<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Band Background & Evolution
\n1. Kitsa formed in the Pacific Northwest and blends sludge, stoner rock, \u201990s heavy
\nmetal, and grunge influences. How would you describe the band\u2019s core sound,
\nand what initially brought the three of you (Skot, Chris, and Randy) together to
\ncreate this heavy, groove-driven project?
\n– I would consider our sound all over the place. We all like multiple genres
\nof music. One song might have a real heavy or metal style riff while the
\nnext one is a Dead by Dawn style song. What brought us together was the
\nresult of me going to local shows and asking if I could be in everyone\u2019s
\nband that performed. It was a Mos Generator show and I asked every
\nsingle person on that stage that night. I guess it worked.<\/p>\n
2. Your debut album\u00a0Dead By Dawn\u00a0(2024) was produced by Tony Reed. Looking
\nback, how did that first record shape the band\u2019s identity, and what lessons from
\nthat experience carried into the making of\u00a0II?
\n– There was a lot of getting to know each other musically and the band was
\nformed largely during the writing process of Dead by Dawn. When Skot
\njoined the band, we had probably 5 songs of just music already written
\nand he had to play catch up. This record is more of our identity. The result
\nof building that bond and playing lots of shows. I think its more of what
\nKitsa\u2019s sonic identity moving forward.<\/p>\n
3. After the debut, you lost your bassist Jeremy Reede. How did that change impact
\nthe band emotionally and creatively as you moved into the new album?
\n– Jeremy Deede was a founding member of this band and we wish him luck
\nin his future endeavors. The impact to the band was a set back and it did
\ntake a while to recover. Creatively, I think the process of writing had
\nchanged as we developed as a unit which was far before his departure.
\nThis is a riff driven band 90% of the time. So the writing process starts
\nthere for us. Then usually Rando (our drummer) and I hash out a few parts
\nand record that immediately. And then the fine tuning and lyrics come after
\nthat. Everything is written together for the most part now.<\/p>\n
Collaboration with Tony Reed
\n4. Tony Reed (Mos Generator, Big Scenic Nowhere, etc.) not only produced,
\nrecorded, mixed, and mastered\u00a0II, but also stepped in on bass for the album.
\nWhat was it like having such a legendary figure so deeply involved in the project?
\n– I think it goes without saying that Tony is rad. During pre production he
\nhad some time off the road from the Pentagram touring. We actually got<\/p>\n
together in the studio and just jammed the songs and that\u2019s just what he
\ndoes. He just jams man. He pushes for that feel and it was a really fun
\ntime. There were a few times while playing that I look over and was like
\ndamn, Tony is jamming with us! Haha! And we are thankful and lucky to
\nhave his involvement. You\u2019ll learn a bunch from just going through this
\nprocess from him. It is honestly, a really good time. He is great to bounce
\nideas off of we sat there and just riffed a few of the parts in the studio. He
\nhas all the badass guitars and amps. Super fun time!<\/p>\n
5. Tony\u2019s production style is known for its organic, heavy, and honest rock sound.
\nHow did working with him again push Kitsa\u2019s sound further into \u201cheavier, darker
\nterritory\u201d while sharpening your hooks and grooves?
\n– A lot of the songs on this record are darker and grungy. His style is like
\nthat because he records in a no bullshit fashion. Its all about good takes
\nand proper skill. He won\u2019t waste his time if you aren\u2019t ready and he isn\u2019t
\ngoing to auto tune your voice or fly in some audio clips from another
\nsection of the song. That\u2019s how he rolls man. Like I said, he likes to jam
\nand if you aren\u2019t ready you will go home until you are. As far as pushing it
\ninto further darker territory, all the songs were really dark. But it is the little
\nthings where he asks us to play a part a little longer or don\u2019t resolve the riff
\nand let it breathe. That\u2019s what set his style apart because he hears things
\nyou don\u2019t<\/p>\n
6. The album was recorded at APL and Heavy Head Recording Co. What was the
\nrecording process like this time around compared to\u00a0Dead By Dawn?
\n– Honestly, it wasn\u2019t that much different than Dead by Dawn. It was recorded
\nat the same places. There were just a few minor differences, I did all the
\nscratch tracks from home and sent them to APL so they could do drums
\nand same with the solos. I recorded those from home which gave me
\nmore time to get them how I wanted while Tony is off touring. But we sat
\ndown and did all the main guitars the same way and the vocals the same
\nway. The results from Dead by Dawn were great so we figured if it ain\u2019t
\nbroke don\u2019t fix it.<\/p>\n
The New Album\u00a0II\u00a0& Single \u201cAvaleigh\u201d
\n7. II\u00a0is set for release on September 18. How does this record build on\u00a0Dead By
\nDawn? What new elements or evolutions in songwriting and heaviness can fans
\nexpect?
