KEVIN
photo by: David Fearn
Well, we woke up again today. If you're reading this, congratulations – you did too. Four days short of a month in isolation we are starting to feel the effects of all of this. They say it takes 30 days to break a habit, and that old habits die hard, but we are still itching to do what we do best — exhibit art, open our doors to everyone, have some drinks together, crank the volume to eleven and move until the sun comes up. Clearly, there are habits involved in this practice, but as a whole, what we do at SAC is more of a vocation, or productive addiction at the very least.
We know that people are dying to connect with one another during this period of isolation. They’re trying to by sending recipes, reading recommendations and playlists to one another. We love it, but sometimes there is something lost in translation. Their curation of material is more about them than it is about the artwork. We try our best to introduce the artists and artwork we recommend by providing context with no filter.
Today, Friday April 10th, 2020 is a day stacked with new music. The rock and roll machine that is The Strokes dropped the new long awaited record, The New Abnormal. The title makes us wonder if they knew something we didn’t; but that’s besides the point. We also have been graced by a new record by our dear friends, Vaguess, titled Guest List to Heaven, dropping on Good Friday of Easter weekend. Another suspiciously titled album with a suitable timely drop. Lastly, and importantly, a local band that has been on our radar for a minute dropped another single today. The band is Kevin. The track is titled, Sun Moon Urgent Care, and it might just have the cure we are looking for – hiding somewhere inside of the thundering cloud of sound and energy that this song is.
We were lucky enough to carve out some time with our dear friend, Kimi Recor. She’s one of the lady geniuses at the controls of the supersonic punk UFO that is known as the band Kevin. We asked her a few questions about why this project is different, how she continues to put out solid music and just life in general.
So yeah… You’re Kimi Recor; LA’s punk rock Princess Diana. You always seem to be in the mix, but floating above all the bullshit - and somehow give everyone your undivided attention. You are an all around rad human who happens to have a hand in a number of rad projects, one of which, KEVIN, just released a new single.
For those who are unaware, KEVIN is punk as fuck - and not just punk. It is a band hewn straight from the sacred stones on the path paved by LA’s punk greats. It is loud, fast and hypnotic. Although there are some familiar elements to Kevin we could try and pinpoint, there is nothing quite like it - especially right now.
Today you just dropped a new single, SUN MOON URGENT CARE. What is this latest release about?
We wrote this song last summer and the way we write lyrics is that we sit in a circle with snacks and drinks in the middle, and we just piece together each song based on what's happening in our lives. So the lyrics are basically like Mad Libs but filled in with relevant experiences we're collectively going through as a band.
Sometimes when I look back on some of the lyrics they mean so many different things to me, but I'm sure Quincy, Julian, and Walker totally have different associations because they were in a different moment in time when we wrote them if that makes sense.
I think it makes sense; but the beautiful thing about art, is that it doesn't have to. .Org, KEVIN’s prior release, is an electrifying EP featuring 4 tracks, Bloody Blackout, Bike, Wind Your Neck In and Influencer. As a listener, .Org has got a tasty balance of traditional krautrock, proto-punk and soaring post-punk – but maintains its own identity. There is something pleasurably familiar about it, yet it completely stands alone. As an artist, how do you connect or identify with this EP vs. the single and upcoming tracks? Do you think this new single is something that keeps this balance? Or do you see it as tipping the scales?
I think the thing I really love about playing and writing in Kevin is that we try not to set boundaries for ourselves. We didn't go into this being like "we want to sound like X,Y, Z and be part of this scene". We just do what we want and have fun with it. We let all of our influences in, but we aren't bound by them.
I always see each piece of music, single/ep/lp as a stand-alone piece of work. We honestly don't really overthink it too much, we just write something we're all excited about and then see where it goes from there. I think that our new single (Sun Moon Urgent Care) is probably one of our more accessible tracks but I don't necessarily think its a direction we're going. It's just a moment in time trapped in a song.
As an artist I can totally relate. Sometimes though, these moments are an important marker or conduit that helps to connect different moments, fragments or pieces together. Is there an album coming soon that this single belongs to?
Kevin's Greatest Hits Volume I, coming December 2020
Brilliant title. I am sure that it is appropriate. Speaking comfortably on behalf of the universe we can’t wait for yet another record featuring Kimi Recor. You have been a part of a handful of great bands, dozens of releases and played hundreds of shows. You clearly are an artist with discipline and a work ethic. Is this something you always had? Or something that has evolved? Are there any other artists in your community that you recognize have a similar attitude toward creating art?
Nope. I was a drug addict and for a long time, everything else took a backseat to that. Once I stopped doing hard drugs, I threw myself into making music and creating and working. It was a way to channel the heaviness into something else.
