Follow the Leader is kibbokid's debut single. It represents the first emergence into the world of an album project some 5–6 years in the making and his own debut as a producer and performer outside the area of the music industry in which he has been established. All vocal and instrumental parts are performed by himself on the single, which was produced in COVID isolation. The lyrics take an upbeat look at the farcical idea that one person can have all the answers and solutions in the complex, swirling morass of contemporary life.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey kibbokid, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
Nice to meet you – thanks for having me! I got into music because of my family generally, and my father specifically. My dad is a musician, he toured with a few bands when he was young, and he would sing, play guitar and saxophone in the house. The family have always been really supportive of me, encouraging me to take keyboard lessons from a young age. My first gig was playing in my dad’s Motown band!
Describe your favorite and least favorite part about being a musician.
My favourite part about being a musician is the people it puts me into contact with. I feel profoundly lucky to have music as it’s an instant way to connect with like-minded people wherever I am in the world. On the flip-side, the music industry has become such a bewildering behemoth for musicians to navigate. I read a great interview with a seasoned musician who said (paraphrasing) that they had reservations when music when it was just a business, now it’s an industry they hate it even more. I can sympathise with that.
Your latest song is 'Follow the Leader'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
This is part of a collection of songs I’ve written reflecting on how I’ve seen my country (UK) change in the past 10 years, and in particular about my struggle to claim a sense of cultural identity when British culture seems to be changing so rapidly in a manner that’s contrary to what many of my generation long for.
The song was supposed to be recorded with a live band in April 2020… I think we know how that turned out. I ended up playing and recording all of the parts my self at home during lockdown.
How do you differ from most other artists?
I think most artists have more in common than marketing would otherwise suggest. My background in jazz, experimental, and classical music probably makes me slightly unusual these days.
Where are you from and do you have a stable home or do you prefer travelling?
I live in London, UK. I really do love travelling. The past few years have been taken up with, first the pandemic, then a lot of writing, so I’m looking forward to doing much more travelling this year.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
I have no preconceived format when I sit down to write, so I’m never sure what’s going to come out. I also feel no obligation to work within a genre, so it’s hard to describe. I like music that moves and surprises – if my music can do that for somebody else, then I’m satisfied. That being said, I combine acoustic (orchestral instruments) and electronics a lot in my music. This reflects my background, coming from a largely instrumentalist/composer path, I think.
How do you nurture your own creativity?
Having worked for a bit as a film/TV composer I had to get good at being creative regardless of mood, and often under pressure in the presence of looming deadlines. The secret is: just work. There’s a good quote from Igor Stravinsky: “Just as appetite comes by eating, so work brings inspiration, if inspiration is not discernible at the beginning”.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
Hard question. My answer would change from day to day… Today I’ll say David Byrne.
Who's your ideal musician to collaborate with and why?
Someone that has skills that I don’t. Collaborations work best when one can take off where the other stops.
What are your plans for the future?
There’s a lot more music in the pipeline. I’ve been writing pretty continuously for the past 6 years or so, so I’ve amassed quite a bit of material. Some more of that will be seeing the light of day this year.