The Kid and I, an exciting alternative rock band hailing from the UK, are set to immerse audiences with their upcoming debut EP to be released later this year.

Led by the multi-talented actor-musician Jacob Powell, the band brings a fresh blend of energetic rock and indie vibes, infused with heartfelt lyrics reflecting the struggles of modern life.

What began as a solo project during the lockdown, quickly evolved into a full-fledged dream for Jacob Powell – to form his very own band. In February 2022, that dream turned into a reality, and The Kid and I were born. Drawing inspiration from legendary acts like Foo Fighters, Blink-182, and Sam Fender, The Kid and I delivers a unique brand of quirky alternative rock.

The first instalment from the EP, ‘Wonder Pt. 1,’ is a soaring alt-rock anthem that takes listeners on a poignant voyage of self-discovery. Beginning with gentle balladry and building to a crescendo of powerful rock, the track boasts a timeless quality that leaves an indelible mark on the listener’s soul.

For fans of Biffy Clyro, The Kid and I’s ‘Wonder Pt. 1’ is a genre-defying gem, beautifully combining elements of progressive rock and emotive melodies. The EP was penned during a ten-day stint in December 2021, when Jacob Powell found himself in isolation due to the pandemic. The songwriting process became a profound reflection on loss, inspired by the passing of Powell’s father, grandmother, and grandfather throughout his life. The grief he experienced through these losses led him to explore themes of self-love, intertwining with his personal journey of healing and growth.

The EP was recorded with esteemed producer Nick Kozuch at Unit Studios in Letchworth Garden City, a dream collaboration that further elevated the band’s sound to unprecedented heights. ‘Wonder Pt. 1’ is a simply stunning offering that has moments of delicacy and melancholic beauty that compels from start to finish, with this release promising to be a momentous occasion for both the band and music enthusiasts seeking their new favourite alternative rock band.

Powell says “Wonder Pt 1 is about grief and the damaging effects it has years after the event itself takes place and finding the strength to reach out and ask for help during it.”

And now an exclusive interview with The Kid and I, right here on Psychedelic Baby Magazine!

“I always try to just convey how I’m feeling”

First off, what’s the origin story behind the band name?

The name came from a few different places – my dad when I was little called me The Kid, as I would walk around after seeing too many American action films calling people “kid” in a bad American accent, and it’s a little nod to him. The rest came as a way to make it seem more like a gang even though it was just me at the beginning – it reminds me of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid sort of vibes.

According to you, ‘Wonder Pt 1’ is about grief and its damaging effects. In your opinion, why is grief such a fuel for songwriting?

Loss and grief have played a huge part of my life, so for me personally it’d be really difficult to not have my songs reference that at all. I think the thing with grief is that it’s sort of a never ending process. You learn to live with it but as I get older and have had more things happen in my life, the grief I feel gets experienced in a different way, and I think that is why it’s such a big place to draw from creatively.

When writing about certain topics (in this case, grief), is your objective to convey your own experience, or to write in a way where anyone listening can apply it to their own experiences?

I think for me I always try to just convey how I’m feeling. It’s a way of understanding my problems, or just releasing them into something creatively. I feel like talking about grief can sometimes feel very daunting when talking with people, so to put it in a song is easier and in some ways feels like you’re still having a conversation with that person. I have been trying recently to really get specific with the lyrics and the meanings of songs – I think the more specific you can be can make it, the more universal it becomes, which sounds paradoxical but I look at a songwriter like Sam Fender, who writes from a really person space I think and tells such specific experiences and stories, but they ultimately connect to me and my own life even though we’ve definitely had very different upbringings/lives.

You’ve emphasized your rock influences. With where popular music is, what role would you say rock still plays?

Rock music for me is all about energy and emotion – I think the best part of rock music is when it’s cathartic and unhinged, and there will always be a need for that in the world. Even in other genres of music, I think you can tell when it’s been influenced by rock music. Rock music is also a safe space for people to be themselves without pretense and I think that’s still alive and kicking. When people say rock music is dead, I just think maybe they’re not looking very hard as there’s still loads of cool bands and artists doing work.

What was it like getting to work with producer Nick Kozuch?

Working with Nick is a joy – he’s so welcoming and accommodating and a real collaborator. He’s genuinely such a genius when it comes to sounds and production, and every time I’ve worked with him, the songs have always come out better or completely different than what I could’ve expected (in a great way). He’s always pushing me to take the songs to the next level and I’m always overjoyed when we work together.

What does the rest of 2023 look like for The Kid and I?

The rest of the year is mostly going to be releasing the next singles from the EP and also playing a few London shows. We’ll also be working on the new music that we want to put out in 2024 – we’re in the process of trying to put a tour together for next year so it’s going to be very busy indeed!

The Kid and I Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / YouTube