Two new members, embarking on a new sound and releasing an EP, “Road to Victory,” — this sums up the new, revamped version of local band Kilo and the Dew. The once duo turned four-man band will release their new project on April 23 at Tricky Falls.
“It’s a fuller album and has more structure,” front man and vocalist Jason Daw said. “We needed to add two more and it brought a new meaning. Our new album, we named it ‘Road to Victory’ because we have our goals set in stone and we can either take it and run with it or stay here and just become like everyone else. We don’t want to be just like all the other local bands.”
Throughout their first two releases, “Kilo and the Dew” and “Serotonin,” the band progressed significantly within nearly three years of existence. Throughout “Kilo and the Dew,” band members Jason Daw and Daniel Rivera, their drummer, give an introduction to who they were as artists.
Songs such as “Yellow Lines” and “Til the Night Ends” continue to be top songs and crowd favorites that the band continues to play at shows. While “Kilo and the Dew” was a promising introduction into what the band could be, “Serotonin” was an experimental album where the duo truly found their sound. The single off the album, “Worst Enemy,” featuring Vincent Marcus, local Vine celebrity, uses thrashing keys and bending vocals to make for an exceptionally solid track.
“It’s been a crazy ride seeing our writing style evolve,” Rivera said. “Our first EP touched on the basics of the melodies and groove we wanted to establish. With “Seratonin,” I feel that we really put a spotlight on the kind of diverse sound we try to achieve. Bringing two new people into the fold for “Road to Victory” really changed a lot but at the same time, it felt very familiar.”
At the start of 2016, after the duo toured the western United States, they decided they were looking for a change. That is when Daw and Rivera decided to bring along two new members — bassist Fred Porras and guitarist Braedon O’Shea.
“Joining Kilo and the Dew was unlike any experience I’ve ever been apart of,” O’Shea said. “They were so open to my style of playing and let me take the reigns and incorporate so many ideas into their music. It meshed so well and I have never felt so welcome and comfortable with any other band as I am with them.”
Porras said he always wanted to be a part of the band.
“I had always told them, ‘let’s jam!’, so when that first rehearsal happened, I didn’t know what to expect,” Porras said. “They brought in a guitarist (O’Shea) as well, who straight up dazzled me with his pedal board and FX work, and we all kind of fit together and made good music.”
The band allowed The Prospector to take an exclusive sneak preview of their first hit off their new EP. The track, titled “You’ll Never Be a Rockstar,” completely redefines the band.
The intro immediately clashes heavy drums, guitar and delivers a spine-chilling bass line, and then transitions to soft vocals by Daw. Then the song climaxes at the hook, bringing the song full swing. This track will undoubtedly be a crowd favorite because of its catchy hook, “They said you’ll never be a rock star with that hair…”
“We didn’t take a lot from the song at first, but we played it at a show and everyone loved it,” Daw said. “Now we want to keep going with it and get it down.”
The EP will feature six tracks that will show their fans the development and newfound sound, Daw said. Tickets for their EP release are $5. Opening for Kilo and the Dew will be other local acts, such as Alabama Deathwalk, Avindale and If We Were Turtles. Visit kiloandthedewmusic.com for more information.
Adrian Broaddus may be reached at [email protected].
