Start Listening To: Radical Kitten
Radical Kitten are the post-punk queer feminist band you need in your life right now.
We recently interviewed Radical Kitten. Self-described on Bandcamp as “Rrriot postpunk, queer and feminist”, currently comprised of Marion on the drums, Iso on guitar, and Marin on bass and bringing the vocals, they’re a Toulouse-based trio with all the energy and hype one needs to thrive in the postpunk world. Our interview with them gave some keen insights on political music, their songwriting process, and the simple joys of life. Go give them a listen and support their new music.
Can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?
RDKT: We are Radical Kitten. We’re a queer and feminist band from Toulouse and we make riot post-punk noise music. Meow!!!
Your debut album is titled ‘Silence is Violence’. What are the reasons behind this name?
RDKT: We are talking about the silence renders many social problems invisible and allows some people to keep their privileges. It can also speak of our own silences, those inspired by fear and having not learned to speak out, which is its own violence. We also thought it was a bit funny to call the album like that because the album is not quiet at all!
I really love the abrasive track ‘Shitty Questions’. Could you tell us a little bit more about the lyrics in this track?
ISO: At the beginning, the idea was to talk about those kinds of questions you don’t want to answer, like dumb questions that can be oppressive. We thought it would be funny to answer it by not expecting answers and to say we don’t have to answer if we don’t want to. Before my gender transition, one of the questions that really rotted my life was "are you a girl or a boy"; people can't stand not being able to put you in one of their boxes…
What is your songwriting process like?
Marin: I have more of a hip hop musical culture so we create the instrumental first and the lyrics come afterwards. My English is quite basic; I have a more rhythmic approach than a literary one. The themes can come from the desire to talk about specific subjects but in the end it's always the instrumental that conditions the lyrics so I hear it and say to myself: ok, the music makes me think about this subject. If I try to get out of this process it's not at all fluid anymore!
How did Radical Kitten form?
Marin : We had already played together with Iso but the project had split! We decided to put a project back together, later we put an ad out to a feminist mailing list to find a drummer… Marion, who was just starting to play drums, answered us and that was the crux! The human aspect was much more important than the technical aspect (but we can't lie: from the beginning we asked some crazy things of her on the drums!).
What do you hate the most right now?
Iso: Not being able to play live…
Marin: French politricks.
Marion: I’m only made of love.
What do you love the most right now?
Iso: The Autumn leaves of the trees. It washes my eyes of the ambient shit, like a light in the darkness.
Marin: Playing music!
Marion: Beans with olive oil and avocado!
How was your new album ‘Silence is Violence’ recorded?
RDKT: In a studio in the countryside around Bordeaux (la Grange Cavale) with Manuel Duval. We did this over 3 days sleeping on the spot and had a great time with our hosts (and Bob the cat)!
Your music is very raw and almost demands to be seen live. How has it been adapting to not playing live? Do you have plans for future shows?
RDKT: Actually, we recorded it live! For the instrumental, at least; we did the vocals apart. We have changed very little, only a few intros and outros here and there, but no arrangement needed overdubbing. We suppose that's really how we hear and want our sound, very raw. Next week, we’ll play in a squat in Toulouse known for free boxing lessons. Next month, at a friend's house in the countryside. Everything is closed down because of the curfew here.
How has being from Toulouse influenced you as artists?
Iso: none of us are natives of Toulouse! Maybe more so than Toulouse, there is a place in Toulouse, the Pavillons Sauvages, which influenced us because it is where we met and where we rehearsed since the beginning. It's a collective place where a lot of things happen. We saw a lot of great bands and met a lot of nice people. There are a lot of motivated people in town: crews of organisers who make a live to promote punk, noise, experimental music and so on in a good DIY state of mind. But what you start to miss more and more are the places and venues because the city hall is on their back and wants to gentrify everything…
What is your favourite song to perform?
Marin: “I don’t wanna” because people always dance a lot to it!
Iso: “Shitty Questions”; I like the energy of this song and the question-answer thing in the vocals.
Marion: “I’m bored” for the poppy feeling I get and the way I hit the drums. It makes me bounce on my chair.
How do you feel about bands like Idles and the current UK punk scene?
Iso: I'm the one who listens the most to punk so I'll answer! I discovered this band Idles not long ago, a friend shared their song about consent. Let's say it's not really true to what I listen to. Maybe I prefer it when there’s a girl singing. I don't speak good English and I'm not really attentive to the lyrics (I know it's wrong :D) so I probably miss a lot of things too. From the UK scene, I like the Upset The Rhythm label, with bands like Shopping and Trash Kit (and The World and Nots too but they're not from England), as well as Beards from Leeds but they’re not active anymore. We played with Scrap Brain at the beginning of the year, which was very cool. I recently discovered Decolonise Fest Compilation 2019 and like a lot of these two bands: Handle and Immigranti.
Who has influenced you most as a band and why?
Marin: It's a difficult question because we don't have the same musical influences at all within the band. For my part, I think that absolutely all of the artists that I like influence me. I'm a sponge. And also the bands we shared stages with. I didn't know much about equipment, I started with a small amp and a broken bass so it helped me a lot to talk with other musicians!
Iso: As Marin said we don't have the same references and the influences of the band are a little bit a mix of what we like in common: bands like Melt Banana, Blonde Redhead, ESG.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
RDKT: Thank you very much for your interest! :) (Sorry about our English :D) All Cats Are Beautiful! Meow! Thanks so much!
Remember to support artists such as Radical Kitten. To do so, you can start by streaming their debut album, linked above on Bandcamp, and sending some love their way! They also have this album out on vinyl and cassette.
Vinyl:
Attila tralala · Araki Records · Domination Queer Records · Gurdulu · La Loutre par les cornes · Mon Cul C’est du Tofu · Retratando Voces · Stonehenge Records ·Uppercat Records
Tape:
Hidden Bay Records · AB Records · Seitan’s Hell Bike Punks · Tomaturj
