What are your names?
Ian – guitar & vocals
Nadia – bass
Jase – drums
What is your genre of music?
Jase: Some say garage rock, indie rock, others say alternative rock – we just say listen to our music and make your own assumption!
How did you come up with the bands name?
Ian: It came from a combination of a massive sounding Gretch bass drum called ‘The Catalina’ and a band called the Bitter Sweet Kicks. We just liked the way Katalina Kicks sounded – has a powerful yet slightly refined feel to it – well we think it does anyway!
Give us a little bio about you as a band and individuals.
Katalina Kicks was born in 2010, but in its current three piece state was started in 2014, so we’ve been going with the three of us, when Nadia joined, for nearly three years now.
Although we have previously released two albums, this new one ‘Vices’ feels like a fresh start, as is the first recording we have done collectively, so has been an exciting time working on it and all bringing our different influences across to form our sound.
Ian is from Devon and lives near Brighton, Jase is from Oldham near Manchester and lives in South London, and Nadia is from Brazil and lives in North London.
Are you signed?
Jase: We have our own label and are very hands on DIY with all that we do.
Ian: Yeah we were signed to a smaller label and publisher a few years ago, but we parted ways with them, as felt we could manage our career better than they could, so set our own label up!
You released your new single ‘Killer’ , tell us more about that.
Ian: I wrote Killer 10 years ago and it was never released. I randomly found a demo of it when going through songs to record for this latest album and played it to Jase and Nadia – they loved it, so we jammed it and made it sound way bigger and better than before.
Will we see a EP or Album this year?
Vices our new album dropped on the 12th May.
If so what can you tell us about it?
Jase: The album is our best yet. It’s super charged from the get go and has many different elements but still keeps our original Katalina Kicks sound.
Ian: I like it as there’s a really good balance of songs and influences on the record.
You have some gigs coming up, where can fans come see you play?
Ian: We are touring through May and early June in the U.K and also over in Holland.
Nadia: Full details can be found on our website www.katalinakicks.com
What made you go in to music?
Jase: I guess from a very early age I know I wanted to be playing music It’s in my blood I love it!!
Ian: I was never really interested as a kid until I met a music teacher at a school where my mum taught – he inspired me to play as he was just so cool. From that moment there has hardly been a day when I don’t have a guitar in my hands.
Nadia: I used to listen along my fathers favourite bands when I was little, music was on at the house all the time, then when I was about 15 yo I got into learning drums, didn’t go very far, about 7 years ago I borrowed a bass guitar from a friend and started learning it by myself.
Do you have any festivals you will be playing this year?
Yes we are playing in Amsterdam at a festival called Beardsterdam and looking to play more throughout the year.
Do you play any instruments?
Jase: Is this a trick question because I’m a drummer???
Ian: I play guitar and a bit of piano – and also used to play the saxophone as well. And I can keep a beat on drums, but that’s about it!
Nadia: A bit of bass guitar.
Who are your influences?
Jase: Everything from the Beatles to drum n bass if it’s got a beat and inspires me then it has that knock on effect.
Ian: I listen to all types of music – from classical to metal, Pink Floyd to Nirvana – so take my influences from so many different artists and bands.
Nadia: I always have a new playlist with different genres, but can’t live without Alice in Chains, Kid Abelha, at the moment I’ve been really into Enya. Her work is amazing!
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
Ian: I just find that it comes naturally – I’ll start by playing around with a riff on the guitar or a melody in my head and then develop it. Lyrics usually come later when I have a melody and structure and then sit down and work out what I’m going to write about. There’s no shortage of lyrical material with all the crazy stuff going on in the world at the moment, as I like to write about the things that affect me and other people I know!
Jase: For me it could be a tune in my head that I then record and send over to Ian to have fun with.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Jase: Playing major festivals and touring, with a couple more albums under our belt. We are a tight unit and all hold the same vision.
Ian: Totally agree.
Nadia: Doing music full-time!
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Jase: I listen to more music!!
Ian: I like spending time with my family and chilling out!
Nadia: Working a day job – yes, we work day jobs! I love chilling in my room in the dark listening to music, drinking herbal tea, FaceTiming my family whenever I can, and doing stuff for the band / editing videos for our ‘Keeping up with Katalina Kicks’ section of our YouTube channel!!
If you could collaborate with one UK Artist or band who would it be and why?
Ian: I’d like to try something a bit cutting edge and fresh sounding combining rock with grime – so maybe with Stormzy or another grime artist. Or if not Massive Attack would be great.
Nadia: Tears for Fears! <3
If you could collaborate with one US artist or band who would it be?
Jase: Metallica or Justin Bieber or maybe both – yeah both!!!!
Ian: Jay Z and/or Josh Homme.
Nadia: Ken Andrews / Failure, Lady Gaga, Grimes.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
Jase: Led Zep and Public Enemy – both bands drop some serious heavy beats and that’s what I love!!
Ian: Bowie, Nirvana and the Clash had possibly the biggest impact on me, so either Ashes to Ashes, White Riot or Teen Spirit – all amazing songs.
Nadia: This is a memory question hey, hard one! … I would say the song that influenced me to go out and look to join a band – which was just before I joined Katalina Kicks – was Give it Up by Talk Talk, I love that bass line so much that I did a ‘bass cover’ of the song and put in on my YouTube channel, watched it a few times and thought “I should be in a band!”.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Jase: Don’t quit Simple.
Ian: Always work hard and believe in yourself. And always be honest and true to yourself and others.
Nadia: Less is more.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians about the industry or just as an artist?
Jase: The industry is full of people who talk a good one. If they are honest then their actions will speak louder than words.
Ian: I would give the same advice as above. In a nutshell – Work hard. Play hard. But don’t get an ego.
Nadia: Now a days you have to DIY.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Jase: Keep going and never quit.
Ian: Enjoy whatever you do and be true to yourself.
Nadia: ‘I AM ENOUGH!’ and ‘Do what you can, with what you have, from where you are!’
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Jase: 1 Ian is an obvious choice! 2. My Drums 3.sticks 4. Drink 4. Tuning key. 5. The right positive attitude.
Ian: A spare guitar!
Nadia: 1. Tune my bass, 2. Be ready / close to the microphone for the backing vocals parts, 3. Do not stand next to Jase’s Crash symbol, 4. Be thankful, 5. Have fun.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Twitter, Instagram, FaceBook, YouTube, and we have our own website www.katalinakicks.com