As I've gotten older, I still have that same drive, but I'm also really obsessed with other things, like breathwork and sonic baths so my energy is a little more divided. I also let myself breathe now and try not to judge myself when I don't feel like doing anything. That’s probably the best lesson I've ever learned.
I think LA is full of artists who have insane work ethics. Joey Halter of Railroad Bill has created an insane library of video work on his own, with no funding or help and its super inspiring to see.
Band wise, I honestly feel like almost every band you see that's successful is working super hard. I think that energy is what keeps the scene moving and evolving the way it has. We're all seeing each other hustle and that's super motivating.
Between your tenures with Draemings, Lone Priestess, Black Flamingo and Kevin and any other project you’re in, you have played the scene. You’re in it deep, and you seem to have your finger on the pulse of everything cool. Are there any contemporaries making music in LA over the last couple years that get you fired up?
Haha, I NEVER EVER EVER think of myself as cool, it's way too much pressure. I think Quincy is definitely the cool one in Kevin.
There are so many incredible musicians in LA, I'm always going to shows and being amazed by the talent that's out there.
Here are some bands and music I'm excited about:
My friend Ammo [Bankoff] is working on a solo project that sounds like Dead Can Dance but even cooler. [Check Ammo’s current band Brass Box]
Quincy is working on a solo album that's probably going to destroy everyone.
I love Boy Deluxe (ex Ever So Android), their new releases are just super fire (and the kind of pop I can fully get behind.)
Walker is in a band called Mad About the Boy that slays super hard. They just put out an album that's so good.
Crook is a band that I will never get sick of seeing and supporting, they write such gorgeous cinematic music and Daniel's voice always breaks my heart.
I'm OBSESSED with French Vanilla, I always have been. They're so cool and fun to dance to and feel super real and authentic to me.
I also love Object as Subject - I think those ladies are probably the most punk thing happening in LA,
I really like Vaguess A LOT, definitely late on the game to that one, but fuck what a prolific dude Vinny is [ we really like Vaguess alot. Check out the new album they dropped today].
AND OF COURSE, I love Dancing Tongues and not just cause Alex is doing this interview, but bc I've always loved you dudes. [the feeling is mutual, Ms. Kimi!]
Kevin - Becoming one Organism.
Photo by Debi Del Grande
You always seem to be a creative force driving these projects, “fronting” each band - however, Kevin seems a little different fronting with the mythical and elusive Quincy. How is the live aspect of Kevin different than your other bands?
Oh man, I love not being the front person. The whole thing with Kevin is that we didn't really want a dedicated front person. Quincy and I sing almost all the songs together. Earlier, when you asked about personas - with Kevin I don't have to have a persona because I'm not leading the band, I'm not fronting it. It's a unit- it's not about my voice or Quincy's voice - the band is just the band.
When we play live it sometimes just feels like we become one organism ( haha pleeeez don't judge me for being cheesy), like it's just a wall of sound that we're all participating in.
Are there any specific influences that the band shares in common sonically, aesthetically or attitude wise?
I think we all overlap like a Venn Diagram. Quincy has literally the most insane music taste of anyone I've ever met and basically makes us all look cool bc she makes dope playlists for Kevin that include ALL THE HITS ALL THE TIME.
Kimi Recor and Quincy Larsen laying it all out.
Photo by Frank Mojica
I love that. We are all about the hits at SAC. Doesn’t matter who or what, all the hits hit different. Especially, at a time like this – where nothing feels normal locked away in isolation. Speaking of which, how is the band getting along through all of this?
We group chat and miss the FUCK out of each other. We're just trying to make plans and move forward as much as possible. So many plans we had just evaporated, but you know what? We're all healthy and it's not like we can't make new plans once everything calms down.
Does it feel like a good time to be releasing music? Why or why not?
Honestly, I don't know. I feel like I'm paying attention to things on the internet more right now, and listening to all of my friends' classes/single releases live sessions, etc .. way more than I ever would before so maybe it is a good time while everyone has an attention span?
I’d tend to agree with that. It is crazy though, cause today feels like a fucking rock and roll avalanche of releases. So much music came out I'm buried in it – honestly though, most of us audiophiles would probably have to take a few days to isolate anyway just to listen to it all, so this legislated hermit state wont feel so forced today. We heard that KEVIN was going to pick up and move to Berlin for the summer. Has this pandemic affected this plan?
Postponed until further notice. I feel like everything is up in the air right now.
As a friend, I am so sorry to hear that, but selfishly am stoked to still have you around. I am sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. You have been in so many bands in LA’s “scene” and have such strong roots here. Why move to Berlin?
