Q&A: The Kaves

This week we caught up with Glasgow band The Kaves. We cover the band's formation, their experiences in the Glasgow music scene, and the creative process behind their debut EP Peace Love Mayhem. They also discuss upcoming shows, recognition from Radio X's John Kennedy, and how they strive to create authentic, evolving music that stands out against the crowd.

1. Every band has a story of how they came together. Can you share how The Kaves formed and what brought you all together?

Liam: It was myself (Liam) and Dave that started the band back at the end of 2019 before the world came to a halt. Then I asked my brother Sean to come play bass, even though he’d never played bass before but was an awesome guitarist. It was just the three of us for about a year, writing between Dave's house and the studio. Evan joined in 2021, and we quickly gelled together, releasing our first single a few months after.

2. Was there a defining moment when you realised you had something special as a group?

Liam: Between some amazing gigs, writing songs we truly love, and random amazing rehearsal nights, there have been many moments that made us realise we have something really good. Most recently, writing the EP together and producing songs like The Last Glass, which sounds like nothing we’d ever done before. Our show at SWG3 Poetry Club back in June was a nice moment in that packed, sweaty room.

3. Glasgow has such a rich musical history. How has being part of the Glasgow music scene influenced your sound and the way you approach your craft as a band?

Sean: There are hundreds of amazing bands that were born in Glasgow’s streets. With the current Glasgow music scene being as dense as it is, we try to make a style of music that is authentic and stands out from the rest of the noise. The four of us all have different music tastes, which shine through in our songs. One of the main ingredients in our songwriting is how we blend these influences together and make a tune that doesn’t fall by the wayside of being another generic indie anthem.

4. Do you find it challenging to stand out in a city known for producing great bands?

Sean: It’s an enjoyable challenge. It is very easy to fall into the trap of sounding like every other band out there, but we want to push ourselves creatively and make interesting music. Our songs are constantly evolving, and even when we play live, the songs are played a little differently from the record, which keeps them feeling fresh.

5. You’ve got some exciting shows coming up in Manchester and London. What are you looking forward to most about playing these cities, and how do those crowds compare to Glasgow?

Evan: Looking forward to the energy and atmosphere of the crowds in both cities. They both have great live music scenes, so experiencing that will be fun. How they compare to Glasgow crowds remains to be seen for us, but they’ve got a lot to live up to!

6. What has it been like gaining recognition from names like John Kennedy on Radio X, who shouted out your tour on his show?

Evan: It’s great to receive any recognition for our music, especially from someone like John Kennedy, who’s helped so many artists get a leg up by giving them exposure. Hopefully, some London and Manchester listeners heard the show and decide to head along to our gigs down there.

7. You’ve already released Complacency and Unknown Number, which show two different sides of your sound. How do the new tracks on your forthcoming EP Peace Love Mayhem build on or contrast with those earlier releases?

Dave: I think that’s the beauty of the EP. All songs have something different while maintaining our own sound. We never want to be stuck in one lane. There’s a real cinematic element to The Last Glass. Fading to the Back of the Room was an older song we had, listened to again, and felt the emotion it carries meant it had to be brought back, polished, and recorded. All EP tracks have different styles and feelings, which I think is important in music.

8. When it came to writing and creating the EP, do you work as a collective, or do individual members take the lead on different aspects?

Dave: All ideas are welcome; there are no rules for us. Sometimes I’ll have an idea of a melody or subject, start a demo, and send it in. Others have started from a riff from Liam. The Last Glass, for example, starts off with a piano line Sean had, which was a completely new direction. Sometimes the song writes itself, like Unknown Number, which was written and recorded within 2 or 3 weeks. Others require more time. I think as long as you’re writing with authenticity, things tend to work better. Not every idea you have will be better than what you’ve written before. Understanding that is important. Patience is something I’ve learned is key in songwriting. You’ve just got to keep at it until one sticks.

9. With Peace Love Mayhem being your debut EP, what’s next for The Kaves?
Dave: We’re excited to play our debut shows down south and, of course, looking forward to our big show at Slay in Glasgow on the 22nd of November. We can’t wait to get the EP out. We’ve had these tunes for a while, and they all have their own meaning to us, but it’s always nice to see other people attach their own meaning to them. It would be great to add more live dates sometime next year. We’ve had a few requests, and we’re already writing more music. We also need to find a van that will make it to London without breaking down!