Kid Kapichi: If You Don’t Laugh, You’ll Cry
There hasn’t been a more pivotal time for punk music, with the way the world currently is, it’s the one genre of music we can once again turn to that will help guide us through torrid times that can help us steady the ship somewhat. KID KAPICHI however is here to lead us through the ongoing shitshow with their upcoming and excellent new album; There Goes The Neighbourhood. We were lucky enough to discuss the album with frontman Jack Wilson.
It’s quite a common occurrence that bands often come to blows with labels when it comes to recording an album. For KID KAPICHI however, it’s a completely different story. After their first two albums were almost entirely produced by themselves, There Goes The Neighbourhood is their first album fully recorded on a label (Spinefarm Records). Wilson explains, “this is the first time it’s been top to bottom working with a label. It’s been nothing but a good experience, they gave us the means for us to do things the way we wanted to do it and at no point did they interfere with the creative process.”
It’s refreshing to hear, it allows the band the creative freedom to have the important messages within their music they want fans and other listeners to hear. There Goes The Neighbourhood is in KID KAPICHI’s eyes, a continuation of previous album; Here’s What You Could Have Won. “The themes will always change based on what is going on whilst we’re writing. Unfortunately, for the last fifteen years, there’s been a lot of similar stuff so the topics remain.” Tackling themes such as class divide, immigration, war and also authoritarianism to name a few will make for heavy listening, however for KID KAPICHI, they use it as fuel for their fire to create excellent tunes that you not only enjoy but also make you think about the wider world that we live in and the experiences of others around you.
Wilson also explains that the ineptitude of the government and how it inadvertently helped write the band’s songs for them through their decisions in which Wilson muses that “looking back on times of austerity, political madness is when the best and angriest music has come about, it’s a blessing and a curse but we’ve had enough of it now.” Worry not though, because if KID KAPICHI ever runs out of current events to sing about, Wilson will “always find something to be annoyed about”.
Alongside the hard hitting themes however, comes a hell of a lot of fun. Stand out track; Tamagotchi is a burst of nostalgia written by Wilson as he was approaching turning 30 years old, almost the Millennial/Gen Z equivalent of BILLY JOEL’s We Didn’t Start The Fire. Written by Wilson as a “calming exercise” as it helps us remember the nostalgic memories of growing up after losing vital years of our lives to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In true KID KAPICHI style they’re able to maturely make light of some situations that would resonate with many. Stand out songs such as Can EU Hear Me? and Zombie Nation (featuring Suggs from MADNESS) look at the fallout of the Brexit vote and the state of the country under 15 years of Tory rule. Both songs perfectly encapsulate the ongoing frustrations of the nation in a “if you don’t laugh you’ll cry” sort of way.
To their own unique style though, they bring in their classic witty charm to each of them. “The situation is so shit, you have to make light of it at times, we’ve always been tongue in cheek because that’s how we are. We don’t want to come across as preachy. If you’re trying to make real change then you don’t want people dismissing you straight away.”
The conversation reaches it’s end, it takes us to the state of the UK punk scene and how it is currently thriving, over the last few years KID KAPICHI have been able to rub shoulders and release music alongside the likes of BOB VYLAN, IDLES, SNAYX and SOFT PLAY to name a few. It’s obvious that Wilson just can’t quite believe his luck at being held in the same regard as those bands. Stating that “all you ever want to do when you do music is be part of a scene. All different eras had really cool music, to feel like you’re part of a scene is the best feeling you can have.” Wilson also adds that for him, punk has developed beyond just being a sound or a genre of music. These days it’s “more like an attitude, a feeling and a message”, all three of which are vital to what makes KID KAPICHI tick.
So, to the future. Shortly after There Goes The Neighbourhood releases, KID KAPICHI will embark on a mammoth tour of the UK, Europe and the US. Last year saw them playing small club venues, this time however will see the band playing in much larger venues. Always a band to rise to challenge, Wilson doesn’t see it as a daunting task, but is ready to rise to the occasion. “The thing we love doing the most is playing live. It’s what we look forward to on the calendar, it’s definitely exciting and feels like the first tour we can flex our muscles a little bit.” It’s definitely an exciting future for KID KAPICHI and There Goes The Neighbourhood is going to help them jump even further than before, and we’re all here for it.
There Goes The Neighbourhood is out now via Spinefarm Records.
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