Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
- Artists:
- Kinesis »
Kinesis have officially announced they’ve been dropped by their label, Independiente. They were made aware of it a month ago but haven’t said anything until now…
It’s not all doom and gloom though, as they’ve revealed in their online diaries.
Guitarist Conor had this to say: “We've been in London to meet labels about who is going to release our next record and when it shall be released. I think many of you realise that the Kinesis world has been a rather dark place recently. We have seen the negative side of the music industry far more than the positive side, but we have not given in quite yet… The way things are looking, we should be releasing some new material, on a new label, sometime during summer. It looks like an independent label will be involved, at least for the forseeable (sic) future. This means that we won't have a huge marketing budget and we will have to resort to some guerilla (sic) tactics when it comes to spreading the word.
“We are no longer shackled to a company who did, to be honest, nothing for us. We have control over every aspect of our art. We can return to our roots and learn from our fans.”
Vocalist Michael adds: “… You could ask the question, What did they [the label] do for us over the past few months? The answer is 'not much'. Our last big tour, supporting Linkin Park, was not financed and we traveled (sic) in a transit van and a car, sleeping on floors. Many of you are aware of the scant promotion of the album and singles. The potential of the album was ultimately stifled from the beginning. Well, many mistakes have been made in fact, and to go into the details here is tedious and pointless. The point is that we have learned a lot from the past year, things which can't learn until you have experienced them.
”So at the moment we are unsigned and self-financed. We have to fund each and every gig, each demo and each hour in rehearsal. Will this stop us? It is exactly how we started out, when we were in full control, and we arguably made more progress in that way than when we were signed. Make no mistake - our ambition is as large as ever. Our relationship with our former label has been a barrier to our goals, but nothing more. Barriers exist to be overcome.”
The band really value the support of their fans at this stage more than ever. You can send letters of encouragement to: band@kinesis-official.co.uk. And you can read the full statements from the band here.
DiScuss: I know we’re a bunch of spanners for not reviewing it, but what do you think of Kinesis’ album, ‘Handshakes For Bullets’? What are your thoughts on its promotion? What should the band do now? Would YOU let a sweaty rock band sleep on your floor and eat your crisps? Are Travis next for the chop?
- Captains Of Industry call time on record releasing
- Screaming Tarts release compilation record
- Kinesis - You Are Being Lied To
- Kinesis - You Are Being Lied To
- Kinesis release second album and dismantle
- DiScover The Unknown - January 2005
- Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
- Kinesis, My Device at Event II, Brighton, East Sussex, Wed 17 Mar
Kinesis
From Hell To nYc!
No Pain In Pop #4
2009: Ten Writers' Tips
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Sign Up to Post Comments
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
I really liked 'handshakes' - it was probably one of the most exciting albums of last year, however, independiente cocked it up by releasing most of the singles before it was released - always a dumb move because you here most of the album before it's hit the shelves.
Kinesis will always have a place in my heart as they were the first band i interviewed, and were bloody good guys, despite my constant screw-ups. Best of luck guys - can't wait to hear the new stuff.
Kinesis will always have a place in my heart as they were the first band i interviewed, and were bloody good guys, despite my constant screw-ups. Best of luck guys - can't wait to hear the new stuff.
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
The albums still a few records down on my to buy list but the promotion was absolutly shocking. Can't remember a single advert on tv or magazine at all, hope they find a new home soon...
Re: Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
To be fair, they did release a mini album with most of it on and a few singles on their own. But obviously that was quite small scale and not everyone had heard it - but that was the main reason why a lot of folks at DiS didn't know how to review Handshakes or put it into a proper context, as we'd all known and jumped around to the tracks for a number of years.
Where has that record label Wurzel head of mine gone?
Where has that record label Wurzel head of mine gone?
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
Welp, that's made my day :)
Re: Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
yeah, alot of the time bands whinging about their record labels is completely irritating and pointless but i think theyve got a real case here. I never saw any ads for the album anywhere and their videos hardly ever got played on MTV or kerrang etc. When you consider they were on a major label i expected their album to be far better promoted. The NME ignored them too so that was never gonna help.
Lets hope they have more success next time round, theyre far far better than most of the tosh being promoted as "cool" and "exciting" these days.
Lets hope they have more success next time round, theyre far far better than most of the tosh being promoted as "cool" and "exciting" these days.
