Th Kut Interview
All female 4-piece The Kut are currently in the studio recording their debut album 'Lies My Mother Told Me'. Featuring a set of powerful tracks like 'Don't Want You', 'The Vision' and 'Brother', The Kut's current offerings demonstrate a great deal of promise for the fab four. Although each of their tracks bring something different to the table, The Kut consistently come up with the goods! Their dark indie sound is characterised by smooth melodic vocals, quality guitar riffs and solid bass, creating their distinctly original mould of basement rock.
Interview
1. How did it feel to hear your song played all over the airwaves?
MAHA: We're still a growing band so we haven't really had much radio play.... luckily that hasn't gone to our heads in any way.. haha! I have often heard our music in clubs and parties though, which is always nice... A few times I've called friends who are in the other side of England only to hear that someone is playing one of our tracks... it gives us a real sense of reaching out and finding new people with our music..
ELVIRA: We haven't really had much as Maha said, but we were once in a club and suddenly a familiar tune started, and I couldn't have guessed what it was.... it was in the space of a couple of seconds, and then it hit me that it was one of our songs.... it felt amazing, and I started looking around to see the reaction of the people around.. they were dancing and liking it, it was cool!!
KIKI: I think the weirdest thing ever was getting a phone call from my brother in Greece saying that a DJ friend of his liked our stuff and is just playing it on a local music station....It was hilarious
2. Did you have any pre-conceived ideas about the music industry?
MAHA: ..to be honest, when I was about 15 I used to think that being a good performer or band was good enough to make an impact on the music industry. Having said that, its much clearer to me now, that there are so many great musicians out there... To succeed you not only have to be good, but also dedicated, committed and take a lot of chances... the part that I love!
CHRISTINA: Yeah.. The music industry makes money out of music, and musicians; Musicians rarely get any out of it and it all ends up in the hands of the middlemen. The only good thing is that some decent music actually gets to music lovers -at an expensive price though.
ELVIRA: Yes, as they said, is a bit strange, but now with the internet everything is changing and the artists are more in control of their own sales, the products will become cheaper cos in this way we lose the middlemen.
3. Do you write your own songs? What's your inspiration?
MAHA: Yea.. I'm one of those annoying people that can go away for 2 days and come back with 10 new songs if I'm given the chance, haha... I'm inspired by so many things that happen on a daily basis.. I sometimes feel as though it's a good way for me to express my emotions which I don't think I'm very good at doing otherwise.. A large part of me is driven by the energy I see past the stage lights at gigs, when you can see that people are really into a song.. Anything that really makes me think inspires me, and then I can take that to the girls.
ELVIRA: I don't really write much, I did one song out of a short story that I had.. Poisonest..., but I'm more visual, so I tend to get images or the pace that the video would have.
CHRISTINA: I do write songs but they're kind of another style and project. Some of them might become part of the band's repertoire, who knows?
4. What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?
MAHA: I love so many different styles of music… but at the moment I have been listening to a lot of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Lunachicks, NIN, The Killers, Hard-Fi, The Editors, Garbage and a load of other bands. Also though, I love dance music, I have a massive collection of 90s rave, haha.. and more recently I acquired a load of new dance tunes that a friend of mine was getting me into, so that's been keeping me occupied..
ELVIRA: So many of them, but I really like NIN, Pixies, Sonic Youth, L7, Melt Banana, Lolita Storm and Atari Teenage Riot, Spektrum, Primus, Cupid Stunt, Noisettes, Top Cats, classical music, gypsy and Spanish music.
CHRISTINA: Bach, Zappa, Dead Can Dance, Pixies, King Crimson, Brigada Krysys, PAIN, folk music from Ireland, Klezmer, Spanish flamenco-jazz, Carles Benavent, Jorge Pardo. There is so much good music out there ...
KIKI: I recently rediscovered my Bauhaus vinyl collection, and spent an entire month getting reacquainted with songs I loved when I was 17.
5. What's next? Tour/Album/Single?
MAHA: Well.. at the moment we are getting ready to record our first album... its going to be called 'Lies My Mother Told Me' which we really love as a name... After that it would be great to get on the road and see some more of what's out there..
6. Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?
CHRISTINA: To throw the towel is to stop fighting. For me, music is not only unlike fighting; it is pleasurable and necessary, like breathing.
