Interview Kick Box Riot

Kick Box Riot are a band on the up. After faithfully capturing local hearts in their homeland of south Wales, their new mini-album 'Seeing Ghosts' is clawing at wider audiences like an angry marmoset falling out of a tree. With a satisfyingly jangly guitar sound underpinned by singer Mike's raspy, almost Tim McIlrath-like intonation, there's a sense of melodic, yet understated force lurking behind each riff-drenched tune.

Date: 30/04/08

AudioScribbler: How did kickboxriot form and who came up with the name?

Kickboxriot: We formed through being friends and playing together in various local bands. Mike came up with the name one day and that was it really. Mike came up with the name one day and that was it really.

AS: What's the weirdest thing that's ever happened to you as a band?

 
KBR: We once received a message off a young lad saying “You messed with the wrong boy. You better not come to Neath ever again!” Something along those lines, haha. That was pretty weird. Our E.P launch sold out as well. That was odd. But very pleasing.

AS: So, the EP, 'Seeing Ghosts', where was it recorded and who with? How long have you been working on your sound and how long did it take to get there?

KBR: It was recorded in SKWAD HQ, in Pontypridd with a really good friend of ours - Todd Campbell. We never really worked on a sound or set out to be a particular kind of band. We just got together and played whatever ever we played and kept what we thought was good.

AS: I thought I could detect a hint of Rise Against's Tim McIlrath in Mike's voice, what are the band's influences, both individually and as a band?

Mike: That’s awesome, I love Rise Against so that makes me happy to hear. None of us really listen to the same music, there are obviously bands that we all like but there are so many that one of us will like and everyone else will hate. When I first started out bands like Helmet and Deftones were a massive influence on me. But then there were things like Elvis Costello, The Cure and Johnny Cash too. There’s lots and lots.

 
AS: How do you go about writing a song? Is it a democratic process or does a main songwriter bring compositions to the band?

KBR: We don’t really have a set way of writing songs. We pretty much make it up as we go along. Just playing ideas to each other and then seeing who comes up with what. Mike writes all the lyrics but other than that it’s a free for all.

AS: How do you go about writing a song? Is it a democratic process or does a main songwriter bring compositions to the band?

KBR: I think the main ‘philosophy’ with the band is to be a great live band. Anybody can go in a studio and pay thousands of pounds to have someone make them sound completely different. Seeing a band put on an awesome live show is amazing and that’s what we hope to achieve.

AS: The T shirts advertised on your MySpace page are impressive, who came up with the designs?

KBR: Mike came up with the designs. He designs everything. He designed our MySpace page, he designed the CD artwork, he designed all the t-shirts he even designed the flyers we had printed for our E.P launch. He’s a good egg, and very clever.

AS: What would you have on your ideal tour bus? Money being no issue!

 
KBR: A bouncy castle. It would have to be a pretty big bus but yeh! Imagine a bus with a massive bouncy castle on it, with all pictures of pirates on it. That would be great. We would have to keep John-Marc off it though. The last time he went on a bouncy castle he smashed some of his teeth out with his knees. Haha!

AS: If you could work with any producer for your debut album, who would you choose?

KBR: I’ve never really thought about it, probably Todd again. Just up his house in Pontypridd. Although, we went out for a meal last night and we had a few drinks and then he asked me if I wanted a fight.

AS: What are you up to in the immediate future, are you playing any festivals this year, and where do you see yourselves in a year's time?

KBR: We are playing Wakestock festival this year which we are all really excited about, there are lots of awesome bands playing which is great. The Futureheads, Funeral for a friend, Lightspeed Champion. It’s gonna be a really good weekend!

Words: Kane Fulton
www.myspace.com/kickboxriot