Diandra Interviews Kyd The Band: Making A Heartbreak Anthem
Sad song are THE BEST! Ugh! There is nothing like a good, sad song that makes you swim in your feelings like your heart is holding an Olympics for most emotionally devastating and suffered memory of a past ex. Alright, that is a little dramatic, but so are sad songs and so is Kyd The Band’s new single with gnash, Heartbreak Anthem. The record completely acknowledges and embraces the whole purpose of sad songs; to let us feel the drama about feeling bad and, in turn, make us feel empowered. In our interview, Kyd The Band discusses the power of a good, sad song, particularly when it feels genuine to you.
Diandra: Your music is about “not fitting into molds.” What are the molds you feel you break as a person and artist?
Kyd The Band: I think as a person one of the most obvious molds I’ve broken is that I’ve gone a very different direction, professionally, than just about all of the people I grew up with and what usually comes out of the environment I was raised in. As an artist one mold I think I break is what you typically hear, sonically, from an alternative artist or even a pop artist. I feel fortunate that we’re living in a time, musically, where listeners are allowing and actually welcoming artists to break rules.
Heartbreak Anthem
Diandra: What is one of your favorite childhood memories with music?
Kyd The Band: I’d say just some of my early days of first practicing drums, in my garage, and playing along to my favorite songs at the time. When you first start learning an instrument there’s a purity and honesty in not exactly knowing what you’re doing. Also, the first time playing with an actual band was so special.
Diandra: Co-writing and collaborations, what is one thing you have learned about yourself, as an artist, by working with a fellow one? Any favorite memory?
Kyd The Band: I’ve learned that you gotta have something to say that’s authentic to you, and I’ve learned that at the end of the day if it’s your music you have to be the one that’s happy with it. Doing the Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony stuff was such a great experience. That was my first time collaborating with another artist and for it to be with those guys I just learned so much.
Kyd the Band – This Time Last Year
Diandra: How have you seen your creativity and bond with music alter through the pandemic?
Kyd The Band: Music has helped me stay sane during this thing. I really love what I do, and, when I’m not able to work, it really affects me. I feel so fortunate and lucky to be able to work through this. There are definitely technical challenges to writing songs over zoom, but that’s pushed my creativity and innovation.
Diandra: Making music for people to feel hope, what are the things that make you hopeful?
Kyd The Band: Seeing people band together and help each other during this has been so inspiring to me and hope-filling. I live in Nashville and, a couple months ago, we got hit pretty hard by a tornado, then COVID happened ,and then this last weekend a huge storm created power outages for 130k people. Despite all of this, I’ve seen so much of the community jump in to help wherever they can.
Kyd the Band, Elley Duhé – Easy
Diandra: Who are the artists or works of art that you find most thought- provoking?
Kyd The Band: Currently, for me, there’s this UK rapper Dave, who I think is doing some really interesting stuff. He’s got a lot to say. Also, recently, I watched Parasite and that was incredible. Super entertaining, but there’s a strong undertone of social commentary and classism that is such a conversation we should be having.
Diandra: How do you know when a song is genuine? Is it intuition?
Kyd The Band: 100% an intuitive feeling. I think if it’s written from a real experience that’s the first ingredient, then you have to sing it honestly and vulnerably. It’s one thing to know your song is genuine, but it’s a whole other thing for someone who doesn’t know you to feel your song is genuine.
Diandra: What is your favorite lyric you have written?
Kyd The Band: Right now, it’s from a song that’s not out, but my 2nd favorite is probably from my song “Dark Thoughts” – the part that goes “Sorry if I couldn’t hear a single word you said, I got an army full of voices waging wars inside my head.”
Diandra: What is your advice for anyone seeking to be a professional songwriter/ musician? What do you feel has been your key?
Kyd The Band: Write as much as you can, as honestly as you can, and don’t stop. I think the key for me has been simply refusing to give up. There’s a lot of rejection in this business ,and there are always a lot more opportunities to quit than to keep going. But if you can weather that, that’s what will make the difference.
Me: AMEN!
Diandra: You want listeners to hear their story in your music. What story do you feel your own is most like? Is there a character you relate to or want to be?
Kyd The Band: I think the story of someone being an outsider and trying to find a place to belong. There are so many examples of that story, famous and not famous. If we want to be really specific and put names on it, I think a story like Kings of Leon that hits extremely close to home for me. Fictitiously, I love the character of Edward Scissorhands and definitely relate.
Pursuit of Happiness (Filtr Acoustic Session Germany)
Diandra: What is one thing heartbreak has taught you about yourself, and what do you remember about your first heartbreak?
Kyd The Band:That it’s very easy to let a negative experience define all of your thinking and actions going forward. With my first heartbreak, I remember this profound sense of disappointment and injustice, like we aren’t supposed to let each other down like that.
Diandra: What was it like working with gnash for Heartbreak Anthem?
Kyd The Band: Great experience. He’s extremely creative and that was inspiring, but he’s also just a great person and that can make or break the collaborative experience.
Diandra: What is a sad song you wish you had written?
Kyd The Band: ”Love The Way You Lie” by Eminem and Rihanna
For More Information On Kyd The Band Click Here.
