THE GOOD GUY IS BEST!
KIT ANNOUNCES DEBUT SINGLE AND VIDEO GOOD GUY
An integral part of the beloved Australian group All Our Exes Live In Texas, Kit (otherwise known as Katie Wighton) has today announced her debut solo release, Good Guy. A gritty, guitar-led powerhouse of a single, Good Guy calls out every dude who’s ever gotten away with bad behaviour. Kit has also released a stellar clip to accompany Good Guy, created in collaboration with Gina Somfleth of Pop Candi Films (Merpire, Peach Noise, Press Club).
Following the outbreak of COVID-19, Kit has had to be creative with her single launch shows. After performing at ISOLAID on March 22 she was inspired to do her single launch show live on Instagram. With support from Bonnie Songs , Nancie Schipper & Hannah Blackburn, Kit will perform live from her livingroom on Friday April 17 at 7pm AEDT. She will have a Bandcamp set up with the idea that people can buy the single and donate what they may have paid to come to the show, and a percentage of the proceeds from the night will also go to Support Act to help those who are seriously suffering in our musical community."I find it very interesting that at the moment the things we seem to be talking about are our healthcare workers and hospitals, schools and universities and The Arts. In a crisis, these things become the most important and I hope that when we get through this awful time we will remember that.” Kit remarks. “Being creative can sometimes be a burden but right now, it's our biggest asset. I've been doing the crossword on Instagram live and also have started an insta-choir – which is so much fun. I was sitting in my room playing a Hank Williams song and really missing the harmonies, so I chucked it up on my socials and asked people to send in their harmonies. The second week has really taken on a life of its own - we did Two Strong Hearts and had drums and bass and even a wine bottle solo! It’s so beautiful to connect with people safely and bring a little smile to people across the interwebs!”
Co-written with Ali Barter (also featured on backing vocals) and created with producers Dave Symes (Boy and Bear, Sarah Blasko, Missy Higgins) and James Seymour (Merpire, Eaglemont), Good Guy is a sharp, hard-hitting track with a vital message. One for fans of rockers Alex Lahey, Angel Olsen and Ruby Fields, Good Guy leads with its heart on its sleeve; with amps cranked and driving percussion alongside clever and playful melodies, this track is impossible to ignore. Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, Kit explains, “I wrote this song with Ali Barter last year after having one too many conversations with amazing women about men in the entertainment industry getting away with bad behaviour. There is a long and specific story behind it, basically I was tired of hearing sad songs by incredible women about other remarkable women who were wronged – I just wanted to get mad about it. The chorus is kind of a G-rated ‘fuck the patriarchy’. One of the lyrics is 'it's bigger than us both’. The conversations stopped just being about my own sadness, anger, disappointment and horror and turned into ‘What the actual shit is going on around us? How can we fix this?’”
The clip for Good Guy reinforces the message behind the track wholeheartedly. Reflecting on the video, Kit says, “It's kind of alluding to the experience of someone seeming like a lovely person at first and lulling you into a semi-false sense of security. Then bam, they do something shit and you're all confused. And I feel like it's so common now. Sometimes it's not even something that bad. Ghosting and not replying to texts, not going straight for a condom, not being honest and open about where they're at. Anyway, it's that. In a film clip. You'll just have to watch it to get the full scoop! And it's shot in Melbourne at some of my favourite spots! The patriarchy is giving me a lot of creative fodder, ha!”
Good Guy is a far cry from the exquisite folk stylings of All Our Exes Live In Texas that fans might know Kit best for, but it’s all a melting pot of influences as she explains, “I've been listening to different music – more rocky, raw stuff. We played folk songs for a long time and I got to a point where I wanted to yell a bit. Get my punk on! And have my own voice too. The band has definitely been a part of KIT, even if it isn't conscious. Those women are a really important part of my music and emotional history and it would be naïve to think it hasn't influenced KIT.”
Good Guy is out April 3 through Believe.
FRIDAY 17 APR @ 7pm AEDT | LIVE ON INSTAGRAM WITH BONNIE SONGS, NANCIE SCHIPPER & HANNAH BLACKBURN
Q&A WITH KIT
What’s the inspiration behind your new single Good Guy?
“I wrote this song with Ali Barter last year after having one too many conversations with amazing women about men in the entertainment industry getting away with bad behaviour. There is a long and specific story behind it, basically I was tired of hearing sad songs by incredible women about other remarkable
women who were wronged – I just wanted to get mad about it. The chorus is kind of a G-rated ‘fuck the patriarchy’. One of the lyrics is ‘this is bigger than us both’. The conversations stopped just being about my own sadness, anger, disappointment and horror and turned into ‘What the actual shit is going on around us? How can we fix this?”
Who are your greatest musical influences?
“Phoebe Bridgers, Merpire, my mum. “
What do you bring to the live stage?
“I HOPE good banter and open, honest music. “
How was the recording process?
“Long haha! But so fun. I was just so picky about this first single that it took awhile. Thankfully I had a lot of very kind, patient, BRILLIANT musicians and friends around me so that helped. And in the end I’m really proud of where we got to so it was all worth it!”
What was the inspiration behind the music video?
“Well we’re tackling what I think is pretty heavy subject matter so Gina Somfleth (from Popcandi and who I made the clip with) and I were keen to stay away from that. We wanted to find a humourous route to take so we went with going on a date with the devil - except I don’t know he’s the bad guy!!”
How would you describe your writing process?
“I think it changes all the time. BUT I would say I mostly start with an idea or a melody. Then I usually build it from there. Honestly there’s no one way though! “
Give us an interesting personal fact!
“I once baked a cake with a BB8 (Star Wars) on the top of it for a friend’s birthday. I still sleep with a teddy bear called White Bear and he’s actually a cat. “