KiD Cola: New Blood or Fake Blood?

One time drummer for underground indie boys "The Daze" is a man of many styles and talents. For one, since leaving the band after four years playing together Felix Matthews, stage name KiD Cola, has thrown a curve ball and redefined himself as an electro house music maker in the guise of a producer come DJ. The reason for such a change in direction? Simply the feeling of disillusionment that meets so many bands on the road to that elusive success, as Felix himself sums up succinctly when we spoke with him this month:
“I grew less enchanted with the indie/rock scene and less driven to be part of it”, subsequently adding with his tongue wedged firmly in his cheek “After Scouting For Girls came along I finally left the band”.

Fair enough. That feeling of disillusionment has chewed up and spat out many, with not everyone ultimately willing to continue along the rocky musical path afterwards. Although for those that do, it usually becomes the catalyst for some soul-searching, to figure out what really ignites their inspiration and gets their creative juices flowing once again. Deep huh? Well Felix Matthews seemingly took the latter route, and immersed himself in electronic music, just because “it was the genre that was really exciting me” at the time.

And so his alter ego KiD Cola was born out of a need to do something personally unique, driving him to hole up in his DIY studio in Cambridge and gradually teach himself programs such as Ableton and Logic; meanwhile working on his production and honing his own sound until the big unveil at the end of 2008.

Fast forward to a few months later, he’s now safely entrenched within the confines of the electro house scene, whilst his debut remix of Secret Machines’ ‘Atomic Heels’ was widely revered and the subsequent remix of Crystal Fighters ‘I Love London’ cemented that acclaim.

So what is it that inspires KiD Cola to work on remixing a specific artists’ track? “For me, it needs to have a point of interest. Whether that be a catchy vocal hook, interesting chord progression or crazy sounding instrument. I have to hear it and get excited about what I could do with it”.

And that ethos has given KiD Cola kudos throughout the blogosphere, plus some very favourable praise from radio luminaries such as the infamed Kissy Sell Out, plus new kid Frankmusik. In fact Kissy went so far as to play his Secret Machines remix on Radio 1 and has taken a seemingly mentor like interest in KiD Cola’s future, as he explains:
“He [Kissy Sell Out] told me my tracks sound promising and to keep sending them to him, and as I've been a massive fan of his for ages, it was pretty special to have him support my music”.

With such praise being targeted at KiD Cola’s work to date, you wonder what influences him from the past and present. “Lots of artists, right from the biggest in the world to the young up and coming producers here in the UK” he claims. “Just hearing a good tune makes me happy and makes me want to go out and make my own music”. And so with that attitude in mind we asked whether he has his very own ‘dream list’ of artists he would like to work with?

“Hmm, theres so many. Like I'd love to work with some of my favourite singers. James Murphy would be great because he has such a recognizable voice so it'd be awesome to have him sing on a track of mine” and he laughs when mentioning “Maybe I could muscle in on the next Machines Don't Care project, that'd be cool!”. Very cool in fact if those fidget-house collaborators took an interest, but who knows what’s round the corner.

The inevitable comparisons to other producers have been made because of his brand of bass heavy, squelchy electro, but probably none more gratifying than those to Fake Blood, the prolific producer who took 2008 by complete storm.
“That’s very flattering. He's at the top of his game and so I'd be lying if I said I wasn't influenced by him” says Felix. “But I'm very conscious of trying to develop my own sound though, which will come over time”.

And time is the key to this twenty something producers’ success, while he looks for label support once his original tracks are mastered and his name becomes more notorious within the essential house-music circles that matter.

But in the meantime KiD Cola has a number of remixes becoming available for other up and coming producers:
“The first is Hidden Cat from the USA. His track Superfuture is BIG and I'll be remixing that. Then I'm remixing Disco Wizards from Scotland. They're great, I always get excited when I hear a new track of theirs”.

Plus he has his first London shows looming in the not to distant future, and his forthcoming debut work, which is hotly anticipated. ”I'm also doing a mix for the Trouble Stereo mixtape project, so check out the previous mixes form Youth Attack and Dirty Disco Youth, which are both banging”. And as if that wasn’t enough to keep this young artist busy, he has his own monthly radio show on www.sycoradio.com. In his own words “tune in” and for anyone who wants an insight into the future of electro-house, have a listen to his work. KiD Cola could be well on his way to making a huge impact into an industry overrun with people on the bandwagon and without their own take on a genre that has so much potential. KiD Cola is the antithesis, so for any fans of the scene with their finger on the pulse, keep an eye out this year.

Check out KiD Cola's recent remix of Ladyhawkes 'Back of The Van' available now: http://www.myspace.com/kidcola

Words: Francesca Strange

KHP
Posts: 3

Future projects
Reply #3 on : Wed December 15, 2010, 17:06:17

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Hi Felix, sounds interesting however I am not an ultimate fan of remix.
How do you see your future? I mean really future -10-20...years.
Keep going! KHP

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