KITE THIEF - "If something sounds weird, make it weirder"

“Something that our drummer always says is: ‘If something sounds weird, and we’re not sure about it, make it weirder,’” joked Max, guitarist of KITE THIEF. There has been a resurgence of pop-metal in the alternative space and beyond over the past few years, and they’re Bristol's hottest answer to that. We recently caught up with vocalist and frontwoman Elin, alongside Max, to chat about the creative process of their newest releases, their recent adrenaline-fuelled live shows, and what’s next for the band as they continue their ascent in the scene. 

KITE THIEF haven’t always been the pop-metal badasses that they are now. Having formed as part of a group university project back in 2018, they originally went by the name ‘Lapis’ before deciding on their current name over sushi in Bristol. “Elin was ahead of the curve and scoped us all out,” says Max. Following a competitive showcase for this project, which the band won, everything escalated. “Everyone was coming up to us, going ‘So are you guys a band now?’ and we all just went ‘Well… I guess?’ and then we just started writing music together.” What began as a group assignment quickly turned into a tight-knit unit, fast-tracked into being a band almost overnight.

Their sound in the early days was a far cry from what we hear now, and they definitely didn’t set out with catchy pop hooks in mind. “It was quite proggy, really. It didn’t have the pop element,” explained Max. “It was very guitar-heavy, and the instruments had to be doing the most complicated stuff we could.” He laughs, before following up with, “You can’t remember a song if it’s got eight different parts, and a bass solo in 5/4 or something.” 

Expanding on where the pop element came in, Elin mentioned that she was no stranger to fusing pop into other genres, having been in a pop-punk band for years prior, and explained an initial hesitancy to introducing the hooks she wanted to incorporate, saying that, “At first, I was too scared to bring it into this because I was like, ‘No, we’re doing heavier stuff, I need to make it sound like Chino from Deftones.’” Their 2022 track, Sweepstake, marked a turning point for them. They started working with a new producer, Joe Marsh, who reinvigorated a demo they had shared after asking for a fresher sound. “He came back and put synths on top of it, subdrops, transitions, those sorts of things. And that was the first inkling of like, ‘Oh, we can do that?’” explained Max.

On the back of the release of their newest singles, CHOKE and BITE, they have been pushing the boundaries of their music further than ever, with two heavier tracks exploring the darker side of sensuality and love. Max reminisces that “They’re like a lovechild for me, because they were both born out of the same time, so I kind of see them as two halves of the same song.”

Delving into the creation of their newest singles, Max explained that “We went to an Airbnb in North Wales, right next to a beach.”  This picturesque setting became the backdrop for the bulk of their recording. They admitted it was hard to get everyone together in one room nowadays because life was pulling them in different directions, which made the getaway so special. “It was really important for us to all be there and be really present, and kind of interacting with each other and being together in real life.” This mini nature retreat also doubled as band bonding time, complete with nightly screenings of the Transformers series, which was influenced by the mechanical segment in BITE. The experimentation of their sound is something they’re gladly embracing, but they feel their newest sound is a risk. “I feel like this is where we’re least comfortable, in a really good way.” Max reflects. 

Having played a hometown show with long-time friends of the band RXPTRS the same day as CHOKE was released, it was clear to see the online excitement translating to real life. “[People] were singing along to it, and it had been out for a matter of hours,” Max recalls. “It definitely felt like we were starting something new.” Last summer included a dynamic performance at 2000trees festival, which was a key moment for the band and an opportunity to connect with the wider alternative scene. At the festival, they also excitedly reminisced about getting cocktails with ROB DAMIANI of DON BROCO, and how normal he seemed. “It was so surreal… They’re so normal,” laughs Max.

When asked about the future of the band and where it was heading, one thing was clear - taking their music to as many stages as possible, with ambitions of making it to Europe and America. “Growing, touring, writing, and just trying to have fun, really,” remarked Elin. Having honed their stage presence over the past few years and prioritising fun, we’re excited to see where they’re headed. Make sure to catch them on their co-headline UK tour with GLASS BRIDGES this autumn to witness why KITE THIEF are one of the UK’s most exciting upcoming heavy acts.

Words: Chloe Sodeau

Photos: Kite Thief