interview with Katalina Kicks
Have any of you played in other bands?
Ian: Yes quite a few in the past, but only the Kicks now, as it’s pretty full time.
How is it that you started playing music?
Ian: Likewise!
What are your names? / Who plays what?
Jase: I’m Jase and I play drums and bad backing vocals.
Ian: I’m Ian and I play the guitar and sing!
Conor: I’m Conor and I play the bass.
Jase: young I’m still young cheeky!!!
Ian: I’ve always made music!
Ian: Melodic but aggressive Punky Rock n roll
Jase: My mum - that woman is incredible!!!
Ian: Being alive!
Ian: Jase is a liar - he loves a good bouquet! I like
Jase: The industry has changed dramatically over the years and the question would be would you want to give most of your business away to a label?
Ian: I wanted to write music that made people mosh! Something with some substance too lyrically.
Ian: I’ll try that one day!
Jase: All press is good press and we really appreciate people like your good-self that spread the word. You definitely like to keep busy, which is great!!
Jase: Ian is my idol he’s a rock God but doesn’t even know it.
Ian: haha!
Jase: I take my inspiration from everything a round it could be the sound of the tube on the tracks that plays a rhythmic beat that I think could add texture to a new track or the latest Taylor swift song.
Ian: likewise (apart from Taylor Swift!)
Did you make music even when you were young?
Where are you from? We are nomads from all over England but currently play out of London.
What year did the band form? Ian: 2009, but this latest version of the band with me, Jase and Con was in 2017.
What's your style of genre?
Jase: Rock but not that old 70’s re hash stuff that you see every band trying to be at the moment. I love old school hip hop with a message.
What inspires you?
How often and where do you reherse? Jase: Currently we are rehearsing once a week and ramp that up when we have shows coming up.
How have you developed since you started with the music? Jase. Personally dramatically with KK. Ian pushes the boundaries musically and keeps me on my toes. Also my riff writing has been inspired and when we get together in the studio it all gels!!
Do you have other interests of work outside the band?
Jase: I’m a keen flower arranger. (Not really)
Are you looking for a booking agency, and what are your thoughts around that? Jase: we already have one.
Are you looking for a label, and what are your thoughts around that?
In saying that if a major offered a serious deal then of course you would consider your options.
Ian: We run our own label and distribute through AWAL.
What made you decide to make this music?
Jase: I just love to entertain people and being able to rock a show and see people’s reactions is priceless.
What are your songs about? Jase: I think we write about what we see and feel. So a lot of the music is our thoughts and opinions.
Who does the composing and writes the lyrics? Ian.
Do you start with the music or the lyrics? That depends. Usually it can be a riff we record and then work out a structure or Ian has an idea and we throw it out and see where it leads us.
Do you compose in a certain environment? No it’s when inspiration strikes you just act on it.
Have you done any covers live? Jase: yeah we have done Iggy And the stooges search and Destroy that was an amazing track to play and really punk it up!!
What language do you sing in?
Jase: Always in English but I’ve been asking Ian to do a song in Mandarin but he’s having none of it.
What are the least and most people to attend one of your gigs? From 1 man and his dog and 5000 at In music festival in Croatia.
What ages are most of your concert attendants? Con: good question as it’s funny we really don’t get the time to ask their ages as we are playing. However visually I’d say from 19-35.
Do you always play the same songs live, or do you vary? Jase. We have a set list we pick from but usually Ian changes that depending on the crowd. If the punky tracks are going down better then we arrange the set to add in more punkier songs. All work in progress and keeps the gigs dangerous.
Do you have a regular place you play live often? Con: No not really - we are Nomads and love to travel to different cities and venues.
What was your first gig like? Jase: Terrible spent most of the day sat in the toilet being sick with nerves!!!
What was your latest gig? Con: We played the Camden Rocks Festival and Beardsterdam festival in Amsterdam.
Have you had to cancel a gig? Jase: Never we have always played every show. We have been sick had broken limbs and still played!!!
Where have you played live this year? Jase: Good question I guess get a map of England and throw a dart at it. Where it lands is probably where we have played!!
Where do you plan to gig the comming year? Ian: The plan for this year and next is to build up to bigger support tours and play more in Europe. We have played Holland and the crowds there are amazing.
When did you start to sell merchandise, and what do you have for sale? Con: We started with a few t shirts and badges and CD’s and have kept it the same going forward just making the t shirts as best quality as possible and ensuring they are limited.
Where can people buy your merchandise? Ian: Please feel free to check everything out on www.katalinakicks.com and also hook up with us at a live show and save on the postage. ;-)
What do you think about people downloading music instead of buying records now a days? Jase: I personally think you have to go with it. You can’t change what has happened. Yes it’s killing the artists who are struggling but you have to think outside the box to make money from music these days.
What do you think of my work?
How do you think and know that this interview will help you in the music business?
How do you think and know that this interview will help you in the music business?
Do you have any role models or idols?
Is it easier to find inspiration from older bands, or bands that are more active today?
What have been your biggest obstacles? Jase: everything that’s an obstacle is a lesson on how to grow.
What advice would you give other bands or artists? Be yourself, everyone else is taken.
How do you get psyched for a gig? Jase: I take a few minutes to get into the zone and get in attack mode.
Do you have any new material? Jase: watch this space!! We are always working on new material.
What are your web sites? www.katalinakicks.com
How can people reach you? All the usual social media. Twitter Instagram Facebook. Spotify iTunes All @katalinakicks
What are your plans for the future? Jase: To dominate the world with our brand of music. Muhahhaha
Do you have something to add? Jase: Just give our music a play
