Gowned in an oversized Kimono, wearing the war paint of a warrior, KID BE KID confronts what it means to live in a technologically-obsessed, image-fixated, exhibitionist environment that is the internet, or more broadly speaking, the modern world. And she does so in 10 beat-focused tracks, which she has compiled into an album titled Truly A Life Goal But No Ice Cream, a cheeky reference, in name and concept, to people’s obsession with superficial achievement. It is not so much a recommendation to go out and eat a bunch of sugar, or, more conceptually, give into hedonic impulses, but rather an invitation to consider one’s true desires beyond keeping up with the Joneses.
Stream / Download: Truly A Life Goal But No Ice Cream LP
To this end, KID BE KID said: “Truly A Life Goal But No Ice Cream breaks away from the widespread dream of wanting to be like ‘Barbie and Ken’ – the constructed standard of gender and beauty, the filters through which we view ourselves and others. With this album, I’m putting a magnifying glass in your hand, made specifically for real emotion and deeper meaning. All you have to do is pick it up, and the journey into an exciting world begins.”
Beatboxing her way through idiosyncratic beat patterns, KID BE KID showcases her ability to generate percussive sounds with her mouth, sing, and produce music from the first record, aptly titled ‘Start’, setting the tone for what the album will come to offer. Thematically and sonically, the single touches on the idea of being detached from reality and the search for relief through the reintroduction of tactile sensory experiences, such as kissing.
Now that we’ve looked at the first track, let’s see what the last one has to offer: A gentle easing from the harsher electronic sounds, ‘Hold My Hands’ serves as a cool-down of sorts. Gentle piano notes flit around playfully, as KID BE KID shows the extent of her vocal range in a wonderfully warm colouration, a soft, drifting exit to an overall high-energy album.
KID BE KID Tour Dates 2023
17 June – Maisons-Laffitte Jazz festival, Vincennes, FR
21 June – Gretchen Fete de la Musique Blockparty, Berlin, D
24 June – Querbeet Festival, Gelsenkirchen, D
30 June – Südtirol Jazzfestival, Bozen, IT
01 July – Südtirol Jazzfestival, Brixen, IT
02 July – Südtirol Jazzfestival, Bozen, IT
03 July – Südtirol Jazzfestival, Meran, IT
15 July – Kulturpraline, Tornow, D
14 September – Faust, Hannover, D
15 September – Jaki, Köln, D
16 September – Tempel, Karlsruhe, D
19 September – Bunker Ulmenwall, Bielefeld, D
22 September – Planet Ears Festival – Mannheim, D
28 September – Kiel, hansa 48, D
22 October – bee-flat, Bern, CH
25 October – NUEJAZZ, Nürnberg, D
26 October – Schlachthof, Kassel, D
24./25 November – Slovensky rozhlas, Bratislava, SK
14 December – Spielboden, Dornbirn, AT
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Image credit: KID BE KID
