Kids of 88 explained

Kids of 88
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Auckland, New Zealand
Years Active:2008–2014
Associated Acts:TNAF
Current Members:

Kids of 88 were a New Zealand new wave duo based in Auckland, New Zealand, consisting of Jordan Arts and Sam McCarthy. They are best known for their 2009 single, "My House". They have since signed through Dryden Street to Sony Music and released the album Sugarpills in August 2010. In 2014, the duo stated that 'the [Kids of 88] project has concluded.'

Members

History

2000–2009: Career beginnings and style

It is known that the two have been best friends for ten years. They attended St Peter's College, Auckland, where they formed the band Incursa, winning the 2004 Smokefreerockquest.[1] Sharing a passion for music, they decided to become musicians. The duo have described their music as "a cross between a late 80s police drama intro theme and a sophisticated super hussy. With sleazy basslines and mind-numbingly catchy hooks, Kids of 88 are all about poking tongues and making sweaty suggestive innuendos."[2]

They cite their influences as "Groove, mood, and slutty arrangements. 16th hi hats and hand claps. Culture and couture, Gangster and glamour".[3]

McCarthy is also a member of the band Goodnight Nurse.

2010–2011: Sugarpills and extended play

In April 2010, Kids of 88 signed a worldwide record deal with Sony Music.[4]

On the back of their debut album release, Kids of 88 are set to tour New Zealand with fellow kiwi indie band The Naked and Famous, the tour will hit the four main centres of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin beginning 30 September.[5]

At the 2010 New Zealand Music Awards, Kids of 88 won 'Single of the Year' and (with Tim Van Dammen) 'Music Video of the Year' for their single "Just a Little Bit".[6]

In November 2010 they toured Australia and in December 2010 they headed to Europe to support Ke$ha on her tour.

In February 2011 they released an EP which included the track "Sugarpills" and 4 other new ones.

In July 2011 they released an extended Sugarpills version to Australia and the United States known as Sugarpills (Australian Edition) which includes the track Sugarpills and two new songs from the EP released into New Zealand in February.

On 8 August 2011 episode of MTV's Teen Wolf entitled "Formality", they were featured as the live band performing at the Beacon Hills formal.[7] During their on screen set, they played "Just a Little Bit", "Ribbons of Light" and "Universe".[8]

2012: Modern Love

The second studio album, Modern Love[9] was released worldwide on 5 October 2012. The first single "Tucan" was released on 11 May 2012. "Bad Talk" had been confirmed as the second single, with funding for its music video provided by NZ On Air, but has since been changed to "LaLa". Both tracks "Tucan" and "LaLa" had videos released well before the release of the full second album, which were both shot and directed by Levi Beamish. Tracks from the four-week JB Hi-Fi NZ Modern Love pre-order deal include "Bones", "Mercury", "LoveFlow" and "FrenchGreen", adopting the new no-space KidsOf88 look.

Since the release of the album, the duo went on to release a third single from Modern Love, "TheDrug", the music video to which was directed and shot by Sam Kristofski, starring several of the band's friends and neighbours.

On 23 July 2013, the band released a music video for their song "Bad Talk".[10]

Discography

Artist:Kids of 88
Studio:2
Music Videos:9
Ep:1
Singles:7

Albums

Studio albums

YearAlbum detailsPeak positions
NZ[11]
2010Sugarpills
  • Released: 16 August 2010
  • Label: Dryden Street/Sony Music
2
2012Modern Love
  • Released: 5 October 2012
  • Label: Dryden Street/Universal Music NZ
17

Extended plays

Singles

As a main artist

YearSinglePeak positionsAlbum
NZ[12]
2009"My House"3Sugarpills
2010"Just a Little Bit"11
"Downtown"21
"Sugarpills"Sugarpills EP
2012"Tucan"Modern Love
"LaLa"30
"The Drug"

Promotional Singles

YearSingleAlbum
2010"Everybody Knows"Sugarpills
2011"Nerves"Sugarpills EP
2012"Euphoria"Modern Love
"Komodo"

