After The Kynd’s first single, Egotripper, produced by Andy Bell (RIDE/Oasis), and the release of the debut album, Shakedown, we did not hear from the band for 23 years. Now, they are back, with a very recognizable sound and 12 fantastic new songs.

Danny Tipping tells how that happened.

How did this record come together? 

The new album TIMELINES, has a 23-year backstory! At the time The Kynd originally spit up right at the end of the 90’s, we were writing and demoing songs for what would have been our second album. When we reformed towards the end of 2021 we began sorting through piles of tapes, CDs, mini discs (!) and our old notebooks and we started to piece these songs back together again like musical archaeology.  Once we’d reassembled the core of the album, we wrote a handful of new songs to tie the whole thing together, always keeping in mind that we wanted this to sound like the album we would have released back in the day, in an alternative timeline, had we not split up. 

What was the moment you knew you were on to something? 

We started the process online, sharing files and collaborating digitally. It was exciting to hear it coming together but, for me personally it wasn’t until we all got in the rehearsal room and started to play this collection of songs as a band and knocking them in to shape for the studio that the magic really started to happen. The hardest part was deciding what to leave out and some great songs didn’t make it. But that’s a good problem to have! 

The meaning of success has changed over the years. What would success look like for the new record? 

Well success is all relative. Releasing this new album has helped us reconnect with fans and old friends which has been amazing. We’re back out playing live which is where this band is at its’ best and bringing our music to a new audience. That’s success for us. 

How do you balance experimentation with commercial appeal in your music? 

At our level of success, this has rarely been an issue! We’ve never really censored ourselves or held back but then I think our music is naturally accessible – we’re all about pop hooks and sing-along choruses! 

Lyrics are too often taken for granted. What is the line of text or are the lines of text that you hope listeners will remember? And why? 

Lyrics are really important to us. I can’t speak for Paul, our singer and lyricist but there are so many great lines across the 12 songs of the album. A personal favourite is from Homespun Genius, “So, steal me a compass and call me Columbus, I’ll find my own way home.’’ 

Cassettes are back. Which 5 five songs would make your first mixtape? 

Only 5 songs!? That’s so hard and it would change daily, but right now it would be a song each from; REM, The Beatles, RIDE, Teenage Fanclub and Blondie – that’s as close as I can get in the space we have here. This is going to keep me up at night…. 

You can’t control the way people ‘hear’ your music. But if you could make them aware of certain aspects, you think, set your songs apart. What would they be? 

On the surface, we wear our musical influences very much on our sleeves, the great 60’s bands, the Paisley Underground, classic indie pop and college rock – the music is (mostly) melodic, upbeat and life affirming. But if you dig into the lyrics there’s layers there, stories and characters and deeper themes. It’s that juxtaposition between light and shade that all our favourite bands have. 

Suppose you were to introduce your music to new listeners through three songs. Which songs would those be and why? 

Another tough one! I’d pick ‘Egotripper’ from our debut ‘Shakedown’. It was our first single and was produced by Andy Bell (RIDE/Oasis), definitely not our best song but it’s a statement on intent and sounds great! Then I’d go with ‘Older’ and ‘Sunrise: Reprise’ from the new album. I think they are a good representation of where we are now. 

If you could tour the world with two other bands, who would you ask, and why? 

RIDE and The Charlatans have just been out on the road together in the US – that would be a great tour to be on because we love both of those bands. 

If you could pick three singers to sing harmony vocals on your next record, who would you ask? 

We’d take a holy trinity of Susanna Hoffs, Mike Mills and Graham Nash. Would have loved David Crosby but sadly he’s no longer with us. 

The record is done, the music is out. Is the best fun done now or is it just beginning? 

Well, recording new music and playing live are the best bits for sure. Promoting your release can be a frustrating slog but it’s a necessary part of the whole process of course – so we’ll take the rough with the smooth! We’ve got some live dates coming up, a few great UK Festivals to announce and a new single in May so lots still to look forward to. We’ll be promoting TIMELINES until the end of this year at least!