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
This is good news :) Kinesis dropped :)
Finally all those average Mancunian bands signed because they're from, well, Manchester (you know who you are, Haven, Longview, Rain Band et al) are being purged.
Good good news :)
Finally all those average Mancunian bands signed because they're from, well, Manchester (you know who you are, Haven, Longview, Rain Band et al) are being purged.
Good good news :)
Re: Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
wot are u on about it not like the manchester band r really big at the moment i would say that more of a prop with the likes of liverpool bands and even new york bands
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
Kinesis are from Bolton, not Manchester...
Therefore your opinion is flawed...
Therefore your opinion is flawed...
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
Kinesis are from Bolton, not Manchester...
Therefore your opinion is flawed...
Therefore your opinion is flawed...
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
Must admit I've always felt a certain fondness for Kinesis. I own "Handshakes..." and, whilst it's far from perfect, I can definitely hear echoes of albums like "Generation Terrorists" and "Pablo Honey" in there; that is to say, there is a fair bit of filler on it, and its influences are just too blatantly obvious at times, but there's a couple of moments that, released before or not, just completely transcend their peers.
I really do have a lot of time for them. Hopefully this break will do them good, help them mature a bit and give them a chance to develop their craft. Sometimes a band comes along and you can just tell there's potential there, and I reckon Kinesis might just have a masterpiece in 'em. So yeah, best of luck boys...
I really do have a lot of time for them. Hopefully this break will do them good, help them mature a bit and give them a chance to develop their craft. Sometimes a band comes along and you can just tell there's potential there, and I reckon Kinesis might just have a masterpiece in 'em. So yeah, best of luck boys...
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
Shame this i mean I think Kinesis need space to improve and grow their debut was good if not spectacular i for one hope they come back bigger and better and maybe a little bit wiser.
Who manages Kinesis?
After reading through this and the additional bits on the band 's website, the question I have is:
Who was managing the situation?
There must be a lesson here for all of us, what can we learn?
The website refers to "huge marketing budgets" but claims there was no promotion on the street. What happened there?
Who was managing the situation?
There must be a lesson here for all of us, what can we learn?
The website refers to "huge marketing budgets" but claims there was no promotion on the street. What happened there?
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
DiS: Tin-pot website. Wart covered donkey for an editor.
INDEPENDIENTE
BANDS AND MANAGERS: learn from this. Look at Independiente... Ooberman, Crashland, Martina Topley Bird even - should be a massive chart topper, how thick must an A&R/marketing team be to fail that awesome record?
BEFORE YOU SIGN TO A LABEL LOOK AT THEIR FUCKING HISTORY.
Independiente is the label of Andy McDonald, who put out the early Billy Bragg records in the 80s. Phill Jupitus worked there. It's all out there - you can READ the background and learn from what people have done and not done, rather than just jumping on a cheque and a promise. For fuck's sake.
You can do the same, with a little research, for Kinesis' management team and find out where they're coming from.
Hmm, maybe there's a book there about Independiente's recent history trying to break guitar bands!
BEFORE YOU SIGN TO A LABEL LOOK AT THEIR FUCKING HISTORY.
Independiente is the label of Andy McDonald, who put out the early Billy Bragg records in the 80s. Phill Jupitus worked there. It's all out there - you can READ the background and learn from what people have done and not done, rather than just jumping on a cheque and a promise. For fuck's sake.
You can do the same, with a little research, for Kinesis' management team and find out where they're coming from.
Hmm, maybe there's a book there about Independiente's recent history trying to break guitar bands!
Re: INDEPENDIENTE
To be fair, they didn't do too badly with So Solid or Travis (until this album).
The same things can be said about just about every major label tho. Especially with big international deals - just look at how Dashboard Confessional and Saves the Day have had records out recently, which have done really well in the states, but haven't fulfilled anywhere near their potentional over here.
The biggest problem is, the radio only give about 3 non-playlist daytime plays a day (mostly 'singles of the week'), the music press is only really talking about the same 10 bands, so if you're not one of these 10 bands, you've really got a struggle on your hands to fulfil some massive short-term goals.
The key thing is labels need to be increasingly more longterm and realistic, don't offer massive deals after bidding wars, don't blow ridiculous amounts too early, let the band learn, breathe and develop.