Music videos

YearTitleDirectorOfficial link
2009"My House"Jacob ThomasOfficial Video
2010"Just a Little Bit"Tim van Dammen[13] Official Video
"Ribbons of Light"[14] Toby Angwin[15] Official Video
"Downtown"Special Problems[16] Official Video
2011"Sugarpills"Jae Morrison[17] Official Video
2012"Tucan"Levi Beamish[18] Official Video
"LaLa"Levi Beamish[19] Official Video
2013"The Drug" Sam Kristofski[20] Official Video
"Bad Talk"Jordan ArtsOfficial Video

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011MTV's Teen WolfThemselves"Formality" (Season 1, episode 11)
Channel 4's Fresh MeatSoundtrack"Just a Little Bit" (Season 1, episode 8)
2013New GirlSoundtrack"LaLa" (Season 2, episode 22)

Awards and nominations

YearTypeAwardResult
2010Vodafone People's Choice Award[21]
Vodafone Single of The Year ("Just a Little Bit")
C4 Best Music Video ("Just a Little Bit")
2011FOUR Best Group[22]
The Edge Best Pop Album ("Sugarpills")
2013Best Producer ("Modern Love")[23]
The Edge Best Pop Album ("Modern Love")

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Past winners of the Smokefreerockquest, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20100210194145/http://www.smokefreerockquest.co.nz/pastwinners. dead. 10 February 2010. 4 October 2020.
  2. http://homegrown.net.nz/55/line-up/vodafone-pop-and-rnb-stage "Pop&R&B Stage", Jim Beam Homegrown 2013
  3. Web site: Music. Theedge.co.nz. 4 October 2020.
  4. Web site: Crazed Hits - the Music of Tomorrow. https://web.archive.org/web/20080206084701/http://www.crazedhits.com/. usurped. 6 February 2008. CrazedHits.com. 4 October 2020.
  5. http://ripitup.co.nz/contentitem/news-kids-of-88-the-naked-and-famous-tour/727 NEWS: Kids Of 88 & The Naked And Famous Tour
  6. News: Gin and Stan win big at NZ Music Awards . 7 October 2010 . . 12 October 2011.
  7. Web site: Teen Wolf: Formality . 19 August 2011 . IMDb.
  8. Web site: Soundtrack Spotlight: Kids of 88 Fire Up 'Teen Wolf' Formal. 19 August 2011. Donnelly. Matthew Scott. MTV. 12 November 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111112160125/http://remotecontrol.mtv.com/2011/08/09/soundtrack-spotlight-kids-of-88/. dead.
  9. Web site: Beat Magazine. Beat.com.au. 4 October 2020.
  10. Web site: KidsOf88 – Bad Talk (Official Video) . YouTube. 4 October 2020.
  11. Web site: charts.nz – New Zealand charts portal. charts.nz. 2 September 2010.
  12. Web site: charts.nz – New Zealand charts portal. charts.nz. 2 September 2010.
  13. Web site: Just a Little Bit – Kids Of 88 – Official Video. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/FWm9v9Bh0b0 . 2021-12-20 . live. YouTube. 4 October 2020.
  14. Web site: Kidsof88 Official – Kidsoff88 Music Blog. Kidsof88.com. 4 October 2020.
  15. Web site: Kids of 88 – Ribbons of Light [Official Video]|publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=4 October 2020].
  16. Web site: Special Problems . 2 August 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101008170348/http://www.specialproblems.com/ . 8 October 2010 . dead .
  17. Web site: KIDS OF 88 – SUGARPILLS Website=Vimeo.com. 4 October 2020.
  18. Web site: KidsOf88 - Tucan feat. Alisa Xayalith. Vimeo.com. 4 October 2020.
  19. Web site: KidsOf88 – LaLa (Official Video). YouTube. 4 October 2020.
  20. Web site: Kids of 88 - The drug. Theedge.co.nz. 4 October 2020.
  21. Web site: 2010 Winners « Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards . 2 March 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192329/http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2010/10/07/2010-vnzma-winners/ . 29 October 2013 .
  22. Web site: 2011 Finalist Summary « Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards . www.nzmusicawards.co.nz . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111001222849/http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2011/09/07/2011-finalist-summary/ . 1 October 2011 . dead.
  23. Web site: First music award nominations out. 9 October 2013. 4 October 2020. The New Zealand Herald.