Kids of 88
Glossy, neon-drenched synth-pop with a sleazy 80s edge. High-energy dancefloor anthems for late nights in the city and house parties that never end.
Glossy, neon-drenched synth-pop with a sleazy 80s edge. High-energy dancefloor anthems for late nights in the city and house parties that never end.
Kids of 88 sound like a high-speed chase through a neon-lit Auckland in 1987, filtered through the maximalist lens of 2010s blog-house. Their music is defined by thick, squelching synth basslines and crisp drum machine patterns that demand movement. There is a specific kind of 'sophisticated sleaze' at play here, balancing sugary pop melodies with a gritty, late-night electronic pulse.
What truly sets them apart is their aesthetic commitment to the 'police drama' vibe they claim as an influence. Instead of just being another indie-electronic duo, they lean into a cinematic, almost campy swagger. The vocals often sit in a cool, deadpan pocket, delivering hooks that feel like they were written on a cocktail napkin at a club. It is music that feels expensive but acts reckless.
For the uninitiated, 'Sugarpills' is the essential starting point. It captures the duo at their most infectious, blending the chart-topping energy of 'My House' with deeper, more psychedelic electronic explorations. It is the perfect soundtrack for when you want to feel a little more glamorous and a lot more impulsive than you actually are.
Kids of 88 were a New Zealand new wave duo based in Auckland, New Zealand, consisting of Jordan Arts and Sam McCarthy. They are best known for their 2009 single, "My House". They have since signed through Dryden Street to Sony Music and released the album Sugarpills in August 2010. In 2014, the duo stated that 'the [Kids of 88] project has concluded.'
Shares playful, confident, energetic (moods); indie pop, electropop, synth-pop (subgenres)
Shares synth-pop, electropop, dance-pop (subgenres); digital clarity, studio polished, maximalist (production style)
Shares synth-pop, indie pop, electropop (subgenres); studio polished, drum machine, digital clarity (production style)
Shares synth-pop, electropop, indie pop (subgenres); digital clarity, studio polished, drum machine (production style)
Shares synth-pop, new wave, dance-pop (subgenres); playful, confident, energetic (moods)
Shares synth-pop, electropop, dance-pop (subgenres); digital clarity, studio polished, drum machine (production style)
Shares synth-pop, new wave, dance-pop (subgenres); digital clarity, drum machine, layered dense (production style)
Shares synth-pop, new wave, dance-pop (subgenres); urban night, rooftop, late night (atmosphere)
Shares synth-pop, new wave, dance-pop (subgenres); digital clarity, studio polished, drum machine (production style)
Shares studio polished, digital clarity, drum machine (production style); energetic, confident, playful (moods)
Shares drum machine, new wave, electropop, dance-pop (signature)
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