The Curse of KK Hammond is a Top 10 Billboard charting artist from England, who has been on a non-stop roll since the release of her album, “Death Roll Blues” in spring of 2023. With the subsequent release of her Nirvana cover, “Heart Shaped Box,” KK continued her ascent to being known as one of today’s most interesting new artists on the blues music scene. The haunting beauty took a few moments out to answer some questions in this exclusive interview…
How did you first become interested in playing the guitar and what initially drew you to the blues genre?
My Dad would play Flamenco for me on his Spanish guitar when I was a kid which gave me a fascination for the instrument in general. There were always classic genres playing in my household growing up but it was a friend of mine who really got me into the blues in my teen years. I started playing resonators a little later on but as soon as I tried one I was absolutely hooked on slide guitar!
Your music incorporates elements of Southern gothic and horror. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind these themes and how they influence your songwriting?
The imagery of the South, its architecture, natural beauty and wildlife was always something that I found myself drawn to and very inspirational when it came to my song writing. Though my songs and music videos incorporate heavy dark and horror-inspired themes, I like to balance it with as much ethereal beauty as possible. The natural world very much represents a balance between beauty and the harsh reality of nature and that element definitely seeded a lot of my artistic inspiration.
Your album Death Roll Blues reached #1 on the UK and US iTunes Blues charts. How did it feel to receive such a positive response to your music?
I was elated and so very grateful to the fans that made it possible, along with feeling a heavy dose of imposter syndrome! I put a few years of very hard work along with blood, sweat and tears into the album and it’s always very nerve-wracking revealing your “baby” to the world, it’s hard not to doubt yourself as an artist sometimes so the response was staggering to me!
Your music has been described as a blend of traditional roots music with a modern twist. How do you approach blending these different styles together in your songs?
I listen to a great deal of roots blues which heavily influences my playing style (and forms the basic structure of my songs) but I also branch out into genres when listening to music including alternative bluegrass, grunge and metal. When it comes to song writing I go with my own flow and don’t worry too much as to whether it fits “exactly” into the box when it comes to traditionalism, whilst still maintaining my respect for the roots of the genre. My range of influences combined with the fact I allow myself artistic freedom has allowed me to evolve my own sound naturally. I’m a mega fan of the music of Skip James, who himself had a very unique style and sound for the time. A great deal of inspiration from Skip is tucked into my music but I also take influence from his willingness to do things in his own unique fashion!
Your music video for “Heart Shaped Box” has won several awards at film festivals. Can you walk us through the creative process behind this video and how you brought the concept to life?
Sometimes it’s very hard for me to know where my inspiration comes from. I had been thinking about what direction to take the music video in for weeks and the ideas were not exactly flowing, I had a long period of artistic block. Kaspar ‘Berry’ Rapkin and Ian Davidson were over at my place and we were recording Ian’s cello parts for the track. We started walking downstairs from my studio for a break when suddenly inspiration for the story hit me out the blue and I plonked myself down in the middle of the straircase and wrote the whole basis of the idea in a few minutes!
I watch a lot of horror movies and definitely took inspiration from Midsommar and The Village for the music video. Both movies are fantastic examples of horror themes being delivered wrapped up in the exceptional beauty of nature. I definitely borrowed ideas from the locations, costumes, themes, style and striking colors of both movies and then added my own flair. I also consider folklore when it comes to dreaming up the more unusual characters and love the concept of forest spirits and wendigos which often feature in my work. The various hand scenes represent a running theme in my aesthetic, as is seen in my earliest logo of the gator with the disembodied hand in its mouth. I always like to be nerdy and tuck weird little Easter eggs into all my work in order to link everything up, as if all my work and music videos were happening in the same universe, Marvel movie style.
I am extremely fortunate in that many of my friends are involved the film industry so the whole cast, crew and editing team consisted of friends and friends of friends making it a very enjoyable and intimate affair! I can’t even begin thanking my friends for their professionalism, patience and expertise on set. We are all so proud that we were able to pull something so special off, and so happy we were able to do it together!
You have a passion for taxidermy and creating art from bones and antlers. How does this interest tie in with your music and overall aesthetic?
Bones or antlers actually feature in almost all of my music videos and are definitely a nod to my interest in osteology and the natural world. There is also my song The Bone Collector on my album Death Roll Blues. It’s not unusual for me to incorporate the sounds of bones or rattlesnake tails and the like in my music! Bone collecting and art represents my love of combining themes that are a little macabre but also are very beautiful natural wonders.
Your single “Graveyard Blues” also reached #1 on the UK iTunes Blues chart. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this song and its success?
There are a lot of personal themes in this song and I think, like many artists, I use music to process my feelings about past life experiences that may have at one time weighed heavily on my mind. The song is basically a lament against overbearing personalities who seek to control you, seeing you as a commodity under their ownership rather than a unique person with free will.
You often collaborate with other musicians, including your friend Kaspar “Berry” Rapkin on banjo. How do these collaborations enhance your music and creative process?
It’s an absolute joy collaborating with friends. First of all you can both bring the best of yourselves to the piece and also help the other with ideas when inspiration becomes a bit slow to flow. I always feel deeply honored when I get to combine this process with another artist I admire in order to produce something unique in comparison to both of our solo work.
You live in an isolated spot in the woods. How does your environment and connection to nature influence your songwriting and music?
Massively! It keeps me somewhat sane for a start, I love to live in a spot which is quiet and surrounded by miles of backwoods! Its profoundly soothing and inspirational to go out in nature, which itself is full of beautiful songs and sounds, and take in your surroundings. A lot of my songs and videos feature the natural world because its where my inspiration often comes from in the first instance.
What can fans expect from you in the future? Any upcoming projects or tours that you’re excited about?
I am back in the studio working on my material for 2024 and having some exciting projects on the burn including some new songs and two new music videos, one with a very special Western theme I can’t wait to reveal!
I am also gearing up to offer the second run of my album Death Roll Blues on vinyl and CD this year due to popular demand!
Thank you kindly for this interview.
