When you think hip hop and soul you think Kid Confucius. On the edge of dropping a fresh album, the group has embarked on the Last Straw Tour. Andrew Guirguis (aka Pre Fab, MC vocals and rhythm guitar) took time out from the World Cup, mastering the album and his full time job, to share the gospel of KC with Benjamin Chinnock.

Kid Confucius is a culturally diverse band, how does this mix affect the music you make?

The different cultures and backgrounds within the band has never really been at the forefront of the music we make – it’s more of a latent element that affects the band’s sound without dominating it.

Also what is the secret for the reason why the band gels so well?

Respect! All nine members of the band have a strong sense of respect for themselves, for what their band mates bring to the table, and for the songs that we write and play. We are unified in our goals and ambitions, which is the cornerstone of any well-gelled band, and the moment our collective harmony is ever disrupted or threatened, we roll up our sleeves, have it out, and restore the peace and balance as soon as possible. It’s kinda like a town with nine sheriffs.

Why did you decide to record the album on tape at Electric Avenue Studios?

Despite the advent of the “bedroom studio” in this digital age of ours, analogue tape and compressors will always have an irreplaceable and unbeatable presence and “realness” to them, and Electric Avenue is a veritable wonderland of analogue and vintage gear. Under the guidance of our producer Buchman, we wanted to make a soul and hip-hop album unlike anything else produced in Australia before, and we wanted the unique guts of our live sound to shine through. A big job like that needs trusty ol’ analogue tape, a nice big sound console, vintage compressors, vintage mics and a lot of room to spread out and get comfortable.

What is the message that KC is trying to convey with not only Last Straw, but the new album in general?

We want people to hear Last Straw and the rest of the new album and get that this band is about something bigger and bolder than just being a live soul band, or a live hip-hop band. We hope to convey to the public a unique sound that is groundbreaking and pioneering for Australia’s as yet unestablished soul and hip-hop scenes. Lyrically, we are all about city living – the trials, the tribulations, the traffic, jobs, the rent, the nightlife, stress, relationships, one-night stands, love, and politics. It’s stuff that should hit home for a lot of people.

The single has been described as being a gospel tune, who is the religious one?

Ha, well it would have to be our lead singer Rob Hezkial. Just last weekend he had the quiet folks of Belgrave, Victoria screaming out “Amen!” over and over as he marched around the stage like a crazed preacher man.

What is it really like working with Buchman?

Truly amazing and inspiring, but also challenging because he’s always pushing us to be better musicians and performers. He is very much the band’s maestro in the studio and is the one ultimately responsible for bringing a world-class sophistication of sound and production to Kid Confucius’ music. As my relationship with him grows, I find myself looking to him now for new directions for the live show too, and he’s already started acting like the pensive coach on the sidelines when we’re up on stage doing our thing. Outside of the seemingly endless work we do together, we also dine together a lot; a love of good food is the next big thing that binds us after music. The dinner table is where a lot of ideas for the band get thrown around.

Your management agency Brighton Boulevard has a talented roster, how much have they influenced the Kid Confucius musical journey?

I would quite confidently say that Brighton Boulevard has helped define Kid Confucius’ entire musical journey over the last couple of years. We made major inroads into the live scene on our own since forming in 2001 and started making our first album on our own, but it was the relationship with Brighton Boulevard that not only got the first album finished, but made it a piece of work worthy of much critical acclaim, attention and exposure. Our manager Julia Kosky and producer Buchman are the driving force behind Brighton Boulevard and they bring to all their artists a wealth of industry experience and contacts, while also working towards a common vision of defining a whole new era for Australian music.

What does it feel like to be asked to be part of the Urban Music awards?

It’s good to feel like the band has a place somewhere in the industry, and that we will have a chance to get up on stage in front of peers and the public and do what we do best. Although I don’t think Kid Confucius’ sound and attitude can be completely captured within the category of “Urban Music.” And I think a lot of the acts taking part in the awards, such as The Herd, are in the same boat. But, ultimately, the awards are a positive step towards the Australian public recognising that the music industry in this country doesn’t start and finish with rock n roll.

KC have gone in a more soulful direction with Last Straw, is this a general vibe for the album? Why the move closer to soul considering your early tunes were very much in a hip hop vain?

It’s just a reflection of where we are at as a band right now. The earlier tunes were written very early on in the band’s life, so they were already “old” to us by the time we recorded them. While we were finishing the first album, we were simultaneously moving away from the influences that defined the album – so it was a strange and awkward position to be in, musically speaking. When it came time to write songs for a new album, we felt like we could finally run free and it felt like it was a chance to redefine and develop our sound and truly reflect what is in our hearts and minds right now. Importantly, the song writing has developed to a more soul-orientated place, and the songs have become more direct, succinct and hook-heavy pieces of music.

Kid Confucius continue their Last Straw tour this month:

Fri 7 Jul – @ Newton, Sydney
Sat 8 Jul – Plantation Hotel, Coffs Harbour
Fri 21 Jul – Urban Music Award, Sydney
Sat 22 Jul – Yallah Roadhouse, Wollongong
Sat 29 Jul – Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale