Kaleida Wild

Who are Kaleida Wild? Where you’re from, how you met, how long have you been playing together etc

Kaleida Wild (pronounced kal-eye-da) originates from Bristol. We love writing original music and trying to push the boundaries of our own creativity and style. We have been playing together for around two years and are having an immense amount of fun with it. I (Harry – Guitarist) met Javier (lead singer) in Reading back in 2019. We clicked musically and did a bit of work together before I moved to Bristol to start my PhD. Fast forward and the stars aligned; Jav moved to Bristol after the covid-19 lockdowns, and we began the search for the others. Miles responded to an ad we put out for the drums, and we never looked back. John joined the band as the new bassist early 2023 and things took off from there.

Who came up with the band name and does it have a story or any meaning behind it?

I was messing around with the idea of a kaleidoscope for ages, as everyone in the band has unique influences and musical styles that blended well together when we performed. We’ve always found colours bring out the best in our sound (we practice songs with specific colours of light in rehearsals). We decided to shorten the name to Kaleida, but it needed something extra. After a lot of “Kaleida This” and “Kaleida That”, “Wild” popped into my head on a train when a deer ran across the tracks abruptly…

If you had to describe the band using just five words, what would they be?

Unique, assured, sophisticated, honest, and wild!

Who are your biggest influences musically?

Fitting with the theme of different backgrounds, the spectrum of influences is huge… Anywhere from Nick Cave and Jah Shaka Sound System to Olivia Dean, Rachel Chinouriri, and Tom Misch…but it works!

What’s the band’s biggest claim to fame so far?

We played on the main stage at Home Farm Festival this year, which was very cool. A personal highlight was a couple using our song “Rainfall” as part of their wedding video, having only recently seen us perform at SofarSounds in Bristol, this was a real privilege and I was really moved by it.

What’s your songwriting process?

Still a work in progress… haha, no I think the best way I’ve found is letting the song “come to you”, as inspiration strikes at the weirdest of times. When a melody pops into my head, I have to record it onto my phone immediately (nobody will ever hear these recordings, they’re so embarrassing). After playing with the concept for a while, instincts tend to know whether the song is worth chasing. It is usually brought into the studio room, and everyone adds their input. If it is right, the song comes to life… It is knowing when to stop that is the hard bit! Sometimes they take months… but I think it is the most satisfying part of the work.

If you could go on tour with any current band or artist, who would it be and why?

That’s a challenging question. I think Jav would melt if we toured with Olivia Dean or Remi Wolf. My dream would be to tour with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. But really, I think we’d be over the moon to go on tour with anyone exciting really… I’ve always wondered what those touring buses are like.

If you could put your dream team band together consisting of any musicians from the past or present who would the band members be?

This is too much power for one person… I would just bring back musicians/bands from the past to have an opportunity to see them live. It always comes back to Jimi Hendrix for me.

How would you describe your live show to someone who has never seen you perform before?

Our shows are electric. We try to account for every detail to keep the energy high throughout the night. I think the audience can see we believe in what we’re doing, and that we’re enjoying it too. We aim to be as honest as possible in our songs, especially with everything going on in the world today. Our songs showcase a variety of different styles (like emotions, you can’t just have one, right?). People tend to come back, so hopefully that’s enough to convince you to come check us out?!

Do any of you have any pre-gig or post gig rituals? If so, what and why?

Not sure if it is a ritual but we’ve got to make sure we eat. Prepping for a show can be exhausting, especially if there’s travel involved. By the time you’re on stage, so much work has already taken place. So, focusing on the basics is good. Taking some time to breath and get ready to perform is important too. I think from there, we like to have a quick chat as a group and big ourselves up and take some credit in the work we’ve put in… oh, and to remind ourselves to have fun!

What would your ultimate rider be if you could have anything without being accused of being a diva?

I think we’re divas regardless… mine would be a selection of good dips and snacks, and good wine (or coffee). I’d also like my own room maybe. I think I saw Keith Richards has his own room, with decorations, instruments and some records. That sounds ideal, I want that.

This question is for all band members. If we were to browse your music library what is the most embarrassing song we might find? Or who is your guilty pleasure artist?

Javier: Happy Days Are Here Again / Get Happy – The Glee Cast

Harry: Cher Lloyd – Want u back or Beautiful Stranger – Madonna

John: Say you’ll be there – Spice Girls

Miles: Break Stuff – Limp Bizkit (…but I reckon we could do a little more digging)

Tell us one thing your fans would be really shocked or surprised to hear or learn about the band

Not sure we have anything shocking (yet), but I’d say just knowing how much work actually goes into being in a band, especially as we all have day jobs.

If people want to check you out online where is the best place to go?

Our Instagram is definitely the best place to check us out: @kaleida_wild

Finally, What does the future hold for the band?

We want to perform at bigger shows/festivals next year and to release more of our music. We’re working hard at it and things are falling into place. We would love to tour with some cool artists! Either way, we’re grateful for all the experiences so far.