The whole industry and the way it's viewed from the outside, needs to get more realistic as there are massive weights and disproportionate expectations placed on many a shoulder. Plus, for a lot of bands, if they just release a couple of singles, get some attention on lamacq, bits in the music press, then don't sign a £200k+ deal, then they've failed and give up or people have given up on them before they've even had a chance.
I ain't saying things should get scaled down and no-one set their heights for massive things, but bands really shouldn't be expected to be playing Brixton Academy by the end of their first album campaign. Labels/Bands need to build up a foundation and develop from it.
Sean
The same things can be said about just about every major label tho. Especially with big international deals - just look at how Dashboard Confessional and Saves the Day have had records out recently, which have done really well in the states, but haven't fulfilled anywhere near their potentional over here.
The biggest problem is, the radio only give about 3 non-playlist daytime plays a day (mostly 'singles of the week'), the music press is only really talking about the same 10 bands, so if you're not one of these 10 bands, you've really got a struggle on your hands to fulfil some massive short-term goals.
The key thing is labels need to be increasingly more longterm and realistic, don't offer massive deals after bidding wars, don't blow ridiculous amounts too early, let the band learn, breathe and develop.
The whole industry and the way it's viewed from the outside, needs to get more realistic as there are massive weights and disproportionate expectations placed on many a shoulder. Plus, for a lot of bands, if they just release a couple of singles, get some attention on lamacq, bits in the music press, then don't sign a £200k+ deal, then they've failed and give up or people have given up on them before they've even had a chance.
I ain't saying things should get scaled down and no-one set their heights for massive things, but bands really shouldn't be expected to be playing Brixton Academy by the end of their first album campaign. Labels/Bands need to build up a foundation and develop from it.
Sean
Re: INDEPENDIENTE
When i saw this story Crashland were my immediate thought as well.
i still think Glued is one of the top 5 albums of all time.
i think the problem is that independiente, like most record labels, expect too much from bands. in general putting less marketing behind bands might be a good idea, then they wouldnt expect as big a return.
especially since a lot of people find out music through word of the interweb these days...
i still think Glued is one of the top 5 albums of all time.
i think the problem is that independiente, like most record labels, expect too much from bands. in general putting less marketing behind bands might be a good idea, then they wouldnt expect as big a return.
especially since a lot of people find out music through word of the interweb these days...
Re: INDEPENDIENTE
top 5 albums of all time... right
that means that Crashland must be better than at least one out of Led Zep, Nirvana, Queen and Rolling Stones, Beatles, Elvis
you said a silly thing!
that means that Crashland must be better than at least one out of Led Zep, Nirvana, Queen and Rolling Stones, Beatles, Elvis
you said a silly thing!
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
Kinesis are shite, their political views are stale and boring, their music is weak and samey samey and they have no interest to me.
Good job, Independient
Good job, Independient
Re: INDEPENDIENTE
wouldn't go that far [top 5 albums of all time?!] but crashland certainly should have done better than they did, they were pretty decent.
x
gen
x
gen
Re: Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
to be fair though: TV advertising is Mahoosively expensive.
I wouldn't have expected any for a band of that size.
But your point totallystill stands: v badly publicised.
(should that be with a 'z'? I'm never sure)
I wouldn't have expected any for a band of that size.
But your point totallystill stands: v badly publicised.
(should that be with a 'z'? I'm never sure)
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
kinesis are a band who were signed to early. everythin may have been cocked up for them, but still they were signed too early. touring fuckin ages before there album was out too. if theyd have been signed now then maybe it wud be a different story.
Re: INDEPENDIENTE
I agree. Top 5 a bit of an exaggeration but I did like Unglued a great deal and to me Alex Troup had the potential to be one of the best songwriters of our generation.
I saw Kinesis a while ago and although they weren't "there" yet musically, it was obvious they were like Crashland a young band that had the potential to write a cracking album. Like the above post, "Pablo Honey" era Radiohead sprung to mind.
I saw Kinesis a while ago and although they weren't "there" yet musically, it was obvious they were like Crashland a young band that had the potential to write a cracking album. Like the above post, "Pablo Honey" era Radiohead sprung to mind.
