Photo: Kyle Lamere

Kid Color: Yeah, I’m wrapping up a busy summer, and closing out with North Coast is pretty awesome. I just had various gigs through the city and some on the East Coast. I played Lollapalooza early in August.

CP: Do you like playing outdoor festivals?

KC: Yeah, I do! I’m not used to them, though. I’m definitely more used to things like very intimate club settings. I’ve played Wicker Park Fest twice and then I played Lollapalooza. For North Coast, this is the first time I’m even going.

CP: And you’re looking forward to it?

KC: Yeah, it should be great. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m unfortunately playing at the same time as one of my favorite bands, but, you know, that’s how it works.

CP: Are you planning on seeing other acts while you’re there?

KC: I really wanted to see YACHT, they’re playing the same day on Saturday. I’m playing during The Rapture, they’re a band I really want to see. I’ll be interested in checking out Big Boi and also Com Truise. Oh, and Maya Jane Coles on Sunday.

CP: What will your set be like?

KC: Well I’m going to be in the Silent Disco. I’ve never been in one before or DJ’d in one but I’m guessing that being in the Silent Disco might allow me to bring more of that intimate club vibe to the festival, considering that you’re still at a festival but it’s a little bit more closed off. Usually I don’t plan out my sets, so I’ll come out with a basic idea of what I want to play and I’ll just go from there.

CP: You don’t plan your sets?

KC: No, I’ll probably pick a couple of songs that I want to play because I’m really into them, but I feel that winging it… for me, it works. Because I’m paying attention to the audience and I’m there, you know? I’m not playing a pre-programmed set–which isn’t bad–but it works better for me just to wing it.

CP: You describe your style as a blend of Disco and Soul. Will we be seeing any of that?

KC: Actually, I need to rewrite my biography [laughs] because I have some Disco elements but I’ve been gearing more into the House territory. I mean, originally, I was super inspired by the idea of live dance music and live sound. It kinda came from Soul and Disco, and it evolved into more into more of a House sound. Not to mention in Chicago, you’re surrounded by it.

CP: What do you have to say about the music scene here?

KC: It’s very tight-knit. You’re always one degree away from, maybe a member of a band or a DJ or stuff. So it’s a very close community of artists. I’m not saying it’s small. It’s just close. It’s good. We’re supportive of each other. Traveling around to see the different scenes, Chicago’s definitely different than other places but it’s still good, still very strong and always moving forward.

CP: So what have you been listening to lately?

KC: I’ve been super into the Matthew Dear album that just got released. I got to performed with Twin Shadow and they’re amazing to see live. I’ve been listening to a lot of mixtapes, too.

CP: What’s been influencing your clothing style recently?

KC: I understand what’s trendy and popular, but you also have to balance it out with your own personal style. And I kind of just soak up some of the styles of my friends, truthfully. Like when I was a kid growing up, I remember always looking at the musicians and how they were dressing, and I was like, “I need to dress like that.” Like, “the Clash have really cool leather jackets. I need to get a really cool leather jacket.” So it’s kind of all around, but I would say it’s really clean cut at least.

CP: We noticed on Twitter that you had a very similar look to Zayn Malik from One Direction.

KC: [Laughs]. Oh yes.

CP: Is there anything you have to say about that?

KC: Yeah, one of my friends noticed it one day, and she just whipped up a Photoshop image of my glasses on the kid from One Direction. And i just had to, I mean, it’s kinda crazy. I don’t know if we’re exact twins, but there’s definitely someone copying someone and I’m not gonna say it’s me.

Watch Chicago Phoenix for more coverage of North Coast Music Festival.