Comfort kills. Seriously though - I love LA, I love my friends, the music scene and things are VERY VERY easy for me here. And something about that has made me feel very stagnant. I thrive in new situations, and I miss feeling like ....brand new somewhere? I miss discovering things for the first time or having to work extra hard to make something happen. I know that sounds insane probably, but I'm always more creative in newness and uncertainty.
Also, I love Germany. I was born and raised there. I believe in its government and infrastructure + it's politics. The US has been a complete shit show and as I get older I want to feel like I can have proper healthcare and be part of a social system that takes care of people.
I love that. Being too comfortable can force you to get stuck in a creative pattern. It happens to everyone, but you always see to be pretty diverse in your creativity and music making, playing in loads of different bands. You have completely committed to each project I have seen you play in. You’re are always Kimi, but expertly craft a persona that suits each project. They show not only your ability to create something, but also that you are in touch with your imagination. Where does the inspiration for these personas come from?
I think I've always played in a lot of different bands. I've never been able to commit to just one. I think creating personas for each (even though they're still me) allows me to keep them separate in my head. Also, each project has been so different. I mean Draemings was always more theatrical than any of my other projects, so it was like ULTRA personas, with INSANE costumery and makeup.
I think in Kevin, I don't really have a persona, I'm just accessing the wild kid energy inside me.
Kimi Recor - Stuffing her sprit into some different skins.
Photos (L to R) by: Soundbite Magazine, Benjamin Askinas, Kimberly ZB, Emery Becker, V, Thee Lord Photog, Jeffrey Baum, Emery Becker, Kimberly ZB
Are there any specific muses or major influences for you that resonate more for you in Kevin versus other projects you have been a part of - either sonically, aesthetically or attitude wise?
Because I can "sing" and have done a lot of synch/pop co-writes, it feels like most bands I have been in have always pushed towards accessible music where my voice sounds pretty or powerful. I think the later Draemings stuff (after we got out of our label deal), started moving away from that and getting a little darker and more experimental.
With Kevin, that is OBVIOUSLY not the case. I really love the wildness and freedom of playing and writing with the Kevins - and in terms of sonics + aesthetics, it's really up my alley, because I don't feel stressed out about having to "sing".
One of my favorite bands in the world is Malaria! because I love that their songs never felt like they had rules, they were catchy but had all these amazing sonic structures and sounds and I think Kevin feels like that to me.
Everyone in Kevin has their own influences and we all come from really different spaces musically, but I really feel so lucky to play with three insanely talented musicians who bring SO much to the table.
How is your creative relationship while writing different with the cats in Kevin opposed to another project like Draemings or Black Flamingo?
Well, for one thing, we ALL write the lyrics together. In Draemings I wrote all the lyrics, in Black Flamingo it was mostly Ammo + me, and sometimes Chris writing the lyrics.
We write everything together - no one ever brings a finished song, it's all created together. That's why I think it sounds the way it does because you're combining all these different influences. There's also not a lot of egos involved. None of us are super alpha about anything, we let things flow, which has not been my experience in other bands. Hell, I'm usually super bossy in other bands, but with Kevin, it's just chill.
That's not saying its better - it's just different. I'm so grateful for all my musical projects and their different dynamics. They've all made me such a better musician and person!
Julian, Kimi and Quincey of KEVIN by Jeffrey Baum
Sonically, your projects are different from one another. From a lyrical standpoint, do you find yourself in a different headspace when songwriting for each respective band? For example, how does writing a song for Draemings vs. Lone Priestess vs. Kevin work when it comes to the words?
Yes. Draemings is usually just me writing- a lot of time about my personal experiences or my observation of the world.
Lone Priestess is more of story-based songwriting that I do with Matt and Eric where we are building a continuous narrative and storyline.
As I said before, Kevin is just Mad Libs with our emotions and words that rhyme with our emotions.
I'm also in a new project with Vinny from Vaguess called Scam Likely, which is basically just me trying to impress Vinny with cool words and Vinny being a musical genius [editor’s note: Vinny is not only a musical genius, but plays in a project called Bogus Genius, who’s album art is a visual delight].
It sure is an odd time to be alive in this hectic pandemic. How are you getting through all of this personally?
You know, it's such a crazy time to be alive. I'm getting through it, and I feel extremely lucky and privileged to have my health, a place to live, access to food and a quarantine fam. I also like spending time alone A LOT so this isn't like completely hard for me. That being said, I definitely cry at least twice a week because it does feel heavy to see the world change so fast.
The world is changing fast, and is affecting us all. It isn’t gonna stop, and it isn't gonna slow down, but that doesn't mean we can’t take a second to smell the roses, throw some paint around, support our friends, share art, and listen to music and rock the fuck out.
Take the time to listen to Kevin’s new tunes, along with some of our other friends’ tracks, new and old – strange and familiar. They make for a perfect soundtrack to pair with looking at some artwork.