Photo credit: Cheryl Georgette

LA-based incendiary rock band Kills Birds are sharing their ferocious new single “Rabbit,” the opening track and first song to be released from their sophomore album Married, out via their new label home Royal Mountain Records and KRO Records on November 12th. Recorded at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 by invitation of the man himself, it is a storming and immediate declaration of intent from the LA-based band, a brutal and intense account of an abusive relationship struggling with power dynamics, oscillating between quiet and loud dynamics – both beautiful and aggressive, devastating and cathartic. 

On the track, vocalist Nina Ljeti explains, “Lyrically, “Rabbit” is about the experience of being in an abusive relationship with a powerful person. To be with someone who was praised by the public, but hurt you (and others) in private really eviscerates your self-worth. There’s nowhere to turn for help. Like many people who share this experience, this particular relationship defined the majority of my young adulthood, and I’m still dealing with the emotional consequences of it.“

Kills Birds’ Married is out on November 12th via Royal Mountain Records and KRO Records. You can pre-order it here

Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now? 

Jacob and I started writing music a few years ago. At first we were only writing joke song– R&B and disco love trax. But eventually, we got serious and Kills Birds came together quickly after that.

What does music and being an artist mean to you? 

Music is my first love. And getting to write and play it is truly the ultimate freedom. But I also recognize that being an artist is a luxury, and that it takes a lot of luck to be able to do this as a career.  A lot of people will attest to that as well, in the face of COVID. 

What are some sources of inspiration for your lyrics and storytelling? 

It usually always has something to do with love. Occasionally though I’ll get inspired to write songs about social issues and anxieties. Particularly those revolving around social media. 

Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today? 

This is a hard one as there are so many. Recently though I’ve been looking up to a lot of female vocalists, just as a marker of what I’d like to achieve or aspire to. Lately, it’s been Fiona Apple and Haley Williams. Both of them are just so good at what they do. 

All time favorite record? 

OK Computer I think? Maybe In Utero? ABBA Gold?  

Tell us about your latest release and how it came about. 

Glisten was written during the pandemic, when we as a band felt that it was safe enough to start meeting again in order to write. Though the lyrics are about someone in particular, the instrumentals seem to be an overall reflection of how we were all feeling mid-way through 2020. Lots of anger, confusion, heartbreak. 

You seem to be fusing several musical genres. What inspires your sound? 

We’re inspired by a lot of 90s alternative, but there’s also some folk, hip hop and pop in there too. We’re also all super into emo music 😎

What are some things you do to deal with anxiety and creative blocks? 

I go to the beach and pray that I’ll see a whale.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

Playing stadiums, traveling the world, and making art. 

Your style is very original and elaborate. How do you take care of your aesthetics? 

Thank you! We’re all artists so we take great care in every image we choose and what it means for us literally and symbolically. I also do all the artwork for us as a band (with the support of my incredible bandmates) so that allows us to maintain a consistent thread throughout all of our work. 

What was the most daunting moment in your career so far? 

I think opening up for the Foo Fighters is daunting but so exciting. Especially in the face of COVID, to come out of the gate with a show like that is wild. 

What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten? 

Sometimes I get impatient about where I am in my career. That I could be farther than I am right now. But my dad always reminds me that “there is a long line of people in front of you, but a long line of people behind you as well” and that stuck with me. Everyone is moving at their own pace and life is unpredictable. Be happy where you are.

Where do you think the next game-changer will be in the music industry and entertainment scene? London. It’s always in London. Or where’s PinkPantheress from? That’s where it is.