photo by Eric Gonzalez
The three singer/songwriters that make up The Stepkids hail from Stones Throw Records, the label infamous for signing J Dilla, Madlib, Mayer Hawthorne, and James Pants. At first glance, they’re a band that doesn’t give the impression of blending in, until you realize that’s because they do the opposite: they stand out. Their unique blend of punk, jazz, folk, soul, and funk can be blindingly diverse at first, until you realize how much of a cohesive whole they can truly form. Between three-part harmonies, pounding keyboards, and rich delivery, The Stepkids are at the forefront of a 21st-century psychedelic movement that’s coming into its own. KEXP was proud to host these up-and-comers live in-studio for a thrilling live session.
