Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Christian Blakeli - Vocals, Drums, Keys
Nikko Vincent - Vocals, Guitar, Bass
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Renaissance Kids? How long has the band been around?
We'd rather not mention our last band. However, Renaissance Kids started out of the ashes of that last project and has been around since July of 2015.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
Renaissance Kids came about after Nikko and I had left a band we'd put our all into. I had gone through some really tough life experiences the past few years and we both felt the need to get our story out. Renaissance or rebirth is exactly what Renaissance Kids is about. We came from the ashes of life's ebb as we flow down the river to another life.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
Writing has been a very collaborative process. It's great having two people in a band that can cover a majority of the instrumentation as well as singing. We try to approach every song as if it were a scene from a movie.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
We've been digging PVRIS and Bring Me The Horizon lately. The lighter sides of music strikes emotions in different ways than aggressive music, but many times it is more powerful than any scream could ever be.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
Nikko Vincent - I found a live Maximum the Hormone DVD at a convention dealer room a few years back and Ryo’s ferocity really sold me on being a performing musician. “I need all of this.”
Christian Blakeli - I think the first concert I ever saw was what inspired me to be a musician. I was eight years old and my father took me to an Evanescence concert. The place was packed, it was a smaller venue but the lights and music mystified me. Seeing how music can get people feeling made me want to do the same.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
Nikko Vincent - Keep checking yourself, don’t question it. Stay hydrated. Rule #18.
Christian Blakeli - I literally stretch everything. You see your pinky toe... STRETCH IT! No but really, I make sure I keep limber. I've been more sore after a show sometimes than I was after I got stabbed.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
Christian Blakeli - The reception we’ve been getting on the Time Froze and You Set the Fire lyric video reception has been amazing. We were beyond excited to work with Ryan Sheehy on our upcoming music video for "I Can See Everything". We can't wait for it to be out for everyone to see.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Nikko Vincent - A tour with Amity Affliction in their home country or Bring Me The Horizon would be a most excellent time! Honestly touring with Ice Cube has been a dream of mine. I've also been keeping an eye on Japan's Hysteric Panic for a while. I hope to eventually get something going in the works with them.
Christian Blakeli - Just let me tour with tupac, krs-one, oh and Brahms because he wasn't quite Beethoven.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Make sure you keep on the look out for our music video for "I Can See Everything" directed by Ryan Sheehy (Attila, Chelsea Grin, Vicetone) and music produced by Cameron Mizell (Crown The Empire, Issues, Storm The Sky)