London’s alternative quintet Hunter Kill Hunter have just released their second EP, the aptly named II. Their relatable tracks about personal struggles and emotive live performances have seen them gain a strong fanbase. You can check out our review of the record here. We challenged vocalist Justin Jackson and guitarist Kieran Harper to take on our A-Z challenge.
A song which made you want to make music?
Justin: Limp Bizkit – Nookie
Kieran: Breed by ‘Nirvana’
Best rider you have ever had?
Justin: With my old band, a packet of haribo when we played at Wembley arena. With this band, a beer?
Kieran: A can of beer and a packet of crisps.
Craziest moment you’ve experienced in the band?
Justin: We once had a meeting at our drummer Joes house and within the time we were there we all took a dump in his toilet. That’s team work.
Kieran: Justin’s birthday, seeing Don Broco in Southampton. He got crowd surfed around the room for a whole song. It was funny to watch. Fast forward to 5 am and Simon from Don Broco comes out to tell me Justin’s being sick in the club toilet.
Deepest lyrics one of your songs features?
Justin: A song called Neverlasting Light, which is about existence, mortality and spiritually and not being afraid of things we do not understand.
Kieran: Possibly ‘Holding the fear that someday, I will cease to exist’ – It’s from Neverlasting Light on our upcoming EP.
Easiest song you wrote?
Justin: Without Freedom
Kieran: I remember writing the music to ‘Without Freedom’ fairly quick. Then when we worked on it as a band everything fell into place pretty fast and easy.
Favourite song in your set?
Justin: Find A Way Home
Kieran: For now, ‘We Are the Blame’
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
Justin: Chino Morino
Kieran: Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die.
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Justin: Having differences.
Kieran: Understandably, everyone has differing visions for their art, which can be an issue when you’re creating as a collective. So it’s often hard to agree on things. That and working everything around ‘normal life’.
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Justin: Stu used to work in a school for kids with autism and now he works full time as a club promoter.
Kieran: So I’ve heard that Justin and Stu met because Justin kicked him in the head in a club or something?
Jokes you have in the band?
Justin: We have bare jokes, innit.
Kieran: We have a few – none of them are funny. Sorry.
Key to writing a song?
Justin: Know what you want to sing about, then the rest just flows.
Kieran: I wish there was a key. Be as prolific as possible, you’ll develop as a songwriter the more you write.
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
Justin: London to Leeds.
Kieran: London to Manchester, Justin is wrong.
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
Justin: We once got added to a line up but didn’t realise it was supporting Jonah Matranga, who was a big influence of mine before I met him. I guess we can now call him a friend as well, so for me that was probably the craziest experience.
Kieran: Probably Rage Against the Machine as a whole. When they did their reunion back in 2008, that was ridiculous.
New band you’d recommend?
Justin: Well a relatively new band, Black Peaks.
Kieran: Zoax.
Opening for this band would be ideal?
Justin: Every Time I die. Or Paramore maybe?
Kieran: Letlive. That would be ideal.
Place you’d most like to tour?
Justin: Well I’ve always wanted to do Warped Tour but then also toured China years ago with my old band so would love to go back and tour there again.
Kieran: Around Europe! Hopefully we’ll get to make that happen this year.
Quote that you’d like to pass on to our readers?
Justin: Live your life, Love your fellow human being and know that you only live once. Do what you need to do to get by but never loose sight of the importance of your own existence.
Kieran: ‘Don’t stop get it ’til your clothes get wet’ – Missy Elliott
Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming release?
Justin: “II” is our 2nd EP
Kieran: Our forthcoming release is called ‘Two’, stylised as roman numerals (II). It was essentially just a way for us to indicate that this is our second release in an artistic way on the cover.
See us live at?
01/12 – The Fighting Cocks, Kingston (EP Launch Show)
04/12 – The Black Heart, London
09/12 – Flairz Venue Bar, Hastings
10/12 – Leo’s Red Lion, Gravesend
10/12 – The Monument, Newbury + more in the new year!
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
Justin: Anniversary shows and celebrations happen for a reason.
Kieran: Not really.
Unusual merchandise?
Justin: Condoms with each member’s face on.
Kieran: I got given Kiss (the band) cologne once as a gift. That was pretty strange.
Variations you’d like to do on any of your songs?
Justin: I love taking a song which is mainly shouting and stripping it back and making it more melodic.
Kieran: I’d like to do some stripped back alternative versions of a lot of our songs.
What do your fans mean to you?
Justin: People who love what we do give us the confidence doing what we love to do. They are a foundation for us. Kieran: It’s hard to express in words the level of gratitude I feel towards anyone who listens to our music and supports this band in any way. It’s genuinely beyond words.
X-rays or any other treatments needed for band injuries?
Justin: Touch wood we haven’t broken anything yet. Though our live shows can get a bit crazy, so may possibly happen some day haha
Kieran: Nothing serious so far, I think I got cut just above my eye at one show but that’s about it. I often have to glue bits of my guitars back together and clean the blood off them, mind you.
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
Justin: Oh without a doubt always our drummers fault. Time and efficiency do not exist haha
Kieran: Probably mine. Time isn’t a concept I’ve fully grasped yet.
Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band?
Justin: Lions – fiery, passionate and cuddly, but we will rip your heart out your chest and leave you gasping for air.
Kieran: Wolf.