\n– Since we have been established as a unit for quite some time, we were
\nable to lock in together and share far more ideas this time around. I think<\/p>\n
Skot really knocked it out of the park lyrically. His ideas for harmonies and
\nvocal structuring was crucial this time as I think he was the captain of that
\nship. Also, the songs are more lock step. There are tight parts where we
\nlock in as a band for tight notes, guitar solo sections with time changes,
\nand again, vocals that just rip. We expounded upon the harmonies and
\nSkot delivered his signature swagger.<\/p>\n
8. Your lead single \u201cAvaleigh\u201d (released July 7) tells a deeply human story inspired
\nby a real encounter in Oregon. Can you share more about the person behind the
\nsong and how that brief connection translated into such a weighty, atmospheric
\ntrack?
\n– It was a refreshing encounter with a person we had just met. Hearing their
\nstory of fighting how they really feel or how they perceive their identity and
\nbeing scared to let that out resonated with us. I think we have all felt like
\nthat and society can be a real asshole. There is not a lot of love in this
\nworld but there is plenty of hate. Hearing the story of someone\u2019s journey
\nand them deciding to step out with courage and saying this is who I am
\nand I don\u2019t care if the normal cookie cutters accept me was powerful but it
\ntook a life time. Skot just ran with it and it was amazing. Tying a heavy
\nmelodic riff to such powerful story is what makes a good song to us.
\n9. The song carries themes of connection, vulnerability, and the lasting impact of
\nsharing life with strangers. How does this more personal, narrative-driven
\napproach fit into the overall heavier and darker direction of\u00a0II?
\n– All of our songs are exactly how we feel. Live music brings people from all
\ndifferent walks of life together. Complete strangers can share an incredible
\nexperience one night only together and never see each other again. All
\nbecause of one killer night of music that connects our souls. I think that is
\nhow our music connects to people. We are writing songs about real life of
\nan average American. We are playing small shows in small venues. We
\nare grinding that reality of sometimes only playing for the other bands that
\nare playing. It\u2019s tough to get outta your hometown these days! All of us
\nhave families, full-time jobs, and its not always rock and roll. Nothing but
\nauthenticity.<\/p>\n
10. What are some standout tracks or moments on\u00a0II\u00a0that best represent where Kitsa
\nis heading next?
\n– I really love the track God of Broken Wings. I think it\u2019s a down right true to
\nthe core Kitsa track. Its more of what you would expect from us I feel. I
\nalso love the song Sick and Tired. Every time I listen to it, I get a different<\/p>\n
feel of it. I those two tracks will stand out the most. Skot has some killer
\nvocal melodies on that track and he again came up with a great concept.<\/p>\n
Influences, Songwriting & Creative Process
\n11. Your sound pulls from Pacific Northwest grit, Southern sludge, stoner haze, and
\n\u201990s metal muscle. Which artists or eras have been particularly influential on the
\nnew material?
\n– There was a lot of early Soundgarden and Alice in Chains that ended up
\ncoming out. I think all of us are just heavy Seattle fans. I personally, love
\nDown and Black Label Society. I love Mark Tremonti\u2019s solo stuff and I am
\nheavily influenced by all of the bands I just mentioned and I love super
\nheavy music like Killswitch and Lamb of God. But each of us have
\ndifferent musical influences we pull from. I would say some 80s metal
\nbands inspire us as well as older 70s classic rock. We are always sending
\neach other songs. It\u2019s a form of communication and appreciation for us.
\nWe feel that its pretty important to know what we all are listening to. Helps
\nus keep a strong musical bond. Ive always said our music style is the
\nresult of a span of influences from the 70s to present. Some would
\nprobably argue even earlier!<\/p>\n
12. With Skot and Chris both contributing vocals, how do you divide songwriting and
\nvocal duties, and how has that dynamic evolved on\u00a0II?
\n– It\u2019s a really organic process and we just kind of roll with it. On this record
\nSkot wrote the majority of the lyrics. I wrote one of the songs lyrics and
\nSkot just lays down his style on it and it is rad. It goes every way you could
\nthink of it. Skot might write a whole song or I might. It may be a
\ncollaborative effort from the both of us and even Rando throwing in his two
\ncents. Then there are the parts where one of us largely has the lyrical
\ncontent and the other adds a few backing ideas and its very natural. Skot
\ndoes push me to sing more and more cause he loves the harmonies and
\nhe is a singer so it makes sense. It allows him to stretch his legs vocally
\nas well.<\/p>\n
13. The band is known for massive guitars, hard-earned melodies, and unapologetic
\nheaviness. What was the biggest challenge in balancing those crushing riffs with
\nmemorable hooks on the new album?
