Bristol alternative rock quartet Kamino recently released their brand new music video for Aconite – the title track to 2017’s Aconite EP.
With their second release from the band’s 2017 debut, Kamino are further showcasing their signature sound – topping colossal riffs with towering vocals to create an infectious sound that audiences can’t help but sing along & jump around to. ‘Aconite’ tells the tale of a deadly poison that’s irresistible to drink, despite knowing it’ll kill you, amid a melee of sinister, crushing guitar riffs and thumping basslines, garnished by venomous synths and vicious drums.
This is Kamino’s first release of 2018 and since making their mark with debut single Antidote, a fierce, attention-grabbing track which caught the attention of the likes of BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio. In an entirely DIY approach, the accompanying music video to ‘Aconite’ was entirely shot, directed and edited by the band themselves, within the confines of a garage with a few spot lights and creative minds.
Following on from last year’s self-release with a sold-out show at The Gryphon in Bristol, Kamino are ready to make this year their own. Alongside plans to tour after successful shows & festival appearances across the UK in 2017, the band have already hinted that they’ve been up to something with sneak previews finding their way onto social media. Check out the band’s latest music video below!
We managed to catch up with the band as they talk about the latest video and more!
So how has the response to your music video Aconite?
It’s been great! The response has been fantastic and we’ve only heard positive things so far. It felt really good to get some new music out and start the year off with a bang. With the video being entirely self-produced between the four of us (filming & lighting duties shared, then editing and fx work by our video wizard & equally-talented bassist Dan), it took a while to get everything together, therefore we’re so pleased to see so many people watching and enjoying what we’ve achieved!
Can you tell us something about the Aconite EP nobody knows?
There’s a pretty hilarious story I can tell from back when we recorded it. We were recording at Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire, and got the first draft mix of ‘Aconite’ bounced out on the penultimate night, to listen through and check. It just so happened that Paul’s (guitar) and Dan’s (bass) birthdays fell on the last two nights of the session. As one can imagine we got fairly drunk, and decided to put the track on. It sounded so great that we played it on repeat for about 4 hours, until gone 3am! The next morning we came down to two very tired looking studio assistants…it transpired they were staying in the rooms above where we were blasting music out from. We had no idea they were there!!! They certainly knew we were though…
What’s your favourite track of the EP?
As the writer it’s difficult to choose as I love every track for a different set of reasons. If I had to choose though, I’d probably say ‘Ghosts’. It’s the perfect way to round the EP off, both lyrically (subject-wise) and musically – the big epic ending. Sometimes I forget about it due to the other two tracks being the singles from the EP, and unless we’re playing a headline show we don’t always get the opportunity to play it live. So it’s nice to remember that it exists and reminisce on writing it and what it means to me.
Are you now working on new music for 2018?
We’re always writing and developing music, but in terms of a new release…I can’t say too much apart from “keep your eyes peeled”. We did sneakily hint that we were up to something at the end of last year, so watch this space.
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
Most likely Muse. They’re a huge influence and albums like ‘Absolution’ and ‘Black Holes and Revelations’ fuelled my desire to form a band in the first place. There are so many layers on those albums, which are a direct source of inspiration on the sound I like to work with, so I’d love to get into a studio with them and try some cool stuff out.
What’s the alternative scene like in Bristol?
Very alternative! Bristol’s well known for its eclectic music vibe and deservedly so. There’s lots of cool rock bands doing their thing, but alongside them there’s a whole host of artists making music in every conceivable combination of genres and styles. It’s great to get out and gig with them, you hear all sorts of sounds, it’s inspiring.
What was the first gig you ever attended?
The first show I ever saw was Hard-Fi at Cardiff Solus. Closely followed by Muse at V Festival. Myself and Chris went for the day and back then, being a newbie to festivals, we didn’t know it was as easy as it is to leave the crowd and go back in again. So we literally stood on the same spot for what must’ve been like 10 or 11 hours, which was pretty exhausting! But we got treated to a cool lineup which included all sorts of artists – Stereophonics, Alanis Morrisette…those were two of about 8. Definitely worth it.
Are there any festivals or gigs planned for 2018?
We’ve got a few gigs lined up for early 2018, our first gig of the year was in Cheltenham a couple of weeks back and went down a storm. We’re hoping to carry on with festivals etc. throughout the year, especially around the ’sneaky secret’ project I mentioned earlier… Anyone who’d like to see us in their town or city – hit us up! Our next couple of shows are in February in Trowbridge (9th) and at home in Bristol (22nd), check our socials for details.
What’s it like getting the support from the likes of BBC Introducing?
It’s really cool. It’s a big platform to have and a good milestone to meet – it shows your music has been recognised among your fellow local artists, as well as giving you more exposure from a reputable & recognisable name. We hope to carry on travelling the airwaves this year with some more tunes! Keep an ear out for us.