With a string of very positive quotes attached to their PR piece from the likes of BBC Introducing, Kanadia are definitely building up their CV and proving their pedigree. But who are they, where are they from and – more importantly – what do they put on their toast? These and other in-depth questions are asked, and answered, below…
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
We are from Oxford, UK.
How did you meet?
Myself (James) and Melissa were already in a band based in Devon and decided to relocate to Oxford where we met Jack and Tim through attending other band’s gigs and advertising.
How long have you been playing as a band?
Things started to take shape in late 2015, we performed our first gig in February 2016.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
The name comes from the title of one of our oldest songs that I must have written in around 2009. It was just a friend’s mis-pronunciation.
What are your influences?
Between the four of us it’s quite a large range of influences, but there is a middle ground of bands like Radiohead, Foals, My Morning Jacket, Beach House and The National.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
I think our writing process is a very natural one. We tend to let the ideas lead us, rather than trying to force a particular sound. I think, as a band, we can all agree that we want to constantly develop new sounds and never cover the same ground twice. Even at this stage of being on the verge of completing our debut album, we are already very much focusing on where we want to go next.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
A lot of the material that will be included on the first album was written back in a small seaside town in Devon. As a result, quite a bit of it is about feelings of hopelessness, anger and an overall sense of being trapped. The lyrics are always quite loose and I never tend to make anything have a strict meaning.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
Our live shows are probably the best bit. I think last year we played around 40 shows. Ranging from rubbish ones that had seven people attending, to playing Common People Festival which had an attendance of several thousand.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
In one of our early gigs last year I cut my hand open by pulling the strings off my guitar during the outro of a song.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
I use an Epiphone Sheraton, a Strymon Blue Sky (which sounds incredible) a RAT Distortion, and a Vox Ac30.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
The release of our debut single “Ocean Blue” which is out on October 3rd. You can download it on iTunes, watch the video on Youtube and listen on Spotify.
What are your plans for the rest of 2017?
We have a short November Tour lined up to promote “Ocean Blue”. It kicks of with a gig at O2 Oxford, then London, Birmingham, Brighton and Wycombe. We are also still busy mixing the last of the tracks on the album.
From previous Band of the Day Three Kings High: What’s the best online resource for getting your music out there in your experience, and how do you use it?
It’s still something we are trying to figure out. Spotify is obviously very popular and a great platform to get yourself heard. Something that has worked very well for us is Facebook advertising. We have managed to gain fans from all over the world from using this. Some people tend to look down their nose about gaining fans this way. To be honest if people like your music over in Japan or the States it’s a good feeling. The likelihood of us playing these places anytime soon is low. Regardless, it’s good to know people are into what you do.
From another BotD, Spylights: What do you do to stay inspired and creative during rough times?
We are still trying to figure that one out ourselves. Personally I’m considering mountain biking. Something that briefly draws your attention away from obsessing.
And from The Blend: What do you put on your toast?
Peanut butter.
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