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When meeting a band for the first time there is always an element of nervousness, especially after witnessing a previous interview where they appear in space suits and only communicate through one band member.
However, it was worry for nothing as meeting New Zealand's own Kidz in Space was like having a chat with old mates.
Although relatively new to the game, the Auckland based hip hop trio of Ashley Hughes, Josh Fountain and Mat Neshat (Neesh) are hitting the Big Day Out in 2010 for the second year in a row.
They introduced their unique sound to audiences at the 2009 Big Day Out, taking 15 minutes out of Hughes' solo set under Ethical. They proved to be a hit and it was from here that Kidz in Space were launched.
"It was the first proper Kidz in Space show, it's always weird playing songs people don't know but they all seemed to enjoy it," says Fountain.
Downtime proved a favourite with the crowd then and continues to now, with the single still sitting in the top of New Zealand charts.
Forming of a band
The Kidz bio talks of how three artists from varying backgrounds mysteriously cross paths and frustrated by the current state of music on earth, board a spaceship in search of a new sound. The reference to space makes them laugh and although Fountain says it would be good if they were Star Trek fans, they are not.
In reality the name came out of night on the town and as Neesh says it's "one of those names that rolls of the tongue, it catches people".
Having known each other for around 10 years Neesh and Hughes then met Fountain through the studio and started putting stuff together.
The Kidz have differing musical backgrounds which is perhaps what makes their sound unique. Neesh is the most hip hop orientated while Hughes' musical background is more in the middle and Fountain to the left.
The collaboration has led to a mutual respect for all things music.
"Working with Josh especially, getting to see his perspective and what he listens to and how things should be made has just opened my head so much more with everything ... I love everything now," says Neesh.
The Kidz say there is no singular musical influence on them as such but if they were to be compared to someone N.E.R.D would be the closest.
"N.E.R.D would be a huge influence, especially with the rest of our EP which is not so sort of dance driven but more sort of rock and pop mixed together," says Fountain.
On a personal level Neesh is a huge Jay-Z fan and Fountain is influenced by a love of dance music.
Faceless
The initial intention for Kidz was to create a faceless band along the lines of Daft Punk however they say it was too hard to stick to.
"When we first started we sort of stuck to it a lot but it proved too difficult to do interviews and shows and there is no point doing it if you aren't going to do it 100%, so we decided against it," says Fountain.
Their video clips have so far kept to this faceless theme which as Fountain says has "captivated a bit of mystique" around the band. The Tim Van Dammen directed clips also all relate to each other.
The first video shows Kidz in Space coming to earth, then in Downtime the Kidz have landed and at the end they turn into pixel characters who carry onto the third video Lose My Cool, which is out now and definitely worth having a look at.
They haven't ruled out actually appearing in future videos themselves but Fountain says only as long as they are not cliché videos and the band has to be kept left field.
"It would need to be keeping with the real buzzy stuff," says Fountain.
Home and away
The Kidz recently got a taste for the international arena when 42 Below helped them over to the CMJ Music Festival in New York.
The New Zealand On Air Showcase had a queue around the block and the boys hope it will be the same again when they head back over in March.
The experience proved to be great exposure for the band as they got an invite to South by South West and were a big hit with the crowd.
The taste of the overseas scene left Kidz in Space wanting more and the plan is to get released in Australia next year. However, they have no intention of forgetting their roots.
"We would like to take it overseas and see what we can do with it but ... it's important to establish a base here first," says Fountain.
They say the response they have had in New Zealand is unbelievable.
"We were walking down the street after a gig and people were behind us singing Downtime," says Neesh.
However they personally are still not known to the public.
"My friends always embarrass me by trying to tell everyone that I'm in Kidz in Space, but Kidz in Space is not well enough known to claim fame and they know that and so they are like 'this guy is a famous guy' and I'm like 'shut up', it's so embarrassing," says Fountain.
The future looks bright for this band who has achieved so much in such a short timeframe.
The boys are in the process of recording their album at Woodcut Studio and hope to get it out by the middle of next year. There are plenty more gigs in the pipeline too.
"We've had so many great opportunities that bands who have been together for ages haven't had ... it's been really fast moving," says Fountain.
The focus for the boys right now is on getting their new single out so people can hear more of what they have to offer and of course the Big Day Out.
On a personal level they are looking forward to seeing Dizzee Rascal perform. Fountain says he is a highlight from previous years.
"It was in the Boiler Room and it was insane, I had to take off my t-shirt and afterwards I just felt so sorry for whoever was in front of me and behind me because it was just my sweaty body pushed up against them," Fountain says.
After their recent success Fountain says they are looking forward to seeing how different the Big Day Out will be in 2010 and with new music for the fans, Neesh has some lofty ambitions for this year's BDO.
"Kidz in Space are going to be the best show".
You're going to have to head along on January 15 to see if Neesh's prediction comes true.
You can follow Kidz in Space on Facebook and MySpace .
