Guitarist with an Asterisk: A Conversation w/ Killick Hinds
In episode #59 of the Bridge Podcast I'm joined by the Athens based guitarist and improvisor to talk bespoke instruments, Vipassanā, Slayer, and more.
My first exposure to Killick’s playing was a psychedelic death metal collaboration for one of Henry Kaiser’s monthly videos on the Cuneiform Records YouTube channel. I was fascinated by his unique fretless ergonomic guitar (“Walrus”) which I soon realized was just one of his many unique instruments that fall somewhere in the larger guitar clade.
Further investigation led me to his H’arpeggione performance of Reign in Blood, “Appalachian Trance Metal”, a slew of interesting luthiers like Rick Toone, and some personal tidbits about his experiences with Vipassanā retreats and near-death experience.
Timestamps
0:00 - Introducing Killick
0:25 - Coffee habits?
2:35 - Fermented veggies
4:25 - Guitarist, with an asterisk
8:00 - Nothing to fret about
15:00 - Killick's version of Slayer’s Reign in Blood played on the H'arpeggione
23:00 - Violent/evil aesthetics from the perspective of a peaceful pacifist
32:00 - Life affirming calamity and creativity
38:00 - Returning to music and creative work after a Vipassanā retreat
49:00 - Practicing while your partner sleeps
56:00 - The guitar's intonation problems and microtonality
1:00:00 - Bakithi Kumalo's unique intonation
1:05:00 - Killick's microtonal toolkit
1:17:00 - The pandemic's impact on Killick's collaboration style
1:24:00 - Re-adjust to just read... and more Killick curations
1:30:00 - Exo-musicology? Plus some updates about Killick's upcoming projects
Watch the full episode here:
(…or if you prefer audio-only podcasts here’s the RSS)
Check out some more of Killick’s projects:
Exsanguinette (2008) - with Brann Dailor from Mastodon on drums; Liz Allbee on trumpet; and Larry Ochs from ROVA Saxophone Quartet plus remixes of each track
Crazy Hoarse - Your Cheatin' Heart Sutra (2013) - with John Norris on drums plus guests
“...this has a lot of different compositional approaches and came after a serious car accident (not everything I do is because of calamity, but this and Exsanguinette were! A creative portal definitely opened up here.)...”
Vectrexcentricity (2016) - with Michael Manring on bass; Jamie DeRevere on drums;
“...after an 11-day Vipassana meditation I had a vision of my music interacting with Michael Manring's...I reached him through my friend Henry Kaiser...a really beautiful time…”
Appalachian Trance Metal (2016) - with Jeff Reilly on drums
“…recorded in 2004 but wasn't released until 2016...these began as study pieces for H'arpeggione that now inform my improvisational vocabulary…”
Lave Worriers (2017) - with Monique Osorio on vocals
“…one of my very favorite sessions with an amazing singer friend; inspired somewhat by Tuck & Patti…”
Slabs & Blooms (2018) - with the Villarreal sisters
“…this was lots of fun...working with the now fairly well known hard rock group from Mexico called The Warning...the idea was just to go with an improvisational flow, completely unlike their typical popular music...”
Imbricate (2021) - solo
“…a good overview of where I've been musically through the pandemic era...”
“We feel 38!!!”
“I'm really excited about these as-yet-unreleased projects: duo with Italian drummer Francesca Remigi; quartet with pedal steel guitarist Susan Alcorn/accordionist Simone Baron/trumpeter Lynn Grissett (from Prince's band!); duo with Finnish guitarist Heikki Ruokangas; duo with vocalist Martin Howth; duo with Argentinian saxophonist Camila Nebbia; duo with prepared Sardinian guitarist Paolo Angeli.”