Fashion week is fast and furious but Citizens! just wanna have fun. Forget the front-row; turn on, tune in, chill out.
You don’t need a ticket to get in on i-D online’s über exclusive session with London Kitsune signed fivesome Citizens!. Performing a stripped-back acoustic rendition of their current release Reptiles, bandmates Martyn, Thom, Mike, Lawrence and Tom took cover from the cruel climate outdoors to provide i-D online with an intimate, impromptu performance. Set to a steady galloping beat, vocals lie delicately harmonised, built dramatically over guitar-driven instrumentals. The slightly solemn arrangement is a departure from the bands outstanding and up beat debut track True Romance. Currently touring around the UK, bringing their pop bop, hand clap anthems to the masses Citizens! are resurrecting Brit pop. Listing Talking Heads, Tina Turner and Bill Withers as their heroes and inspiration these boys are all about feel good, strut-down-the-street-with-a-swagger songs. Scouted by independent, anonymous US film collective High5 as one of few acts the crew wanted to create an official music video for, Citizens! are proving to be a hit on all sides of the ocean. Chatting about the lyrical focus of Reptiles, lead singer Tom explained, “It’s two songs in one: a party song about self-loathing and moral decline AND a fantasy song about turning into a lizard.” Make much sense? Nothing this much fun ever does. Enjoy.
Catch Citizens! at the Lexington this Thursday.
Text: Milly McMahon
Film: Asylum Films
Head here to see more from our i-N Session series.
