The best collaborations are the ones that go without a script, and that’s what makes the new version of Kickback so special. Initially, this was done through XRP Radio and soon evolved into a creative collaboration between The Fods and Night Wolf, mixing various styles, ideas and musical influences into something new, and truly unexpected.
Track Kickback, originally written and released by The Fods, took on a whole new life when Night Wolf chose to base the song around its signature vocals. He was inspired by this emotionality and the ambiance of the song, and turned it into a cold and dream like song, with some trip hop, soft strings and soothing energy. It is a remake that’s inspiring, reflective and retains the spirit of the original without neglecting to have fun.
The Fods and Night Wolf discuss what it means to trust, to experiment and the freedom of creation that led to this exciting collaboration in this interview. They talk about how the remake had come together effortlessly, the fact that the vocals became the main focus of the song and the fact that it ultimately pushed both of them into exciting new ground. They also reveal what they can look forward to in the future as they continue to develop and experiment with even more musical ideas together.
Listen to Kickback – The Fods + Night Wolf
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“How did you two first connect on that radio station, and what made you both think a collaboration could work?
The Fods: (Rob) We never know how any collaboration is going to work. We put a lot of faith and trust in our collaborators and some work really well, and some we have to cajole a little more. A lot depends how invested the collaborators chose to be, and Night Wolf was extremely invested.
N.W: I have been going back and forth to XRP Radio now for many years now and getting to know the artists that come and go in the chat box, I had heard of The Fods and their music being played, I believe they were looking for remixes of some songs and I put my hand up to try, I enjoy stepping out of my comfort zone so to say and its always interesting to see what will come out the other end. They sent me the stems for a couple of songs and I ended up being drawn to the vocal in Kicback.
Night Wolf, what drew you to remake Kickback specifically, and why did you decide to keep only the original vocals while rebuilding everything else?
N.W: The vocals! Actually the backing vocals more so, I like to visualize where a song might lead to before even starting to work on it and it was after a few slight adjustments to the original vocal tracks and sticking it on a loop I then heard everything build around that and work with it to set a vibe. I really like the feel of the vocals on this song, something calming yet the lyrics are not, I had no idea what I wanted to do with it, it was a project that just came together.
The Fods, how did it feel hearing your song reimagined with such a different energy and vibe? What was your first reaction?
The Fods: (Rob) I was pretty surprised, to be honest, but not in a bad way. I thought it was incredible that the same song could be so different. That’s what we wanted though, we wanted something different. We just didn’t know what that difference would sound like.
Night Wolf, this track marks a clear shift from your darker sound into something chilled and uplifting. What inspired you to explore this Sunday energy and trip hop direction?
N.W: Yes especially since working with Lois Powell and what we created, this was nice to step back a little and enjoy creating something more minimal and lighter in tone, I think the vocal sections are pulling a lot of weight in this song and just led me to a dreamy atmosphere in my head that came out on the record.
I love trip hop elements in songs but I would say this is just barely trip hop, it is just a way for me to say its not straight pop music, it has something different to it, a lot of influences coming into this remake of Kickback from both our sides.
Can you walk us through the creative process? How did you collaborate to bring this remake to life, and what was the most exciting part of working together?
The Fods: (Rob) The most exciting part for us is now, I think. Seeing the reaction and the feedback. We had very little input in what Night Wolf produced. We wrote and released the original, and then we sat back and let Night Wolf work magic in a way which we could never do. And that’s the joy of this, seeing responses that we may not have expected, and having others understand what we wanted to achieve.
N.W: The Fods sent me the stems for a few songs and it was Kickback that I really was drawn to straight away, I had heard it prior to this on XRP Radio, I think they just trusted me to get on with what I felt like doing as it could of gone is many directions, luckily what became the final minimalist approach to the song, they also vibed with and enjoyed, but there was no back and forth and asking what was any thoughts etc, I finished the song and sent it back to them. Here we are today! I love working with new artists and collaborations with people that are driven and talented and deserve to be heard, I am also able to experiment with genres or styles I would not necessarily do alone, as most of my music is a tad on the darker side!
The Fods, the lyrics stay hopeful and uplifting in this version. How does Night Wolf’s production bring new life or meaning to those words?
