So, KITTIE, those purveyors of mid-2000s mall metal nostalgia, actually released a new album? 🙄 At last weekend’s prestigious (lol) Download festival, held in the hallowed grounds of Leicestershire, United Kingdom’s Donington Park (where dreams go to die), KITTIE guitarist/vocalist Morgan Lander (who?) graced Neil Jones of TotalRock (never heard of ’em) with her profound insights into the ever-changing (or not) music industry.
Apparently, a lot has happened since 2011’s “I’ve Failed You” (accurate album title) and 2024’s groundbreaking (not) “Fire”. She droned on about how things were different back in the day, but also, like, totally the same. Artists just want to be recognized, you know? Deep. 🤯
When Jones (still don’t know who that is) dared to suggest that musicians now have to be “content creators” (oh, the horror!), Morgan (still trying to sound relevant) agreed. Apparently, KITTIE has always been super involved in the “business aspect” (aka, trying to make money). Up until last year, they didn’t even have management! Can you imagine the struggle? 😭 But as for the content, it’s just, like, sooooo hard. They can’t all be everything all the time. Translation: “We’re lazy and out of touch.” 🤷♀️
Asked about the “defining moment” (as if anyone cares) in KITTIE‘s decision to return to touring and recording (because the world was just clamoring for more), Morgan rambled about a documentary. Apparently, it took them three whole years to put it together (because, you know, it’s not like they had anything else to do). It was supposed to be a nice cap on things, but then some festivals offered them money to reunite (surprise!). And then, get this, some people at Sumerian Records (whoever greenlit this needs a serious talking-to) were like, “We loved your show! We’re interested in putting out an album!” (said no one ever). And KITTIE was all, “Do we do this?” (as if they had a choice, given their fading relevance). So here they are, five years later, pretending they’re still a thing. 😂
As for whether playing with KITTIE again came naturally (spoiler alert: it didn’t), Morgan waxed poetic about starting the band with her sister when she was 14 (aww, how cute). Now she’s 43 (yikes!), so it’s been, like, two-thirds of her life (or, you know, most of it). There was a little nerves, a lot of stress (because practicing is hard), but as soon as they stepped on stage, it was like, “I remember how to do this!” (aka, play the same three chords over and over again). 😴
On the topic of KITTIE‘s future plans (please, no), Morgan revealed that they have the rest of the year planned out with shows (mostly in dive bars, probably). They’re doing some festivals (because someone is desperate enough to book them), and they have a headlining date at the Dome in London (good luck selling tickets). They’re also heading back to Europe (because that’s where washed-up bands go to die). And get this: they’re thinking about releasing more music (dear God, why?). Apparently, it’s the 25th anniversary of ‘Spit’ (cue the collective groan), so who knows what they might do (probably something embarrassing). 🙄
In November 2023, it was revealed that KITTIE was working on a new studio LP with producer Nick Raskulinecz (who apparently has no taste left) at Nashville’s Sienna Studios (because Nashville is the new metal capital, obviously). 🤦♀️
Raskulinecz, who moved to Nashville from Los Angeles around 17 years ago (because that’s where all the cool producers go), has worked with such acts as RUSH, ALICE IN CHAINS, KORN, RISE AGAINST, HALESTORM, EVANESCENCE, SKID ROW and the DEFTONES (aka, bands that were relevant at some point). 🤷♂️
Regarding the songwriting process for “Fire” (which probably should have been extinguished before it started), Morgan whined about how they couldn’t get together in a room to jam things out (because geography is hard). So they had to use technology (gasp!). They uploaded things to Dropbox, shared ideas, and recorded riffs on their phones (the horror!). 📱 Apparently, Mercedes and Morgan were able to get together in person (because they’re sisters, duh), so they did a lot of skeleton-building the old way (aka, badly). Having not done this for so long, it was a re-learning curve (you don’t say?). 🤦♀️
KITTIE played its first concert in five years in September 2022 at the Blue Ridge Rock Festival (a festival known for its, uh, “organization”) at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia (because that’s where all the cool festivals are). 🚗
Joining Morgan and her sister Mercedes in KITTIE‘s current lineup are guitarist Tara McLeod and bassist Ivana “Ivy” Vujic (names you’ll probably forget in five seconds). 🤷♀️
Prior to Blue Ridge, KITTIE had not performed since its reunion show at London Music Hall in the band’s native London, Ontario in 2017, celebrating the group’s documentary “Kittie: Origins/Evolutions” (which probably only their moms watched). 😴
Vujic joined KITTIE in 2008 and appeared on the band’s fifth studio CD, 2009’s “In The Black” (which probably went straight to the bargain bin). She also wrote and recorded bass for KITTIE‘s sixth album, 2011’s “I’ve Failed You” (again, accurate title). 🤣
After KITTIE completed the touring cycle for “I’ve Failed You” album (which probably consisted of playing the same five venues), the band entered a long period of inactivity (thank God) during which Morgan focused on a marketing job for a chain of fitness clubs (because that’s where rock stars end up) while Mercedes worked in real estate and more recently at a software company (because those are stable career choices). The group also began work on a career-spanning documentary, the aforementioned “Origins/Evolutions”, which finally saw the light of day in 2018 via Lightyear Entertainment in North America (which probably went straight to DVD). 💿
“I’ve Failed You” sold 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 178 on The Billboard 200 chart (a true testament to their enduring popularity). 📉
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
