Brace yourself for the infectious danceable beats and guitar-charged anthems of Kids That Fly. Their new EP, Dead Beat City, lands on Friday, November 15, packed with high-energy synths and pulse-pounding tracks. Formed by college friends back in 2018, this four-piece alt-pop/rock band has been drawing crowds and making waves ever since. With their magnetic melodies and captivating live shows, Kids That Fly are cementing their status as a rising act worth following.
With most of the band members having grown up in Connecticut, Nick Smeriglio (vocals/guitar), Blake Henry (guitar/synth), Braden Frandino (bass/vocals), and Will Hetherington (drums) have been deeply influenced by local musicians such as Rivers Cuomo from Weezer and MGMT. Their varied musical tastes, spanning bands like The Black Keys, The 1975, The Killers, and Catfish and the Bottlemen, have rooted them in an alternative pop/rock sound.
Their 2019 single “Kiss Her You Fool” has amassed over 35M global streams, solidifying their presence in the alt pop/rock scene. They’ve garnered praise from various outlets, including Atwood Magazine, which described their 2022 track “Talk of the Town” as “a captivating indie rock anthem that roars with charismatic charm, irresistible melodies, and an unnervingly catchy, driving beat.” Music Connection Magazine lauded them as “polished, powerfully fun pop-rock,” while The Aquarian noted that “even only a handful of years into the career, is a band already known for having fervent spirit, making up their rock energy, and a pure sort of romanticism lacing their narrative,” among others.
Reflecting on the ‘80s nostalgia of Dead Beat City, Nick shares, “We began recording the project with the ‘Feel it Love,’ which naturally evolved into a modern ‘80s rock song. Embracing that ‘80s vibe, we revived several older songs that fit into that pop/rock space, and the theme organically came together.”
After their 2022 EP, Tracks of the High Line, the band consistently pushes musical boundaries and delights in experimenting with their sound. “We worked with several different producers during the ‘Dead Beat City’ recording process, rather than sticking to our usual single-producer approach,” Braden explains. “We also did much of the recording ourselves. This project saw a lot of instrument swapping, with different members playing guitar or bass on various tracks — Nick even played drums on one of the songs, which was a first!”
With bittersweet emotions woven into the music, the inspiration for the EP title stems from Nick and Braden’s adjustment to living in the industrial pocket of Williamsburg/Bushwick Brooklyn. “It encapsulates our mixed feelings about the city,” Nick explains. “The city has changed a lot since the pandemic; many locals left and never returned. But not all feelings are negative — recording and gigging here is always a blast. NYC’s energy is hard to match.”
The lead single “Feel it Love” (released February 9), “Little Bit of Time” (released June 26) “If You Wanna (Take Me Home)” (released September 27), and the other tracks on the EP are all influenced by ‘80s alternative music, aiming to bridge the gap between ‘80s styles and modern alternative pop/rock sounds. “This EP is the ideal soundtrack for a nighttime drive through 1984 Miami,” Nick says. “In all seriousness, though, it blends styles ranging from ‘80s synth pop to ‘80s hair-band rock, with a touch of modern garage rock like The Strokes. Our aim was to craft a nostalgic yet fresh sound by fusing elements of ‘80s rock/pop with modern alternative music.”
From the start, the band has placed a strong emphasis on their fans, emphasizing the significance of live music. This commitment is now more apparent than ever with their latest additions to their live set, which feature horn players Dan Fagan (trumpet), Austin Frandino (trumpet), Matt Schmidt (saxophone), and Rishi Nallur (trombone). This expansion is a clear sign that Kids That Fly are not slowing down; they will keep evolving and exploring new musical avenues.
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Dead Beat City is slated for release on November 15, 2024.
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