Kids of 88 were a New Zealand new wave duo based in
Auckland
Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...
, 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
Sony Music Entertainment (SME), commonly known as Sony Music, is an American multinational music company owned by Japanese conglomerate Sony Group Corporation. It is the recording division of Sony Music Group, with the other half being the ...
and released the album ''
Sugarpills
Sugarpills is the debut album from New Zealand electropop band Kids of 88 released 16 August 2010.ids of 88project has concluded.'
programming
Program (American English; also Commonwealth English in terms of computer programming and related activities) or programme (Commonwealth English in all other meanings), programmer, or programming may refer to:
Business and management
* Program m ...
It is known that the two have been best friends for ten years. They attended
St Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College () is a Catholic church, Catholic secondary school single-sex education, for boys in the Edmund Ignatius Rice, Edmund Rice tradition, and dedicated to St Peter. It is located in the Auckland CBD, central Auckland area of Graft ...
, where they formed the band Incursa, winning the 2004
Smokefreerockquest
Smokefreerockquest (SFRQ) is an annual music competition for intermediate and high school bands throughout New Zealand.
The first Rockquest was held in 1988, and was organised by Christchurch radio station C93FM as a local event. The following ...
. Sharing a passion for music, they decided to become musicians. The duo have described their music as "a cross between a late 80s police drama intro theme and a sophisticated super hussy. With sleazy basslines and mind-numbingly catchy hooks, Kids of 88 are all about poking tongues and making sweaty suggestive innuendos."
They cite their influences as "Groove, mood, and slutty arrangements. 16th hi hats and hand claps. Culture and couture, Gangster and glamour".
McCarthy is also a member of the band
Goodnight Nurse
Goodnight Nurse was a New Zealand pop punk band formed in Auckland in 2001. The group began as a trio, then changed to a four-piece prior to the release of their second album. It consisted of lead vocalist Joel Little, guitarist and back up v ...
.
2010–2011: ''Sugarpills'' and extended play
In April 2010, Kids of 88 signed a worldwide record deal with
Sony Music
Sony Music Entertainment (SME), commonly known as Sony Music, is an American multinational music company owned by Japanese conglomerate Sony Group Corporation. It is the recording division of Sony Music Group, with the other half being the ...
.
On the back of their debut album release, Kids of 88 are set to tour New Zealand with fellow kiwi indie band
The Naked and Famous
The Naked and Famous are a New Zealand indie electronic band from Auckland, formed in 2007. The band currently consists of Alisa Xayalith (vocals, keyboards) and Thom Powers (vocals, guitars).
The band has released four studio albums: ''Passiv ...
, the tour will hit the four main centres of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin beginning 30 September.
At the
2010 New Zealand Music Awards
The 2010 New Zealand Music Awards was the 45th holding of the New Zealand Music Awards, annual ceremony featuring awards for musical artists based in or originating from New Zealand. Finalists for the three technical awards were announced on 16 ...
, Kids of 88 won 'Single of the Year' and (with Tim Van Dammen) 'Music Video of the Year' for their single " Just a Little Bit".
In November 2010 they toured Australia and in December 2010 they headed to Europe to support
Ke$ha
Kesha Rose Sebert (born March 1, 1987), formerly stylized as Ke$ha, is an American singer and songwriter. Her first major success came in 2009 when she was featured on rapper Flo Rida's number-one single, "Right Round".
Kesha's music and ima ...
on her tour.
In February 2011 they released an EP which included the track "Sugarpills" and 4 other new ones.
In July 2011 they released an extended
Sugarpills
Sugarpills is the debut album from New Zealand electropop band Kids of 88 released 16 August 2010.MTV
MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...
's ''
Teen Wolf
''Teen Wolf'' is a 1985 American coming-of-age comedy film directed by Rod Daniel and written by Jeph Loeb and Matthew Weisman. Michael J. Fox stars as the title character, a high school student whose ordinary life is changed when he discover ...
'' entitled "Formality", they were featured as the live band performing at the Beacon Hills formal. During their on screen set, they played "Just a Little Bit", "Ribbons of Light" and "Universe".
2012: Modern Love
The second studio album, ''Modern Love'' was released worldwide on 5 October 2012. The first single "Tucan" was released on 11 May 2012. "Bad Talk" had been confirmed as the second single, with funding for its music video provided by
NZ On Air
NZ On Air (NZOA; ), formally the Broadcasting Commission, is an Crown entity, autonomous Crown entity and commission of the New Zealand Government responsible for providing funding for broadcasting and creative works. The commission operates l ...
, but has since been changed to "LaLa". Both tracks "Tucan" and "LaLa" had videos released well before the release of the full second album, which were both shot and directed by Levi Beamish. Tracks from the four-week
JB Hi-Fi
JB Hi-Fi Limited is an Australian consumer electronics retail company. It is publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Its headquarters are located in Southbank, Melbourne, Victoria.
As of June 2024, the company operates 330 sto ...
NZ ''Modern Love'' pre-order deal include "Bones", "Mercury", "LoveFlow" and "FrenchGreen", adopting the new no-space ''KidsOf88'' look.
Since the release of the album, the duo went on to release a third single from ''Modern Love'', "TheDrug", the music video to which was directed and shot by Sam Kristofski, starring several of the band's friends and neighbours.
On 23 July 2013, the band released a music video for their song "Bad Talk".
Discography
Albums
Studio albums
Extended plays
Singles
As a main artist
As featured artist
Promotional Singles
Music videos
* "Special Problems" is the combined work of Campbell Hooper and Joel Kefali.