Kids of 88 were a New Zealand new wave duo based in
Auckland
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...
Sam McCarthy
Sam McCarthy is a New Zealand songwriter and pop vocalist. He is best known for his work in Kids of 88 and Goodnight Nurse.
Early life
McCarthy was brought up in Auckland in the suburb of Weymouth. He was educated at Weymouth Primary School ...
. They are best known for their 2009 single, " My House". They have since signed through Dryden Street to
Sony Music
Sony Music Entertainment (SME), also known as simply Sony Music, is an American multinational music company. Being owned by the parent conglomerate Sony Group Corporation, it is part of the Sony Music Group, which is owned by Sony Entertainment ...
and released the album ''
Sugarpills
Sugarpills is the debut album from New Zealand electropop band Kids of 88 released 16 August 2010.ids of 88project has concluded.'
Sam McCarthy
Sam McCarthy is a New Zealand songwriter and pop vocalist. He is best known for his work in Kids of 88 and Goodnight Nurse.
Early life
McCarthy was brought up in Auckland in the suburb of Weymouth. He was educated at Weymouth Primary School ...
– vocals
History
2000–2009: Career beginnings and style
It is known that the two have been best friends for ten years. They attended
St Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College ( mi, Te Kura Teitei o Hāto Petera) is a Catholic church, Catholic secondary school single-sex education, for boys in the Edmund Ignatius Rice, Edmund Rice tradition, and dedicated to St Peter. it is located in the Auckland CBD ...
, where they formed the band Incursa, winning the 2004
Smokefreerockquest
Smokefreerockquest (SFRQ) is an annual music competition for intermediate and high school bands throughout New Zealand.
The first Rockquest was held in 1988, and was organised by Christchurch radio station C93FM as a local event. The following ...
. Sharing a passion for music, they decided to become musicians. The duo have described their music as "a cross between a late 80s police drama intro theme and a sophisticated super hussy. With sleazy basslines and mind-numbingly catchy hooks, Kids of 88 are all about poking tongues and making sweaty suggestive innuendos."
They cite their influences as "Groove, mood, and slutty arrangements. 16th hi hats and hand claps. Culture and couture, Gangster and glamour".
McCarthy is also a member of the band
Goodnight Nurse
Goodnight Nurse was a New Zealand pop punk band formed in Auckland in 2001. The group originally began as a trio, but later changed to a four-piece prior to the release of their second album. It consisted of lead vocalist Joel Little, guitaris ...
.
2010–2011: ''Sugarpills'' and extended play
In April 2010, Kids of 88 signed a worldwide record deal with
Sony Music
Sony Music Entertainment (SME), also known as simply Sony Music, is an American multinational music company. Being owned by the parent conglomerate Sony Group Corporation, it is part of the Sony Music Group, which is owned by Sony Entertainment ...
.
On the back of their debut album release, Kids of 88 are set to tour New Zealand with fellow kiwi indie band
The Naked and Famous
The Naked and Famous are a New Zealand indie electronic band from Auckland, formed in 2007. The band currently consists of Alisa Xayalith (vocals, keyboards) and Thom Powers (vocals, guitars).
The band has released four studio albums: ''Passiv ...
, the tour will hit the four main centres of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin beginning 30 September.
At the
2010 New Zealand Music Awards
The 2010 New Zealand Music Awards was the 45th holding of the annual ceremony featuring awards for musical artists based in or originating from New Zealand. Finalists for the three technical awards were announced on 16 August 2010 with winners ...
, Kids of 88 won 'Single of the Year' and (with Tim Van Dammen) 'Music Video of the Year' for their single " Just a Little Bit".
In November 2010 they toured Australia and in December 2010 they headed to Europe to support
Ke$ha
Kesha Rose Sebert (; born March 1, 1987), formerly stylized as Ke$ha, is an American singer and songwriter. In 2005, at age 18, Kesha was signed to Kemosabe Records. Her first major success came in early 2009 after she was featured on America ...
on her tour.
In February 2011 they released an EP which included the track "Sugarpills" and 4 other new ones.
In July 2011 they released an extended
Sugarpills
Sugarpills is the debut album from New Zealand electropop band Kids of 88 released 16 August 2010.MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
's ''
Teen Wolf
''Teen Wolf'' is a 1985 American coming-of-age romantic fantasy comedy film directed by Rod Daniel and written by Jeph Loeb and Matthew Weisman. Michael J. Fox stars as the title character, a high school student whose ordinary life is changed ...
'' entitled "Formality", they were featured as the live band performing at the Beacon Hills formal. During their on screen set, they played "Just a Little Bit", "Ribbons of Light" and "Universe".
2012: Modern Love
The second studio album, ''Modern Love'' was released worldwide on 5 October 2012. The first single "Tucan" was released on 11 May 2012. "Bad Talk" had been confirmed as the second single, with funding for its music video provided by
NZ On Air
NZ On Air (NZOA; mi, Irirangi te Motu), formally the Broadcasting Commission, is an autonomous Crown entity and commission of the New Zealand Government responsible for funding support for broadcasting and creative works. The commission oper ...
, but has since been changed to "LaLa". Both tracks "Tucan" and "LaLa" had videos released well before the release of the full second album, which were both shot and directed by Levi Beamish. Tracks from the four-week
JB Hi-Fi
JB Hi-Fi Limited is an Australian consumer electronics and home appliances retail company. It is publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Its headquarters are located in Southbank, Melbourne, Victoria.
The company has 316 stores ...
NZ ''Modern Love'' pre-order deal include "Bones", "Mercury", "LoveFlow" and "FrenchGreen", adopting the new no-space ''KidsOf88'' look.
Since the release of the album, the duo went on to release a third single from ''Modern Love'', "TheDrug", the music video to which was directed and shot by
Sam Kristofski
Sam, SAM or variants may refer to:
Places
* Sam, Benin
* Sam, Boulkiemdé, Burkina Faso
* Sam, Bourzanga, Burkina Faso
* Sam, Kongoussi, Burkina Faso
* Sam, Iran
* Sam, Teton County, Idaho, United States, a populated place
People and fictional ...
, starring several of the band's friends and neighbours.
On 23 July 2013, the band released a music video for their song "Bad Talk".
Discography
Albums
Studio albums
Extended plays
Singles
As a main artist
As featured artist
Promotional Singles
Music videos
* "Special Problems" is the combined work of Campbell Hooper and Joel Kefali.