Clean Cut Kid are an English

indie pop Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with a DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and s ...

band from

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

, formed in 2012. At present, the band consists of Mike Halls (

lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

), Evelyn Halls (

backing vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are us ...

keys Key, Keys, The Key or The Keys may refer to: Common uses * Key (cryptography), a piece of information needed to encode or decode a message * Key (instrument), a component of a musical instrument * Key (lock), a device used to operate a lock * ...

), Ross Higginson (

drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...

) and Gareth Bullock (

bass guitar The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...

). Originally, the band also contained Saul Goodman (bass) but he departed in late 2017. The band released their debut album ''Felt'' in May 2017, and have played extensive touring schedule to date, covering 91 shows and 31 different festivals across five countries in 2016 alone, as well as support slots on tour with

The Courteeners Courteeners are an English band formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester, Middleton, Greater Manchester, in 2006 by Liam Fray (lead guitar/vocals), Michael Campbell (drums/backing vocals), Daniel "Conan" Moores (rhythm guitar) and Mark Cuppello ...

The Kooks The Kooks () are an English indie rock band formed in 2004 in Brighton. The current lineup consists of Luke Pritchard on vocals and guitar, and Hugh Harris on bass, guitar, and synthesiser. Their music is primarily influenced by the 1960s Br ...

Michael Kiwanuka Michael Samuel Kiwanuka (born 3 May 1988) is a British singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is currently signed to Polydor Records. His debut album '' Home Again'' (2012) went gold in the United Kingdom, while his second album ...

The Killers The Killers are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2001 by Brandon Flowers (lead vocals, keyboards, bass) and Dave Keuning (lead guitar, backing vocals). After the band went through a number of short-term bas ...

and

Circa Waves Circa Waves are an English indie rock band formed in Liverpool in 2013. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Kieran Shudall, guitarist Joe Falconer, bassist Sam Rourke, and drummer Colin Jones. History Early years (2013) Shudall met ...

History

Formation

Clean Cut Kid formed in 2012 after members Mike Halls and Evelyn Halls were set up on a blind date by a friend. After some time writing together, the pair recruited bassist Saul Godman and later drummer Ross Higginson, both of whom they had known from the local music scene in Liverpool.

2015–2017

The band released their debut single "Vitamin C" through Babe Magnet/Polydor in July 2015 to praise from the likes of

DIY Magazine ''DIY'' is a United Kingdom-based music publication, in print and online. Its free print edition is released monthly with a physical circulation of 40,000 in UK venues, clubs and shops. DIY Magazine ''DIY'' was launched in 2002 by then-editor ...

("Clean Cut Kid are the thing missing in your life") and The Line of Best Fit ("impressive, infectious debut").

2017 – present

In February 2017, the band announced via their social media pages and press that their debut album ''Felt'' would be coming later that year. The album was released on 5 May 2017. In October 2017, Mike and Evelyn announced on SoundCheck Podcast that they had started work on their second album the same day they finished Felt. It was also announced that they would be parting ways with Polydor for their next release with a desire to go independent for more creative freedom. Around the same time, it was announced through the band’s Instagram page that bassist Saul Godman had left the band.

Discography

Albums

* ''Felt'' (2017) * ''Painwave'' (2019) * ''Mother's Milk'' (2021) * ''Hiss'' (2022) * ''A Crisis of Faith at the Death of a Loved One'' (2023)

Extended plays

* ''We Used to Be in Love'' (2016) * ''Multivitamin'' (2017) * ''Painkiller'' (2018)

Singles

References

{{reflist Rock music groups from Liverpool Musical groups established in 2012 2012 establishments in England English indie pop groups