Take the colorful sing-along melodies of your kid’s favorite childhood TV program, combine them with retro Nintendo sound bites, sprinkle in some Kawaii, and you get Kero Kero Bonito. The eclectic trio from London caught my attention with their recent single, “Sick Beat.” The beat itself sounds like a glitched up mix of the Super Mario 64 soundtrack. It’s not quite dance music in the traditional sense, but producers Gus and Jamie will get you moving with their innocent, stripped-down campiness.
Vocalist Sarah Bonito adds a special dynamic to the sound as well. Her inflection is like a scoop of the highest quality vanilla ice cream–plain but delectably sweet. Her word-association captivates me like a five-year-old kid on “Kero Kero Bonito.” Can you say “BA-NA-NA?” She proves herself as a well-rounded lyricist; not only do her her lyrics shift back and forth from Japanese to English, but she also playfully delves into issues like individuality and acceptance on tracks like “Small Town”. Confronting gender stereotypes on “Sick Beat”, she sings, “It’s often said I should get some girly hobbies instead/ But that thought filled me with dread/ I’m not into sewing, baking, dress making, not eating, bitching, submitting.” KKB’s approach to music is minimal but delivers maximum fun to my ears. Their debut album Intro Bonito is available now.

 
Tommy is a junior from Highland Park, IL. He is currently studying communications, and hopes to one day turn his musically dictated life into a productive career. He believes that he can play drums and freestyle rap quite well, and can be seen performing in your friend’s basement on weekends. He sheds a tear every time he puts on his Joan Baez vinyl, and is currently searching for a friend he can discuss black metal with.