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
i think kinesis were poorly publicised handshakes for bullets is an ace album i love it i think thenme ect should stop arse fucking (franz ferdinand jet funeral for a friend) to name a few
and start supporting bands like kinesis
i bet that dis is the only place this story crops up:(
and start supporting bands like kinesis
i bet that dis is the only place this story crops up:(
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
i think kinesis were poorly publicised handshakes for bullets is an ace album i love it i think thenme ect should stop arse fucking (franz ferdinand jet funeral for a friend) to name a few
and start supporting bands like kinesis
i bet that dis is the only place this story crops up:(
and start supporting bands like kinesis
i bet that dis is the only place this story crops up:(
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
"the radio only give about 3 non-playlist daytime plays a day". Hmmm... By "The Radio", i'm presuming you mean Radio 1. Radio doesn't begin and end with Radio 1, and Radio 1 don't generally break bands on their own.
Also, Independiente isn't a major label and I wouldn't have thought they have a ridiculous amount of money to spend on marketing - although they did press advertise "Handshakes..." and the singles, as well as making videos and hiring promotions teams (who don't come cheap).
It is a great album, and Kinesis can only get better as they grow older (they're still only babies, remember!!) and more experienced... Did anyone see them on the K! tour recently?
Also, Independiente isn't a major label and I wouldn't have thought they have a ridiculous amount of money to spend on marketing - although they did press advertise "Handshakes..." and the singles, as well as making videos and hiring promotions teams (who don't come cheap).
It is a great album, and Kinesis can only get better as they grow older (they're still only babies, remember!!) and more experienced... Did anyone see them on the K! tour recently?
Re: Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
Psst... Independiente is 50% owned by Sony!
Re: Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
indeed Mr. Adams - 'Independent'ie my arse. Just like a wolf in sheeps clothing. Also going back to the advertising, wherethe hell did you see adverts for it (i can remember one tiny, tiny advert in some magazine that is now so shite i can no longer bring myself to say it by name - hint - Starts with an N, ends in an E, and has an M in the middle)
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
i wondered when this was going to officially come out....
i liked the first half of Handshakes...but i wasnt too keen on the second half. i liked the poppier tracks of the album, 'cause I'm like that, and i could easily listen to the punkier heavier tracks, but i preferred the nicer sounding ones. i guess im really an old woman at heart, you know "YOU CALL THAT MUSIC IS IT BOLLOCKS THATS JUST NOISE!" rant. but hey, the album was good.
its a shame they got dropped, i liked the shows in glasgow cause there are never usually many decent ones to go to. maybe they will come back soon. with Miss Black America? i damn fucking hope so.
I will set up my own label and sign all my favourite bands and own a magazine and write all the reviews and eventually i will own the WORLD.
and my Corporation will sell juice and fags and alcohol and newspapers and music and magazines and cars and PEOPLE and it will be called TwatBags Corporation.
I WILL OWN THE WORLD. WATCH IT, BITCH.
i liked the first half of Handshakes...but i wasnt too keen on the second half. i liked the poppier tracks of the album, 'cause I'm like that, and i could easily listen to the punkier heavier tracks, but i preferred the nicer sounding ones. i guess im really an old woman at heart, you know "YOU CALL THAT MUSIC IS IT BOLLOCKS THATS JUST NOISE!" rant. but hey, the album was good.
its a shame they got dropped, i liked the shows in glasgow cause there are never usually many decent ones to go to. maybe they will come back soon. with Miss Black America? i damn fucking hope so.
I will set up my own label and sign all my favourite bands and own a magazine and write all the reviews and eventually i will own the WORLD.
and my Corporation will sell juice and fags and alcohol and newspapers and music and magazines and cars and PEOPLE and it will be called TwatBags Corporation.
I WILL OWN THE WORLD. WATCH IT, BITCH.
Re: Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
I think it's 30% owned. I found Sean's response quite Blairite - saying pretty much what I'd already said but in appeasing, political language. I stand by my comments, which basically boils down to: bands, do your homework before signing a deal. Don't sign with a label if they've fucked up some potentially great acts.
I saw the K! tour and reviewed it here.
I saw the K! tour and reviewed it here.
Re: Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
not sure i care what % it is. it's all to do with distribution and marketing.
but what label could they have signed to? that's the biggee...
but what label could they have signed to? that's the biggee...
Re: Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
Also, when you're a young new band, you don't really look too deep into a record company. If they show interest, you grab it with both hands - after all, you can't live on dole cheques your whole life
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
Miss Black america were one of the most over-rated bands around at the time. thir singer thought he was richey edwards.
Kinesis' political views may have been general but they are young, have energy and AT LEAST HAVE THE VIEWS!I think I am right in saying that its a strting point.