The Fods: (Rob) The interpretation of our lyrics is always down to the individual listener. I tend to write lyrics from a position of juxtaposition, and rarely on life events. It’s mostly imagination and fiction which I hope gives a sense of the unknown. The lyrics of Kickback are from the mind of a 16 year old in the early 1990’s, so it’s interesting that listeners have found them hopeful and uplifting. We have received that feedback before, and it’s great that that view is expressed. This remix emphasizes the hopeful, laid back optimistic side of the lyrics. It’s evolved, and I love that listeners feel that optimistic vibe.
Night Wolf, the marimba and strings really stand out and give the track that indie pop touch. What made you choose those elements to lift the song?
N.W: The sounds pick themselves as stupid or pretentious as that most likely sounds, as said before I really enjoy to visualize a short story in my head when listening to music or how it builds in my head before starting the melody etc, it just seemed to make sense, I love using strings and orchestral elements in my works as it is and instead of being dramatic and tense, this deserved to just blend and chill alongside the vocals. I prefer more upfront, punchy drums or a lot of hip hop inspiration in my “beats” so again, moving away this time from the longer snares and reverb some of my older works were known for.
You mentioned the track fits perfectly in commercials, adverts, and film scenes. Was that intentional from the start, or did it naturally take that shape as you built it?
The Fods: (Rob) Definitely not intentional from our side, but would be privileged if that actually happened.
N.W: I have had many projects and placements with my music up till this point with a focus just on getting placements, after 9 albums with publishers Flipper Music/Deneb Records + Barry Music , I am continuing reaching out for the music I create to be used in such a way, so yes, a little subconsciously it is in the back of my mind when I create music that it could fit in such and such scene , but I do not let that dictate the direction of the song, I do not make everything just to be such a way it syncs easy.
I just enjoy to make a certain style of music that can work , I feel, in both the commercial realm and in movies/games and TV shows. We are going to be definitely pushing for this song to gain a few placements and find its home. You can even lease it direct from me via my website for specific purposes or contact me for a quote for your project and browse my other music whilst there! – www.nightwolfuk.com
This collaboration blends different styles, genres, and backgrounds. What do you think each of you brought to the table that made Kickback feel complete?
The Fods: (Rob) I think and hope that the songwriting that we as a songwriting team put together lends itself to making good music, whatever the genre or whatever way different producers or collaborators wish to pursue.
We put together a framework of where we see a song going, and if that template doesn’t come together, or gets altered slightly, or gets ripped apart totally, we should still have the bare bones of a decent song. This is what happened here. Night Wolf had a vision where he wanted to take it, and it has stood on its own.
N.W: The vocals certainly carry most of the weight of this song, or the remake anyhow, it is the beauty of collaboration with other artists in different genres, you get to experiment a little more and achieve vibes and feelings that you would not necessarily have on your own. It is very easy to get wrapped up in my own world and produce music for myself and for projects, but having to complete a project that another soul or multiple souls will also have to approve and vibe with, is rewarding in itself. The Fods are luckily very relaxed about the fact that I only used the vocal sections rather then remixing all the other musicians involved in the original , but they seem to like it, a little, I hope…
What’s next for The Fods and Night Wolf? Is this the first of more collaborations, and what can fans expect from you both moving forward?
The Fods: (Rob) Collaboration is in our DNA. I would love to work with Night Wolf again, he is an absolute dream to work with. We have released 8 of 10 songs which we anticipate forming an album which we will package and release when we have completed the final two songs. That is a big item for us, but we have five or six songs in various stages of completion, so lots to work on for The Fods.
N.W: We will definitely work together again, that is certain, I might even actually use parts of the band outside the vocals… who knows ! We are slowly working through music videos to be able to bring to life the kind of visuals I have and had in my head when making them. We are starting with Lois Powell + Lost My Way Home and we will of course end with Kickback and The Fods.
I am busy busy currently setting up the stage for further releases, collaborations, new music, a hell of a lot of video promotional content for the artists on EscaVolt Records as well as my own back catalog of music, potential gigs and festivals next year and the launch of my sound effect company and baby called No Paw Audio, which I am currently working on capturing sounds for. When my whiteboard is cleared, I will be back in full creative/creation mode, if my back allows it!
Night Wolf : @NightWolfUK
www.nightwolfuk.com
The Fods : @TheFodsBand
linktr.ee/thefods
