Bristol-based indie four-piece Chasing Kites recently unveiled their nostalgia-laden single “Collide”, which features a special place within the band’s hearts.
Chasing Kites was founded by frontman Matt Donnelly & guitarist Liam Hope in 2021. After a long search for a rhythm section, drummer James Hunt & bassist Nathan Price were drafted in to complete their electric sound.
Recorded with Sam Winfield (Amber Run, Bring Me The Horizon) at Studio 91, the track is something special to vocalist Matt Donnelly, telling the story of how his parents met.
Matt has kindly taken the time to chat with Fierce & Fabulous Revolution regarding the release of “Collide” & the emotional journey behind it. You can find the full interview below.
Hey Chasing Kites, thank you for this interview. Can you start by introducing yourself to readers who might be unfamiliar with your music?
Matt: Of course. My name is Matt and I am the singer of Chasing Kites. We (Chasing Kites) are an indie band from Bristol.
How did the idea to form Chasing Kites come together?
Matt: I came to Bath for university in 2016 with the intention of starting a band. I have played with a number of musicians since moving to the area but this lineup came together for the first time in 2021.
Who came up with the name Chasing Kites & what does it mean to you?
Matt: We aren’t entirely sure who came up with the final name (I’m fairly certain it was Liam) but we had a number of similar names being thrown about at that time. It was really important to us that we took our time with the naming of the group. To us, the name symbolises the constant pursuit of a moving target, which has always been the way we have worked.
How would you currently describe your musical style?
Matt: I would describe our musical style as straight-up indie rock, complimented by 80s synth textures and vivid narratives.
You recently released the brand new single “Collide”. How did the idea for this song come together?
Matt: Collide came together in a pretty typical fashion for Chasing Kites. I’d had these lyrics about my family floating about for at least a year and had been waiting for the right piece of instrumentation to come around so they could be utilised. Liam sent over the opening riff that he’d written and I knew immediately that this was the perfect track to accompany the narrative.
You collaborated alongside Sam Winfield on this new single. How did the idea to collaborate on this song happen?
Matt: We have worked with Sam for a number of years and we owe a lot to him in terms of the development of our sound. When it came to the recording of this track, he was the obvious choice.
What does this song mean to each of you?
Matt: The track means a great deal to us as a band. It has been a fan favourite at our live shows for quite some time so to finally have it released is an incredible feeling. To me, the track is very special as it tells the story of how my parents met and subsequently fell in love with each other.
What message would you like listeners to take from this song?
Matt: I would like listeners to think about their loved ones when they hear the track. It’s far too easy to take them for granted (I’m as guilty as anyone for that).
Are there any further releases planned that you can share with us?
Matt: We have recently come out of the studio so have lots of new material recorded and ready to go. We have plans to release new tracks soon.
Finally, is there a message that you would like to share with the readers for Fierce & Fabulous Revolution?
Matt: Just a massive thank you to anyone who has ever streamed our music or been to a live show. It means the world to us.
You can check out “Collide” on Spotify below or on further platforms here.
Chasing Kites: Facebook / Instagram / X (Twitter).
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