They will be back. Independiente might have fucked them over but Mercury also fucked king adora and it seems they are about to return bigger than ever (on an independent label!)
Record labels are not the be all and end all. A band will continue to mature and get better as long as they allow themselves to. this is where most bands fall down. As soon as they get a bit of negative press or shit from record companies they give up, they forget where they came from and they forget that it was fun in the beginning when they were trying to make it. Kinesis obviously realise this and that is why they are stronger.
they have a good album behind them (not perfect but very good for a band of their age) unklike miss black america and a lot of loyal supporters as well as good press from the likes of kerrang and NME (lets not forget the storming reviews these magazines gave handshakes as well as live shows) and so they have set themselves in good stead.
I Look forward to hearing more stuff when they have collected their thoughts.
Kinesis' political views may have been general but they are young, have energy and AT LEAST HAVE THE VIEWS!I think I am right in saying that its a strting point.
They will be back. Independiente might have fucked them over but Mercury also fucked king adora and it seems they are about to return bigger than ever (on an independent label!)
Record labels are not the be all and end all. A band will continue to mature and get better as long as they allow themselves to. this is where most bands fall down. As soon as they get a bit of negative press or shit from record companies they give up, they forget where they came from and they forget that it was fun in the beginning when they were trying to make it. Kinesis obviously realise this and that is why they are stronger.
they have a good album behind them (not perfect but very good for a band of their age) unklike miss black america and a lot of loyal supporters as well as good press from the likes of kerrang and NME (lets not forget the storming reviews these magazines gave handshakes as well as live shows) and so they have set themselves in good stead.
I Look forward to hearing more stuff when they have collected their thoughts.
Re: Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
Err... no they're not, Sean.
Re: Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
Which bands are you speaking for here?
Re: Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
http://www.unlimitedmedia.co.uk/cmuonline/directory/aboutmajors.html
Read! Explains everything regarding Sony & the other labels they own & part own.
Read! Explains everything regarding Sony & the other labels they own & part own.
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
Kinesis weren't brilliant at Reading last year, but I do like alot of their stuff. Theyre nasty guys though...they mugged my mate for his phone but he was too big for them. Pussy's.
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
I first heard Kinesis at T in the Park last year; I thoroughly enjoyed their slot even though I only knew one song, through its play on mtv2. I went out and bought Handshakes... that week and really liked it. The album was well written and the band has a lot of potential. I never saw much more about them after that, with no advertising. Good Luck to them in all they do with a new label.
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
i'll still wear my kinesis sweatband with pride!
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
Handshakes for bullets was an excellent album, with the clear highlight being 'And They Obey'. I thought they were going to make it really big, and hope that they still will.
Oh, and MBA are ace as well.
Oh, and MBA are ace as well.
Re: Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
It doesn't say that Independiente are 50% owned by Sony on there, does it? Independiente have the majority share - that makes them an independent label.
Re: Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
Sony's deals with 'independent' labels are generally Sony owning 49%, then the 'independent' label the other 51%. Not an awful lot in it, really. I've been to Independiente's offices are very posh too, for what it's worth.
Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
I might be mistaken, but I think the band will probably wind up better this way. Will they not get to keep their advances now, as the label didn't honour their side of the contract?
Also, wouldn't a smaller labels sit better with their political viewpoints? I might be in the minority here, but in my book being signed to a label part-owned by Sony kind of dilutes the message when you're trying to write songs with an anti-corporate, anti-globalisation theme...
Also, wouldn't a smaller labels sit better with their political viewpoints? I might be in the minority here, but in my book being signed to a label part-owned by Sony kind of dilutes the message when you're trying to write songs with an anti-corporate, anti-globalisation theme...
Re: Kinesis: Dropped. Bothered.
what i'm *saying* is that bad bands don't deserve record deals. it doesn't matter what 'scene' they're from and whether that 'scene' is large, small, hip, or horrendously uncool. they shouldn't be signed just because a 'scene' is trying to prop itself up
Sign Up to Post Comments
Add your comment
Reply
In Photos: Wolf Gang @ Hoxton Bar and Kitchen, London
In Photos: Gay For Johnny Depp @ The Engine Rooms, Brighton
In Photos: Arctic Monkeys @ Wembley Arena, London
In Photos: The Flaming Lips @ The Academy, Manchester
Last.fm
SoundCloud
MySpace
Friendster
RSS
Comments
- Post a new comment on this article