ELVIRA: No, it's painful to think about it!!! It would be not easy to do, it's like not believing in yourself, because I'm doing this for myself primarily and ultimately for an audience... the pleasure of playing music, is amazing.
MAHA: Yeah.. you said it... I love playing music and personally I'm really dedicated, so I've always had that to keep me going although perhaps in other areas of my life I sometimes have had bad patches....
7. Do you prefer performing live or recording?
ELVIRA: I like the live sound more.... full of energy.... recording is fun, but stressful too, it's good when you have the result and it sounds expectacular!
MAHA: I prefer performing live, but I also like jammin with the girls… we generally meet up, practice loads of new and old material and then catch up...its like a sleepover but with loads of loud music and we don't get any sleep!
CHRISTINA: I like performing much better than recording, maybe that is because I haven't done so much of it! But I realize good recordings are necessary, and I'm thankful to all the artists I've heard for recording their sounds!
8. What/who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?
MAHA: When I was growing up, my parents had a hotel in Blackpool.. we would always get out the Karaoke and sing all the time... that was probably a great inspiration for me.. I learned from a really young age that I loved performing and that other people liked to listen to me sing. When I was about 8, the band, James, came to stay in the hotel... with them, they brought a 60+ crew of roadies, stage technicians and the whole entourage with them.. it was amazing... I remember just thinking... I want to do that. At about 14 I picked up a guitar for the first time... the sound it made was an inspiration in itself!
ELVIRA: There was a time when I was 18 and we dreamt about having a band... someone gave me a bass and I went to classes for a month, then I never touch the bass again. I came to London, and 3 years ago Maha discovered my affair.... in the same day we got a bass and the amp, and she told me we had a gig in a week, so I went with her to learn the songs and we did it..... I had a nervous breakdown after the gig, I went hysterical but since then I can't stop playing!!!
CHRISTINA: I've played since early age, mostly on my own. Recently I wanted to get in a band to try out another way of making music which involved more commitment that casual jamming. I'm enjoying the experience of developing a sound, and especially the fun we have making music!
9. What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?
MAHA: At the moment The Kut is still growing as a band.... a big challenge right now is to get our best material down and choose which tracks go on the first album.... We are very eclectic so sometimes it can be difficult for us to see where we are going.. although, I have big ambitions, so until we play MTV unplugged I don't think I'll rest.. it's a big dream of mine!
ELVIRA: Recording for the album, cos is gonna be serious.... so to get the best out of us, it's a bit scary but exciting!!
10. What's a typical day like?
CHRISTINA: Get up and play, in the best of cases!
MAHA: Haha.. Well we practice 3 days a week, so usually it's just.... get up, get ready, get in the car and go! The rest of the time I spend recovering.. haha... no I'm quite mentally active so I'm always focusing on some other projects all of them to do with music....!
ELVIRA: Hehe!! At the moment I'm concentrating on looking for work when I'm not jamming with the girls.
11. What has been your favorite part of becoming a music artist?
MAHA: Wow.. I'm not sure, but most likely all the cool people you meet and that come out to gigs, that and the beautiful guitars I've accumulated!
CHRISTINA: Playing for a listening audience.
ELVIRA: Yes, playing live is really good, the idea that music comes out of your fingers and the instrument and reaches a "listening audience" as Chris is describing, is amazing.
12. If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?
KIKI: Peter Murphy...the Bauhaus theme again. I think I'm becoming obsessed he he....
CHRISTINA: Frank Zappa but it's too late for that now...
MAHA: hmm.. that's a tough one, I'd have to say Prince, because he is such a talented musician. He's worked with so many people and written so many songs for others, he's really inspiring.
ELVIRA: Yes, I agree with Maha, Prince!!! I used to be in love with him when I was a child.
13. Are you single? What do you look for in a partner?
CHRISTINA: First I had husbands, now I have boyfriends and it looks like tomorrow I'll have only lovers...Anyhow love found me recently; it's simple, it's nice.
MAHA: ...husbands.. Yikes! It's all coming out now! Haha... Yes I am single, but for the first time in ages... I'm not looking if that makes sense.
ELVIRA: Yes, I'm in a little bit of a mess right now, I'm just becoming single, cos i don't know what I want. I tend to dissolve into the couple (1 becomes 2 as 1) so I need to take time out to focus on myself a little bit. I don't look for anything in specific, just to have the nice easy feeling that both of you are enjoying each other, and being able to learn from him and for him to learn from me, the normal thing....
