Kidbug
International supergroup born from holiday recording sessions.
Kidbug is a multinational supergroup made up of artists on the Joyful Noise Recordings roster. The band began as an idea from Marina Tadic (of Eerie Wanda) and Adam Harding (of Dumb Numbers), with Thor Harris (Swans) and Bobb Bruno (Best Coast, Pocahaunted) also in the lineup. The final song on their self-titled debut album features Dale Crover (Melvins, Nirvana) on drums.
The project took shape in December 2018 during Joyful Noise’s annual Christmas party and holiday recording sessions at Postal Recording in Indianapolis. Label musicians were flown in to record unusual takes on holiday songs, and Harding and Harris played on nearly every track. Harding and Tadic’s collaboration on the opening song “Listen the Snow is Falling” led to a music video (Harding also works as a videographer), which sparked a long-distance exchange of what Harding calls “musical love-letters.” This correspondence turned into a romance and a musical partnership that became Kidbug over the next year. Tadic noted that the writing came quickly: “Within two months or so we had enough to make an album.” The songs were written as a back-and-forth, with Harding composing about Tadic and Tadic about Harding. Tadic described it as a true collaboration, saying, “Together we did it effortlessly, like we were one person.”
Harding cites Nirvana, My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Pixies, and Sonic Youth as influences. The term “cuddlebug sludge,” originally used by Spin in 2013 to describe Harding’s other project Dumb Numbers, feels even more fitting for Kidbug, according to Harding. He explained that while Dumb Numbers is mostly his own songwriting with guest players, writing Kidbug songs with Tadic felt dreamlike and effortless.
- origin
- Conceived December 2018 at Joyful Noise Recordings Christmas party
- genre
- Cuddlebug sludge
- members
- Marina Tadic, Adam Harding, Thor Harris, Bobb Bruno
- debut_album
- Kidbug (2020)
- label
- Joyful Noise Recordings
Lore & Background
Kidbug was originally conceived in December 2018 during Joyful Noise Recordings' annual Christmas party and holiday album recording sessions at Postal Recording in Indianapolis. Adam Harding and Thor Harris participated in nearly every track that year. Harding and Tadic's collaboration on the opening track 'Listen the Snow is Falling' led to a video collaboration, which in turn sparked a long-distance correspondence of 'musical love-letters' that blossomed into a romance and musical collaboration, crystallizing into Kidbug over the following year.
Reader's Guide
Kidbug's significance lies in its origin as a spontaneous collaboration among labelmates during a holiday recording event, evolving into a full-fledged supergroup. The project is notable for its epistolary songwriting process, with songs composed by Harding about Tadic and by Tadic about Harding, described by Tadic as feeling 'like we were one person.' The term 'cuddlebug sludge,' originally coined by Spin to describe Dumb Numbers in 2013, was adopted by Harding as even more fitting for Kidbug. The group's debut album features contributions from Dale Crover on its final track. Their music draws influence from Nirvana, My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Pixies, and Sonic Youth. Kidbug represents a rare instance of a supergroup formed organically from a label's holiday tradition, producing a cohesive body of work through long-distance creative exchange.
Did You Know?
- Kidbug was conceived at Joyful Noise Recordings' annual Christmas party and holiday album recording sessions in December 2018.
- The project began as a long-distance correspondence of 'musical love-letters' between Marina Tadic and Adam Harding.
- Dale Crover plays drums on the final track of Kidbug's debut album.
- The term 'cuddlebug sludge' was originally coined by Spin to describe Dumb Numbers in 2013.
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