Words/ Rachel June
Italian super duo Kill Your Boyfriend release post-punk track Discretion, out now – listen here. High-energy beats transport you to an alien rave on the moon. Electronic ecstasy moves behind punk vocals, and the result is a dance party that lasts for eternity. Inspired by the wonder of life, Kill Your Boyfriend are an exciting band – one to watch for sure. They just released ‘Disco Kills’, which came out on 9th May. So get to know them below:
1. Who is Kill Your Boyfriend?
Kill Your Boyfriend is a post-punk duo from Treviso (Italy) formed by Matteo Scarpa and Antonio Angeli.
2. For someone who is yet to discover you, how would you describe your music?
Matteo: Quoting a famous Italian comedy, well-known at least here in Italy… “It can be iron or it can be feather.”
Antonio: It’s a nice trip; let’s try it! However, going into more detail, I would say it’s post-punk with psych influences, all seasoned with a good dose of shoegaze and electronic music.
3. What inspires you as an artist?
M: I take inspiration from everyday life. Usually, what I see, hear, and feel becomes material for songs.
A: Life, the one lived firsthand and the way the world goes.
4. What is your pre-show routine?
M: Everyone has their own rituals. As for me, let’s say that normally half an hour before the concert I fall into a semi-catatonic state. I remain in that condition until we go on stage and I come back to myself.
A: Before the concert, I put earplugs in, seeking solitude and warming up my muscles. This allows me to find the right concentration I need to play at my best from the first note.
5. Where do you feel you fit into the music landscape?
M: I feel that we fit among the post-punk/no wave bands, although we have always tried to change our style depending on the album. For example, “Voodoo” is a more Rock’n’Roll album compared to our latest EP “Disco Kills,” which takes inspiration from electronic music.
A: I feel we fit into the underground scene, where bands for music lovers are made up of music lovers.
6. What are your favorite musical genres, and are there any you dislike?
M: Lately, I’ve been really into electronic and techno music, as you can hear from our latest EP. On the other hand, I can’t stand Free Jazz.
A: I have been listening to music since I was a kid, and I have gone through various eras and obsessions over the years. I am very eclectic in my music taste and I change what I listen to depending on my mood. Some of my favorite genres include punk, post-punk, kraut, new wave, psych, indie (I know this is the most generic), rap, and “good” pop (I’m deeply in love with The Beatles). Above all, I listen to a lot of dub, particularly dub roots reggae, as it uplifts my spirits at any time of the day.
7. Is there a story behind the band’s name?
As nerdy as we are, the name was taken from a graphic novel by Grant Morrison and Philip Bond called “Kill Your Boyfriend.” After choosing the name, for the first two albums (“Kill Your Boyfriend S/T” and “The King is Dead”), we had the idea to title the songs with male names as if it were a list of “boyfriends to kill.”
8. What would you say is your greatest strength as a band/artist?
M: I would say our live shows are always very intense and physical.
A: Speaking about our records, I think it’s the fact that they are not similar to each other, while still maintaining a firm line to what is the soul of the band. (I’ve always loved bands from which you don’t know what to expect when their new record comes out.) But we probably manage to give the best of ourselves as a band during live performances. “One of the most beautiful things is when, after a concert, someone confides in you that they have never heard a ‘noisy’ genre like ours but really enjoyed the show and are considering exploring it further.
9. What would you say is your greatest weakness as a band/artist?
M: One of our weaknesses is the inability to effectively utilize social networks. In today’s digital age, leveraging the internet and continuous self-promotion can significantly expand our reach. However, I sometimes feel that this approach might overshadow the music itself, which is something I find belittling. I lean towards a more traditional approach, focusing on essential social media use and preferring direct interaction with our audience at live performances.
A: Speaking as an artist, I would say that my biggest weakness is my tendency to prioritize being in a heightened state rather than focusing on creating music.
10. What music artists would you say have influenced your work?
How many can we mention? Making a selection these are probably the “classics” that have influenced “Kill Your Boyfriend” the most: Suicide, The Velvet Underground, The Jesus and Mary Chains, Kraftwerk and Sonic Youth.
11.Who would you most like to collaborate with artistically?
M: Right now I would say Sextile.
A: Giving me the permission to dream big, I would say Iggy Pop
12. Song on repeat right now?
M: “Hey What” by LowA: We’re working on a new song at the moment, so that’s definitely what’s on a loop in my head.
13. Biggest obstacle & how did you overcome it?
M: My biggest obstacle has alway been shyness, but I have to say that playing on stage helped me to overcome it.
A: Speaking about the band, when I broke my shoulder. Luckily, our dear friend Vittorio Demarin replaced me for a series of concerts in Southern Italy. BTW one of my favourite tours: I was partying the whole time!
14.What is your creative process when making music? Do you work with others or is it just you?Normally, we start with ideas that each one brings, and then we work together. Over the years, we have managed to create two decent home studios where our songs take shape and are then finished in a professional studio. We have also had experience working with other musicians and producers, but we have been self-producing everything for years now.
Go and experience them for yourself and catch them on tour:
Thu 08 May – Cemento – Cosenza, Italy
Fri 09 May – La Gramaccia – Macerata, Italy
Sat 17 May – Astro Club – Pordenone, Italy
Fri 30 May – PMK – Innsbruck, Austria w./ New Candys
Sat 31 May – Rockhaus – Salzburg, Austria w./ New Candys
Fri 12 Sept – Kampus Hybernska – Prague, Czech Republic
Sat 13 Sept – UV Klub – Lodz, Poland
Sun 14 Sept – Chmury – Warsaw, Poland
Wed 17 Sept – Kult 41 – Bonn, Germany
Fri 19 Sept – Parkside Studios – Offenbach, Germany
Sat 20 Sept – Kradhalle – Ulm, Germany
