Interview with Spotkix

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

The band started by accident after we met having a kickabout and discovered we were all musicians. Then we started jamming on stuff like Nirvana and Oasis covers, songs that we all knew. At some point, we decided to be a band, and we started writing. We still have regular jobs that we juggle with our music. Maybe one day…

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

We play a lot of football (soccer), Georgina is indisputably the best at keepy-uppy. We also like movies and food. Although, we like movies about football more than we like movies about food. We’re kind of football-obsessed, but we’re kinda artsy too.

How long has your band been around?

Only a few months. We just released our first single, The Greenest Green.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

We’re based in Toronto. But only two out of the four of us are from TO, which in itself is very TO. The city’s a city of immigrants, and it’s diverse. They say there’s 160 languages spoken here, and we’ve heard most of them. You hear music from all over, too. You go to buy a doner, and they’re playing Ali Farka in the store. You hit your local dive bar, and they’re playing Japandroids. We love it and soak it all in.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

A spot kick is another name for a penalty in football (soccer). So it’s a moment of intense drama that can decide the match. Then there’s another aspect to it. Spotkix is also about getting your kicks, like on Route 66 or wherever. It means figuring out what you enjoy and then doing it.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

Can you ask us again in a couple of years? We haven’t played live yet!

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

The venues we’d like to play most are Lee’s Palace, which is a Toronto institution, and Dingwall’s, which is a London institution; they both hold around 500 and it will be a while until we can fill them. But what we’d like more than anything is to hear The Greenest Green sung by fans at a match.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Jacob Slater from Wunderhorse, and Lana del Ray are welcome to join us any time. Together, we’ll play an exciting blend of rock and dream pop with a side of beats.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Don’t do it expect too much. It’s hard to overstate what a tough business this is. Stardom has very long odds. Building an audience takes time and a long-term view, so you need a lot of patience. Having fun doing what you love is probably our best advice. We’re here for a short time, and nobody gets out alive…

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

Really, where to start? Live in the moment and pay more attention in math class. Learn to meditate and be kinder. Listen more and talk less. All the stuff your mum said that you ignored.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

That’s like asking a parent who their favourite kid is. They know, but they’ll never tell you.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

The Greenest Green. It’s the only song we’ve ever released!

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

We usually start with a title or an idea, ‘Let’s write a song about X’ and go from there. Who knows where ideas come from? We know that A-ha moment triggers a dopamine rush similar to being in love. It’s true, ideas change your brain chemistry. Maybe that’s why people fall in love with them.

Every song on the album we’re working on – On A Yellow – is about football. It’s the return of the concept album! That may sound limiting, but if you think of sports as a metaphor for life, there’s a lot of scope. Our second album will be all about tennis. Just kidding.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

Spotkix is about hope, pride, and optimism. We want to make people feel good, and most of our songs are upbeat. Even our sad songs come with a glimmer of hope. The way we see it, if you enjoy feeling down, you can just read the news.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

Yeah, of course. Show me a band that doesn’t. So far, we’ve managed to move past them quite quickly. A bit of trash-talking and banter and we’re done. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, Different opinions are usually just that—opinions. In the end, it’s not about being right or wrong. It’s about collectively ending up at the right place.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

Our plan for the immediate future is to get the album out in November. About half of it’s recorded, so we’re vaguely on track… After that, we’d like to play a few gigs and see if anyone shows up! Then, we’ll take it from there…

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

We don’t do a lot of social, but what we do is here: Insta @enjoyspotkix, and you can also find us at spotkix.com