In a world of genre boxes and algorithm-approved polish, Tony & the Kiki crash through like a rhinestone thunderbolt. Their debut EP ‘FUCQ (Vol. 1)’ is a defiant, disco-soaked manifesto. With their signature blend of glam-rock, queer sensuality, and untouchable NYC swagger, the band are reimagining what guitar music can be.
Fresh off a viral surge that’s seen their following skyrocket past 288k and support rolling in from the likes of Lady Gaga, Cyndi Lauper, and Tiffany, the group arrives with serious momentum and zero compromise. Across five explosive tracks, ‘FUCQ (Vol. 1)’ pays homage to their rock ‘n’ roll ancestors while unapologetically queering the canon.
Whether you’re losing yourself in the cosmic funk of ‘HOLY XTC’ or rallying behind anthems like ‘get OUT or get ON’, this is music built to move both body and spirit. We caught up with the band to talk sound, survival, and why ‘FUCQ (Vol. 1)’ is only just the beginning.
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Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
Anthony: I always say my mother is a disco queen and my father is a DJ, and I was born on the dance floor under a glittering mirror ball- I was born singing. When sports didn’t work out for me my mother encouraged me to find creative outlets- that’s when I discovered that I really loved to sing.
Rodney: I started playing piano very young, my grandmother had a piano in her house, and I would climb up and play the songs or melodies I heard on tv and radio. And when I heard Bennie and the Jets, that really made me want to learn everything. I never looked back.
Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?
A: For me it’s the great divas like Tina Turner & Cher as well as the gods of rock like Freddie Mercury & Robert Plant. They all share a sense of theatricality, power and sexual energy that has made me the artist I am today.
R: Elton was the beginning for me, and from there the deepest influences are Prince, Bowie, Joni, and Stevie Wonder. As a player and synth explorer: Wakeman, Dr. John, Monk, Rudess, and father Eno.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to pursue music seriously?
A: I think when I first belted out a song and saw the looks on my classmates faces I knew I had something different and that this could be my life’s purpose.
RB: I went to university for two years studying Pre Law and Literature, and I remembering coming home during a break and being unhappy, and my parents were like… “are you sure you don’t want to go to music school?” Which is so outside the stereotype of parents not wanting their kids to pursue the arts! I’m so thankful they asked me that, I applied that month for Berklee and that was that.
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
R: Tony and I usually come together with a concept or idea, or some melodic content, and we’ll start to piece together a sketch of a song from there. We often think about what our live show needs, what type of song could be useful to keep the show diverse and interesting, that answers a lot of questions for us.
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
A: Eavesdropping and people watching
RB: We don’t shy away from our artistic influences. We find a lot of inspiration in the sounds from the 70s and 80s and often will think about what a certain sound would be like through our lens and filter, and we go from there. Lyrically, I think so much comes from lived experience, that’s usually where I pull from.
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
We would never want to prescribe an experience. That said, our music carries Themes of self-actualization, motivation, inspiration and invigoration. And freedom of expression, which has somehow become a politically charged concept? Just have fun, be yourself, and throw a little ass.
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
A: Too many to list here hahaha but I’d say not being taken seriously because we don’t fit into one box.
R: It is a difficult thing trying to forge a career and future in an industry when you don’t have connections within it. Not to say that having a leg up is a bad thing, I often envy it. But we have had to lay each brick from the ground up, and in a way, it has made every little success, every fan at our concerts screaming our lyrics at us, that much sweeter.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
A: We played a show thousands of miles away from our home and people were singing our lyrics back at us… and after the show there were so many people who told us how the travelled far and wide to catch our show and that our music really helps them deal with the state of the world. Really any message or comment that’s like “I needed this” is so rewarding.
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
A: I’ve always sort of been extremely self-possessed and sure of who I am as a person. I know make sure to apply that same energy to my artistry despite what might be asked of me.
R: Unabashedly loving the things we love. We’re music history nerds and I’m a fantasy nut and so we infuse that in our sound and our whimsy, and I thought that might make us “niche” ultimately it makes us unique, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or tours?
Yes! Touring! Can’t say much on that just yet but def touring the greater US and hopefully some Europe dates soon!
Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next five years?
Touring the world, singing to thousands, making incredible records and looking fabulous doing it.
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Listen to Tony & The Kiki’s debut EP ‘FUCQ (Vol. 1)’ below.