14. Do you have a website fans can visit?
MAHA: the best page for us is our myspace...
, we do have a website but its being revamped at the moment. Also our label's website is very cool....
www.criminalrecords.cc
15. Can you tell us 5 things required for a happy healthy & enjoyable life?
KIKI: Great music, good lovers and friendships, good food, doing random things like climbing trees every now and again, and being open to new experiences.
CHRISTINA: Knowing yourself and being at peace with yourself, learning how to learn, knowing how to eat well and how to take care, following your dreams, and most importantly, having good friends!
MAHA: I'd say good company, good food and good music! For me, it's also really important to keep productive and keep striving.. Saying that though, I find it really important to get some 'me time' too… if for nothing else, just to keep well. Sometimes life throws so much at you in one go, and if I don't take time out to rest your body will make you slow down!
ELVIRA: Good food, friends, some good music, things to do and to learn, a bicycle or a horse, sun and blue skies, with a beach nearby and mountains in the background, waterfalls and butterflies, flowers (in their natural ambient, not in a vase at your table), the list can go on and on and on and on and on.
16. What message would you like to say to your fans?
MAHA: Thank you soooo much to everyone who has been there for us in our musical travels.. you're a real inspiration.... also, a big thank you to you and Girl for giving us this interview! Mwaah...
CHRISTINA: If you don't play already, learn an instrument!
ELVIRA: ...and then lets all play in the streets!!!!!
60 Second Quiz
Full Name: Maha
Nickname(s): Sweeky / Ice Queen / Shazmac! Luckily all have faded now, lol
Star Sign: Aquarius
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Film: Evil Dead 3
Favorite Actor: Keifer Sutherland
Pet: No
Describe yourself in 3 words: Don't annoy me!
Best Feature: I'm very caring
Worst Feature: I can be over sensitive
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Richard Branson
Hobbies/Interests: Music, Rollerdisco, Dancing
First Job: Waitressing
Are you a Pub, Bar or Club kind: Club
What Can You Never Leave Home Without: Car stereo, phone!
What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning: It's too bright!
Full Name: Kiki Nikolaou
Nickname(s): Keith, hobbit
Star Sign: Sagitarius
Favorite Food: Carbonara
Favorite Film: Eternal sunshine of a spotless mind
Favorite Actor: Walter Matau and Jack Lemmon combo
Pet: None
Describe yourself in 3 words: Quirky, cynical, sensitive
Best Feature: Eyes
Worst Feature: Eyebrows
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Too many
Hobbies/Interests: Watersports (not the dirty kind)
First Job: Water ski school assistant
Are you a Pub, Bar or Club kind: Pub
What Can You Never Leave Home Without: Wallet
What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning: Breakfast mmmmmmmm
Full Name: Christina Strang
Nickname(s): chris
Star Sign: Gemini
Favorite Food: Healthy
Favorite Film: Picasso's Aventyr
Favorite Actor: Juan Gamba
Pet: My mp3
Describe yourself in 3 words: Sub sis ter
Best Feature: I can laugh
Worst Feature: I can snore
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Peter Pan
Hobbies/Interests: Life
First Job: Translator
Are you a Pub, Bar or Club kind: Gigs
What Can You Never Leave Home Without: My keys
What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning: mmm!
Full Name: Elvira Zaera
Nickname(s): Elvi, elvis, la cucu, elvirus, asteroidelvira
Star Sign: Sagittarius
Favorite Food: Lots, natural food, home cooking with love!
Favorite Film: All that jazz
Favorite Actor: Juan Gamba
Pet: My cameras and laptop
Describe yourself in 3 words: Sub sis ter ... haha
Best Feature: When I'm feeling good
Worst Feature: When I get angry
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: I would love to meet Peter Pan's other side.. Peter Pank
Hobbies/Interests: Anything that i dont know yet or i can learn from
First Job: Tutoring a kid to help him do his homework after school
Are you a Pub, Bar or Club kind: I'm a street kind
What Can You Never Leave Home Without: Hehehe!!! Yes the keys!!!
What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning: hahahahahahaha!!!!!! If it's sunny it's wheee!!! If it's cloudy it's nooooooo!!!
