KIN TALA is the moniker of Dom Rogers and Shee Juma, two friends whose songwriting bond dates back to school days. Defined by their smooth, quirky, layered sonics and ambient tones, the multi-instrumentalist duo continues to evolve a distinct and dynamic indie-psych sound.
The group recently released its debut EP, Not All Who Wander Are Lost, featuring seven breezy and vibrant psychedelic pop tracks with elements of electronica and indie rock. The duo is originally from Blackpool in Northwest England, where they grew up in a diverse setting amidst socio-economic strife. Despite lacking means, they worked hard, scrimped, and saved to learn how to record, mix, and release their own music.
KIN TALA has already garnered some success, having released singles to regional acclaim that were featured on BBC and Radio X. Songs like “Swallow” and “Coast” have been praised for a blend of pride and angst and a nod to North England’s rich heritage and culture.
On Not All Who Wander Are Lost, KIN TALA blends ambient psychedelia with the raw emotion of indie rock to create a soothing yet at times trippy sonic journey. The dreamy atmospheres of the EP are a meditative exploration of expansive and personal themes from a musical duo with a long history together.
The Third Eye caught up with KIN TALA, and they were kind enough to answer our questions in an email correspondence. Check out the interview below with the group, where they tell us about their new EP, their influences, and more.
Interview with KIN TALA
Third Eye: Thank you for doing this interview with us! Can you introduce yourselves and tell us a bit about KIN TALA and your music?
KIN TALA: We’re KIN TALA – Dom and Shee, a two-piece originally from Blackpool in the UK. We write and produce ambient indie and alternative music.
Third Eye: Can you share how this EP came together and what inspired its creation?
KIN TALA: Our songwriting has been a constant process of back and forth with ideas, recordings, and mixes over many years. The EP came out of that random rhythm, which is what, we think, makes it quite wide-ranging in terms of style and focus, but also as an evolution of us as musicians – growing in confidence and ability – we think!
Third Eye: The EP title Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost is intriguing, and I think many us can relate to this tried-and-true saying. Can you expand on its meaning and how it relates to the themes explored in the EP?
KIN TALA: So it’s a Tolkien quote I read as a kid, and it just stuck with me. It describes how we feel, having experienced living abroad, traveling, and having family in different places worldwide. It sums up a lot of emotions, really.
Third Eye: Your music incorporates a unique blend of indie-rock, electronic, and ambient sounds. How do you approach fusing these different genres to create a distinct and cohesive sound?
KIN TALA: So our sound has always been influenced by our favourite bands and records, and you can definitely get a sense of that through the EP. FOALS ‘Total Life Forever,’ The Maccabees ‘Given To The Wild’, and Arctic Monkeys ‘Humbug’ will always be our definitive three. But we’ve also wanted to avoid that two guitars, one bass, one drum kit standard indie feel and shake it up a bit with different styles and genres that we’ve listened to since we were kids, so there are subtle elements of hip-hop percussion, jazz instrumentals, and electronic beats.
Third Eye: The track “Ocean Blues” has a fascinating backstory. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind this song and how it encapsulates your unique sound?
KIN TALA: We literally wrote this track together in less than half an hour. I think it was the first time we clicked properly and thought, ‘Christ, this is really good…’ However, it took us quite a few years to actually record and mix it to a standard and style we liked and deserved. So it originally sounded like something straight out of an early Beach Fossils album, but then it developed sonically alongside our mixing skills, becoming more eclectic, diverse, and impactful.
Third Eye: Can you elaborate on some of the specific influences and themes that shaped the tracks on this record?
KIN TALA: The lyrics on the record are intentionally subtle and ambiguous, but we wanted to explore and reflect the recent goings-on and challenges in our lives, like growing up, starting our own families, mental health, aspirations, and dreams. The record also ponders and laments our wider social, political, and historical situations and tries to blend our frustrations with the elements of pride we share.
Third Eye: Reflecting on your journey from releasing taster tracks in 2021 to your current success, how do you think your sound has evolved, and what key moments have defined KIN TALA’s musical evolution?
KIN TALA: I think it’s a case in point that we’re here a few years later, and our music sounds the best it ever has. There’s a certain expectation of what an indie artist from Northwest England looks, feels, and sounds like, and I think back in 2021, we were more self-conscious of that. But we honestly couldn’t care less at this point, which gave us more space to frame our sound. Becoming more mature, experienced, and confident helped us to navigate away from what you’d traditionally find.
And we’ve been fortunate with the support we’ve received from friends and family, which drives our passion project. It’s not easy starting as independents without ties to the industry, but that’s what drives us.
Check out Not All Who Wander Are Lost by KIN TALA on Bandcamp here.
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