\n– When writing riffs for Kitsa, I am constantly thinking about the hook and
\nhow we can make it memorable. That is a big focus for us when writing
\nthe songs. Heavy riffs with us are also super melodic so it lends itself to
\nthe vocal hook really well. The biggest challenge is typically tying it<\/p>\n
together with a verse or a bridge effectively along with coming up with a
\ngreat melody vocally.<\/p>\n
Live Shows, Future Plans & Personal Reflections
\n14. How has the material from\u00a0II\u00a0been translating to the live stage so far? Are there
\nany particular songs you\u2019re especially excited to play live?
\n– We play most of the album live now already. I personally love playing God
\nof Broken Wings and The Weight which is a heavier song if not the
\nheaviest on the album. The solo in The Weight is challenging as well so it
\npushes me personally to be better. The songs have been getting great
\nresponses. Avaleigh also has been really fun to play live with our vocal
\nantics and the musical changes. We have gotten some really nice
\ncompliments about the new material.<\/p>\n
15. With Tony on bass for the album, what are your plans for performing these new
\nsongs live moving forward?
\n– Tony Reed played the bass amazingly on the record. Really locking in with
\nthe drums and complimenting the riffs. Obviously, its going to be bad ass
\nwhen he is on the track. But with that said, when we first heard it we were
\nlike oh man, we have to find someone who can do that! That was a tall
\ntask and we had a few people try out and a good friend of ours help us out
\nfor a while rehearsing. But we found our guy eventually. His name is Tony
\nNapoli and he has been in the band for a few months now and he kills it.
\nWe had a show in May and he came to rehearsal like 3 days prior. We had
\nnever met and never struck a chord together before. He jammed the
\nsongs like he had been playing them all along. Super pro for sure, and we
\nplayed a show that weekend and the rest is history.<\/p>\n
16. What\u2019s one thing you hope listeners take away from \u201cAvaleigh\u201d and the full
\nalbum\u00a0II?
\n– The biggest take away I am hoping for is that they see the growth and
\nmaturity of our music as a band and appreciate the fact that we are still
\ntrying to maintain the authenticity of our sound. The overall response from
\nour debut record was overwhelming and totally surprising. We just
\nappreciate all the love and support. We hope that people will enjoy this
\nrecord as well.<\/p>\n
17. Now that Kitsa is entering its next chapter with a heavier, more focused sound,
\nwhat are your goals or dreams for the band in the coming years?<\/p>\n
– We would love to get out on the road more or play big and better shows
\nand see our fans out in the world. We would love to grow this thing and
\nshare it with a bigger audience. Europe has always been a dream. As far
\nas the next chapter is concerned, I think I would like to explore a heavier
\nsludge sound. With the boys\u2019 permission.<\/p>\n
18. Any funny, wild, or memorable stories from the recording sessions with Tony
\nReed that fans might enjoy?
\n– As far as the studio sessions, it\u2019s like hanging out with the boys. He is
\nalways on tour, and he comes back in spurts. We might hit lunch or
\nsomething like that. It\u2019s pretty much just like a hang out, but we also write
\nand record albums. The funniest story is a night where we played a show
\nand we opened for Mos. Our vans were parked next to each other and our
\nbassist had left ours running. Tony moved it around the front of the venue
\nmaking our bassist and drummer think it was stolen with all our stuff
\ninside. Tony was also recording it and sold the whole thing well. I have the
\nvideo, it\u2019s hilarious.
\nClosing \/ Fun Questions (optional)
\n19. If\u00a0II\u00a0had a visual aesthetic or vibe (like a movie, book, or feeling), how would you
\ndescribe it?
\n– It would look like the sun coming up on the day after the world ends.
\nNothing but a lawless dystopian world with few survivors looking to make it
\nin the world.<\/p>\n
20. What\u2019s one album or artist you\u2019ve been listening to a lot lately that\u2019s inspiring
\nyou?
\n– Dark Chapel from Vegas is really cool. I love their record. Tons of local
\nfavorites too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This is the band Kitsa, from Washington DC, who released a debut album “Dead By Dawn” back in February 2024. The album was produced by the one and only Tony Reed, of Mos Generator, Big Scenic Nowhere, Hot Spring Water and Stone Axe to name a few. Tony has once again got involved in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41169,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[482],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41168","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-written"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kjagradio.com\/themic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kjagradio.com\/themic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kjagradio.com\/themic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kjagradio.com\/themic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kjagradio.com\/themic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41168"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kjagradio.com\/themic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41168\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41170,"href":"https:\/\/kjagradio.com\/themic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41168\/revisions\/41170"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kjagradio.com\/themic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kjagradio.com\/themic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41168"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kjagradio.com\/themic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41168"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kjagradio.com\/themic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}