sing –they interchange lead vocals and harmonise as well as the best. As The Kixx like to put it, “We’re always all there, on every song”.

The story of The Kixx starts in the first year of secondary school, when future frontmen David and Robbie formed an acoustic guitar duo inspired by Jason Mraz and Jack Johnson. A year later, they became a quartet after meeting bassist Jack at a party and bringing on board drummer Dave. Their first song was an angry attack on the vanity of Hollywood stars – “We’ve toned down a bit since those days,” laughs David – and although they weren’t sure how they wanted to sound, they were set on performing their own songs.

For two years, they played everywhere that would have them. They booked youth clubs and scout huts, making their money back by selling tickets. They recorded two EPs, which they sold from the back of a car. They, er, borrowed a music industry contacts book from their local library and sent the EPs to umpteen names they didn’t know. The only responses came from dodgy managers asking them to sign away their songs.

Their break came when The Kixx were asked to appear at charity concert The Big Sing. It wasn’t really their scene, but the chance to play London’s O2 Arena was too tempting. Their two song set was witnessed by Mike Peden, a writer/producer and former member of The Chimes who had just left his job as A&R Director at Warner Music to set up a label with ex Sony Music COO Tim Bowen. Peden immediately spotted their potential and The Kixx became one of the first signings to new label BPM.

Rather than pair them with co-writers, Peden sent The Kixx to compose an entire album.

“We wrote on acoustic guitars, literally locked in a room together from 9am to 6pm every day, drinking countless cups of tea. We’d write and record, send the songs to Mike and, mostly, he’d reject them. That was tough, but it taught us the difference between a good song and a great one,” recalls Robbie.

Patiently, and over the last 18 months the band has been writing and recording in London and New York. Their album has been produced by Jack Daley, who has worked with everyone from Lenny Kravitz and Leona Lewis to Jason Mraz and Michael and Janet Jackson.

“We had no idea we were going to New York,” says Dave. “Working with Jack was an amazing experience. We recorded in studios in Brooklyn and New Jersey and worked with great producers. Our album wouldn’t sound the way it does had we not gone to the States. We got that fat, heavy, American sound that jumps from the speakers. We’re not trying to sound American – our voices and lyrics are very obviously British – we just wanted an epic-sounding album.”

Recording was completed at the start of this year. While the album was being mixed and mastered, The Kixx got back to doing what they love best – performing. First was a UK tour of underage clubs, where they played alongside R&B acts and rappers.

“We weren’t sure how we’d go down,” admits Dave. “We’re a pop band – not a traditional one, but still a pop band – and suddenly we’re supporting Roll Deep. We could have been booed off stage. Instead, we got the whole club jumping up and down. Kids can tell if you’re genuine – real friends who really love making music. We go out to have a good time and to give the crowd a good time and that always comes across.”

Next was a four-week tour of schools. Playing two or three, 25 minute sets per day – over 40 schools in total – as well as lugging their own gear, doing signing sessions and taking part in Q&As with pupils was a real learning curve.

“We’ve never worked so hard in our lives,” laughs Jack. “But it was a good chance to prove ourselves. Some of the kids were expecting a tame boy band doing dance routines, but there wasn’t one school we didn’t win over.”
“At the start of one show, a boy stood up and challenged me to a fight,” recalls Robbie. “By the end, he was jumping around saying how much he loved it. We had tough boys come up and whisper that they wanted an autograph, hiding pieces of paper behind their backs.”

Mostly though, The Kixx were greeted by screaming girls. There was a Q&A session where David was asked if it hurt when he fell from heaven. Several times they were chased outside or found girls hiding in the back of their van. One even tried to take their spare tyre as a souvenir.

Currently the boys are performing at festivals with another schools tour starting in September.

“We have no idea what’s going to happen, but we love that,” says David. “We’re prepared for crazy girls. That’s part of what being in a pop band’s about.”