Last week, I had the opportunity to chat to Kieran Ryan, one half of Melbourne two piece Kid Sam – the project he shares with cousin and drummer Kishore Ryan. The pair are about to embark on one of the most exciting periods of their lives, performing on the national Laneway bill, and supporting Daniel Johnson on the sideshow circuit.
As Kieran sat in his home in Melbourne, surviving the 45 degree heat, I opened up the interview with a congratulations of the latter, and I was greeted with a very excited voice on the other end of the line. “Thank you… words can’t describe it… he’s a personal hero, so we can’t wait. It’s a huge honour.” It was clear that their new found success hadn’t quite hit him yet – just taking it one step at a time, enjoying every treat that comes along the way.
And why wouldn’t you? Going back to this time a year ago, they were just about to release their debut self-titled LP, still relatively unknown outside of their hometown. I asked how things had changed since then. “So much! I mean if you told us a year ago that we’d be playing Laneway and supporting Daniel Johnson, I could have called you crazy! I really couldn’t see any of it coming,” to which he quipped “…I’ve been wrong about most things.”
And as for what they’re planning for the Laneway tour, and the sideshows, “we’re just going to go out and play as we always do” – he noted, too, that this would no doubt be the best way to get over the nerves of playing on their first national festival circuit, and alongside their hero.
Speaking of Laneway, we had a chat about the festival itself next, with Kieran expressing his excitement for playing alongside the whole lineup “we’ll be out there watching the bands with everyone else, we can’t wait…” and of course it had to be addressed – just how on earth did Laneway secure Daniel Johnston!? “I have no idea,” he laughed, “but I want to personally thank the person that made that happen.”
But of course, it’s not just the future that had to be discussed, but the year which precedes us. I asked him to reflect on the tour that followed the release of their debut album, commenting that it seemed like they hadn’t stopped since! “Yeah it’s a bit like that. We’ve had a bit of a break here and there, but it has been a busy time, especially since we released the album.” I asked him to tell me about the experience of touring the country – naturally this takes them to rural areas outside the capitals – how do those shows compare to Sydney or Melbourne?
“It feels to me to be about the same everywhere… although the crowds are usually bigger in the capitals… Something I’ll never forget from last year, we were on this co-headlining tour with Fergus Brown and McKisko, and our first show together was in Toowoomba, in this cafe. I guess the promoters hadn’t advertised it well, because for most of the show there was literally no one there, except for the staff. I think a few older people came in to have a coffee at one point and then left soon after… Maybe it’s not normally a music venue. But it was great… we all played each others songs and had a great time”.
“Not a bad way to break the ice”, I suggested. “Yeah it was the highlight of the tour amazingly enough.. and you’ve got to give it your all even in circumstances like that. What’s the point otherwise?”
It’s always fascinating to speak to a band who are on the rise – they’re still so new to the whole experience that there’s still that sense of excitement in their voices with every accolade, and every new opportunity that comes along. It’s a unique circumstance in Kid Sam’s case, too, for it seems to me that their successes have come as a genuine surprise to everyone involved. What could be better than that!? And as for what 2010 will bring for the band, at this, he laughed, “I’ve been wrong about most things so I honestly couldn’t say. But I’m looking forward to seeing what happens!”
Indeed we are too. Expect big things from the little two piece, and be sure to check them out for yourself when they hit your state at the Laneway Festival. Oh, and when they support that Daniel Johnston guy… their debut LP is also out now through iTunes. Support Support Support!
