Get ready to dive into the minds of the dynamic duo from small-town Ohio, THE KB. As they gear up for the release of their latest album, “It’s A Party, Isn’t It?” on January 5, 2024, we caught up with the twin brothers to unravel the thematic depth behind their music and explore the influences that have shaped their unique sound.
Your new album, “It’s A Party, Isn’t It?” is set to release on January 5, 2024. Can you give us a glimpse into the inspiration and journey behind the album title, and what listeners can expect from this musical party?
As we began writing the music for this album, each song kind of felt like it bottled a deep feeling that we’ve felt since early 2020. Since then, we’ve been through the ups and downs of growing up, dealing with evolving relationships with people, and continuing the grind of spending time playing shows in different places, hoping our music will inspire anyone listening. We wanted this album to be a sort of time capsule of someone’s late 20s as they weave through similar feelings, as well as a project that people who have been through similar experiences before can listen to and connect with
Over the past year and a half, you’ve been releasing music consistently. How has this release structure influenced the thematic throughline of the album, particularly in exploring the complexities of ‘growing up’ and wondering if the good days are gone?
This all started with the release of the song Cliché. That song is basically about trying to live in the moment and be grateful for it, because soon, it’ll be a memory. After we decided we were going to release that one, we began sifting through songs we’d written to try and find some others that shared a similar vision. After we got a few released, we kind of looked at each other, both of us already knowing that we thought we could make a really cool and unique cohesive album out of these songs.
Your music has been described as “pop music for depressed people.” How do you approach blending pop elements with heartfelt themes, and how has the feedback from fans influenced your creative process?
Someone who had listened to our song “New Shoes” coined that term, and we’re now forever grateful for it! It’s somewhat of a funny phrase, but it kind of sums up how we like to do things. We love pop music and the way it can make someone feel when they listen, but we literally can’t help but add our life experiences and deep feelings into the lyrical aspect of each song. We think the mix of the two things usually ends up being a good one-two punch to someone listening. We may have less of a chance of it connecting with a mass amount of listeners instantly, but we think that the small extra specificity can connect 10x more impactfully to the right person.
A random concert goer once described your music as “like a mix between Hall & Oates and Daft Punk.” That’s quite a unique comparison! How do you feel about such descriptions, and do you actively seek to blend different genres to create your distinctive sound?
That quote was actually the first time we really felt like we were doing something cool. We liked it so much, we made it our Instagram bio. We never approach songwriting and performing with the goal of ‘creating a new sound’ or ‘blending genres’, so when that happens is all subjective to the listener. We just try to make things sound and look cool, interesting and entertaining.
You mentioned that this album is the best thing you’ve ever made, offering a cohesive, heartfelt trip through the late 20s of life. Can you share a specific track or moment from the album that you feel encapsulates the essence of “It’s A Party, Isn’t It?” and why it holds special meaning for you both?
In terms of encapsulating the essence of the album as a whole, I think the song “A Part of Me” does a good job. The reason we added it as the final song on the album is because it represents where we are now in life. It represents the belief that even if some things don’t go your way, and sometimes life can get stressful, it’s okay. This album means a lot to us both because, as twin brothers, we are kind of going through the same waves of getting a bit older, seeing life change around us, and trying to not rush through it all or get too bent out of shape about the little things. This album really is us trying to cope with how crazy life can be, and we hope it can help a ton of listeners cope too.
Find out more here.