Confucius say, this band really has soul

Jane Emerick
According to Kid Confucius, the word ‘soul’ gets thrown around a lot.
But Andrew Guirguis, the MC and guitarist for the eight-member soul band, says it is only natural for Australians to mix-up the genre with their own unique twist.
He says Kid Confucius isn’t the first to do put its own spin on soul and won’t be the last, either.
“Soul is like an umbrella that is used to describe so many genres,” Guirguis says.
“Our version of soul is a mixture of so many things but it’s like that in Australia.
“Film-makers and artists all use mixtures of rock, funk and hip-hop and call it soul.
“The way we approach songs, with the singer and horn section, no matter what we’re doing it the sound always comes out in a soulful way.”
However, Guirguis says defining the genre of the band seems more important to audiences and fans than it is to the group itself.
“It’s the first thing people ask and the least thing that matters,” he says.
“Our live show is the priority to us and it’s what we think that is the most important.
“When you play live, what genre you are doesn’t matter, especially in Oz. Here, if you play a good live show you can win some loyal fans.”
Guirguis says three or four years of Kid Confucius gigs have helped the band gauge the popularity of its songs based on audience response.
“The live show is where we cut our teeth as a band,” he says.
“It’s the front line and where bands are made or broken and it’s what’s important to us.”
The band’s sophomore album, Stripes, has won rave reviews but songwriter Guirguis expects Kid Confucius’s next effort to feature more of the group’s signature live element.
“We want the whole process of our next CD to be fast and furious,” he says.
“With Stripes we took a lot more time, kind of orchestral experience. It was a very indulgent record and with the next one we want to get in, record it and be done.
“There’s such an unreal energy recording live and I think that type of music is coming back. It’s a bit more momentary and bit more accidental.”
Whatever the band is doing seems to be working.
Last month Guirguis was crowned greatest R& B group at an Australia and New Zealand Urban music awards after winning best urban act at an Australian Dance Music Awards last year.
Kid Confucius will play at the Barwon Club tonight.