Artist Spotlight: Cousin Kula

Shot by @alfredthirolle.dop

Kaleidoscopic and avant-garde in image and timbre, Bristolian five piece Cousin Kula don’t worry too much about convention. 

Back in November, the band delivered a peerless sonic statement with their terrific debut album Double Dinners. A creamy helping of psychedelia, jazz and bedroom pop goodness, lead singer Elliot’s eerily gentle vocals glaze the hazy sweet instrumentals. The band calmly gaze into the surreal and the extraordinary, reminiscing on the past and dreaming of a bright future, as the abstract narratives, designed to promote individual interpretation, float through the soundscapes in a state of effortless introspection. 

Friday 11th March saw the long awaited 12’ inch vinyl unveiled via esteemed label Rhythm Section, who added the band to its eclectic portfolio after being impressed by their ’20 EP Casa Kula Cassette. Native to a city that is cherished for its defiance of convention within its art, Cousin Kula look set to be a significant figurehead in the Bristol scene’s musical development for years to come. 

I sat down with the band, who talked me through the striking Double Dinners, the construction of their sound and aesthetic, what to expect at a live show, and what’s to come from them.

Who’s influencing you at the moment?
We just did a mix for CRACK of a load of bits we've been jamming to in the van atm!

How are finding being part of the Rhythm Section family? It must be amazing to be involved in such a cherished, respected label?

It’s real nice. We’ve always been really lucky with record labels who are super supportive of our creativity. Local Bristol label CHIVERIN put out our first 3 EPs and have stayed on as management while we’ve released this new album with Rhythm Section, which has been a real joy. They seem to genuinely care about us and the music and have been incredibly supportive, so we can just get on with creating and doing our thing! Not to mention label head Bradley’s crazy connections and sorting us out and just being an all round legend!

Do you struggle to define yourself within a genre or style?

I don't think anyone really spends that much time thinking about what genre their band is. We sometimes get put in the same camp as people like Connan Mockasin, Mac Demarco, BADBADNOTGOOD and Khruangbin.

What does genre mean to you? Do you see it as a box that labels you, or do you think it can help to ground/cement your sound?

‘Genre’ can be boxing yourself in. I think we like to define themes or a general texture to our music, but also there’s no hard and fast rules. It either feels right & sounds good, or it doesn’t.

I absolutely love the way you use texture and cadence within your music. Talk me through the usual instrumental creative process?

There is not one method that we go to most, sometimes something can come from nothing, just a hooky melody can come to you just out riding a bike, make a quick voice note of it and then make something from that at home. Or whole songs can be written out by a singular Kula, then collectively finished off. We like to change the approach or things can get stale.

How about writing? Do you mostly create melodic ideas before even putting pen to paper, or do you often start with a lyrical theme/concept and build your instrumentation around that?

Often the music will come before the lyrics, or at least for one section. Lyrics are never predefined, they just flow out almost subconsciously, and are built on from there. 

The infusion of psychedelia in your sound is, for me, one of the most compelling elements. How do you create that otherworldly sensation through sound?

Shit loads of pedals.

You have such a strong aesthetic, which is something that many modern bands lack. Where does this image/sound stem and how important is remaining authentic to you?

I (Elliot, lead singer) steer the visual aesthetic for the project, I always studied art as opposed to music, and have always just enjoyed injecting that part of my creativity into the band. The most recent idea, which has snowballed a bit out of control, was to dye a load of clothes turmeric and shoot the album cover posed as a kind of nod to 70’s soul style album covers. We then made a music video like this and are now touring completely in turmeric and Jordan has dyed his hair turmeric, not sure when it will end...

Your debut album Double Dinners is here! How are you feeling about the release?

It feels great to finally put it out into the world! And the response we’ve had has been overwhelming!  

What’s the story behind the album title?

Joe and Will would eat dinner, drive up for rehearsals and occasionally join us for their ‘double dinner’. Also ‘This Country’. If you know, you know. 

Talk me through the main narrative themes and concepts in the album?

There's various themes on love, addiction and heartbreak, but ultimately I (Elliot) want to inspire new meaning created through your interpretation - that’s the beauty of music, don’t worry about my intention, make your own.

The range of emotions that consumed me as a listener when I experienced the album was immense. How did you convey your feelings so coherently?

That’s your experience, and exclusively yours. Music is subjective and as much as we can try to encourage or steer a certain sensation or feeling in our audience, ultimately it is uniquely your interpretation - and for that we’re glad it’s a good one and that you had a journey with it!

I know you’ve got some live dates coming up! You looking forward to getting up on the stage?

Yes, especially since we didn’t play for about 18 months because of COVID. After gigging almost weekly since our early teens, not gigging really messed with our heads! A huge part of the way we identify was stripped away - so yes it has been hugely symbolic and just rad to get back on stage again, it feels like home.

What can we expect from a live show from you guys? What’s the set up?

10KG of turmeric powder and a jolly good time

If you were introducing yourself to a new listener who had never heard your music before, what tune would you put on?

Something so Sweet

What's to come for you?

To come eh? More UK gigs and festivals, gigs in Europe and further from home. Album 2, you know, the predictable stuff after you release your debut album. Playing shows with bands we love, thats definitely something we’re planning to do more and more of.

Buy the vinyl here