Kills Birds give fans another taste of their upcoming record, Married, with “Cough Up Cherries,” a high-octane summary of angsty pandemic life. If they aren’t already one of your favorite new rock acts, there’s a good chance “Cherries” will be the song to make you join the likes of Dave Grohl and Hayley Williams in their fan club.
“There are a lot of themes to ‘Cherries,’ as it was written during the height of the pandemic in 2020,” vocalist Nina Ljeti shares. “The song touches on feelings of loneliness, paranoia, and hopelessness that we all experienced. In addition, ‘Cherries’ also addresses the identity crisis we all face in the digital age. What our performative personas are vs. who we really are when we’re left alone, and if in the midst of great injustice, we are actually able to hold our own selves accountable.”
The trio recorded their Married album, including previous singles “Rabbit” and “Glisten,” at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606, by invitation of Grohl himself. You can hear a Foo Fighters influence on “Cough Up Cherries,” mainly via its energetic, melodic guitar riffs, while Ljeti brings a vibrant rebellion to her vocals that beckons Pat Benatar.
“This song’s instrumentation reflects some of the layers of confusion and chaos that were felt by so many at the height of the pandemic,” guitarist Jacob Loeb explains. “It’s music that we found at the apex of isolation and outrage. This song has a deeply ominous kick drum heartbeat that drives through the unnervingly twisted and interwoven guitar and bass parts that crescendo to a chorus that feels like an authentic expression of our collective rage at that height of that chaotic time. Bosh Rothman, who drummed on the record, brought some serious fire to the drum fills that close out the song.”
You can find “Cough Up Cherries” on your favorite streaming services now, and link up with Kills Birds on Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud, Twitter, and YouTube. Keep an eye out for their Married album in November!
