Kills Birds Releases Self-Titled Debut With “Volcano” Video
The latest video by the Los Angeles 4-piece is a visually & sonically affecting piece tackling the complex emotions associated with moving from adolescence into adulthood.
Whether it seems like a lazy move, or simply intelligent marketing, the idea to mention the fact that Kim Gordon “says” that a band is “hot as f*ck” in the subject line of a press release was definitely effective. I’d never heard the Los Angeles based quartet, Kills Birds, before, but from what I’m seeing now, they seem to live up to the praise. The fact that the actual body of the email features a typo that accidentally refers to the Sonic Youth founder as “Kill Gordon” not only makes it that much better, but sets up the name for a future collaboration, should something like that ever come to pass.
Kills Birds was initially formed in 2017 as a “secret project” between award-winning Bosnian-Canadian filmmaker, Nina Ljeti, (vocals) and guitarist, Jacob Loeb. Since then, they have expanded into a legitimate band by incorporating the rhythm section of Fielder Thomas and Bosh Rothman on bass and drums, respectively. Kills Birds definitely operate as a cohesive unit with the members seemingly lucky to find one another. Of the track “Jesus Did,” which the group dropped a video for earlier this year, Ljeti stated, “Jesus Did is a song about my frustrations with the LA scene. When I moved here I felt very alone. I was constantly surrounded by people who were difficult to connect with.” […]“Individuals who had the luxury of never having to fight for anything, who were born with all the privilege in the world. They all walk around the clubs and bars like gods with nothing to preach. But though I struggle to connect with them, I also wish I could be exactly like them. I think things would be easier.”
The debut self-titled LP from Kills Birds comes out today, September 20th, and features 9 tracks over a concise 26 minute running time. Fueled by a vibrant, high energy, almost animalistic urgency, the entire thing was recorded “nearly live” over a single eight-hour session by producer/KRO Records founder, Justin Raisen. There are obvious points of reference that one could draw comparisons to, such as PJ Harvey or an early-90s indie/grunge sound, but Kills Birds feel more akin to the local and/or more underground bands like 7 Year Bitch that I came across as a teen growing up during that era in the greater Seattle area, and not the imitators that followed in the wake of the corporate boom. Even then, the formula that they’ve put together comes across as organic and true to the band and its individual members, reminiscent more in feeling than of any predecessor in particular. Perhaps even more important, is that they stand apart from the crowd and sound fresh in this present day musical climate.
In the following excerpt, taken directly from the press release, Nina elaborates on the group’s approach during the creation of the new album, as well as to music, in general
“The album is very personal,” Ljeti says. “As a whole, it has no concept, but each song is reflective of what I struggled with, and continue to struggle with. Feelings of insecurity, anxiety, inadequacy, and ultimately love. Love is the main driving force behind everything I create.”
“The instrumentation helps clarify those feelings,” she continues. “When Jacob and I write, Jacob is able to understand what I’m feeling, and he uses the instrumentation to elevate the piece to a whole new level. He honors the words and challenges me to find the best method of expression. His contribution is brave- he works without ego to benefit the emotion of the song. Same goes with Fielder and Bosh. Completing the puzzle. We are all emotional beings. And we struggle with what everyone struggles with. Our ultimate goal is to stay true to that, no matter what. We play together because we crave honesty, and we want to do justice to love in all its forms.“
In conjunction with the album release comes the video for their latest single, the anthemic “Volcano.” Directed and edited by Ljeti herself, the video is shot with a handheld cam capturing washed out footage of three young women spending a typical day out dipping into department stores, smoking cigarettes, and running with wild abandon, while virtually taunting me with my own lost youth. It’s a really affecting effort overall that highlights the value of having a band member with a history in film making who possesses the ability to pair the visuals so beautifully with the music in a way that brings the whole project so marvelously into focus. In this instance, that’s accomplished by eschewing a sharp camera focus for something more cinematic. I’ve now watched it quite a few times and everything about this video revolves around encapsulating a miraculous and complex feeling that is, otherwise, nearly impossible to verbalize. From the girls entering a cosmetics retailer only to use the makeup to semi-jokingly draw hearts on their cheeks to buying a candy bikini top, which they first tried on over their clothes and later placed on their heads and nibbled away at, there is a potent juxtaposition in the debauchery of playful, childhood innocence gently pushing back on a world set on forcing them prematurely through adolescence and into a more sexualized world of supposed adulthood and “maturity.”
Ljeti speaks further on this concept.
“Volcano” is meant to encapsulate that feeling of being a teenage girl on the verge of adulthood. The constantly fluctuating feelings of excitement, power, sexuality, insecurity, and inadequacy as you are trying to get a sense of who you are. There’s no climax to the video because I wanted to stay true to the nervous energy and stasis of being a teenager. It’s a so-called life. In your mind, you’re ready to grow up, but you’re not sure how to yet. You’re not as ready as you think you are.
I still carry that impatient energy with me into adulthood. That’s what Volcano is about. There are so many things I want/want to be, but I’m not grown enough yet. I want to be a volcano but I’m still dormant. Maybe soon that will change.”
Although the inspiration for the video may come from the “feeling of being a teenage girl,” its power definitely extends well beyond that. Granted, my best friend at that age was female — I’d definitely found myself hanging out with girls and being dragged into situations like waiting while they went bra shopping — but I suspect that the emotion in “Volcano” is universal for anyone who’s ever found themselves trying to discover their place, while working through adolescence in a world that they may not fully connect to.
Kills Birds has been earning a name for themselves as an engaging live act. During the beginning of next month, the band will embark on a short run of West Coast dates opening for Starcrawler, culminating in a set at the Desert Daze festival in Lake Perris, California on October 13th. Check the full list of tour dates below.