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KaitO
open-in-new
<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>The band was formed in 1996, and after five years in which they released three singles on small labels, the signed a <a href="/facts/Europe/DTAtrKfh">European</a> deal with Fierce Panda and an American deal with Devil in the Woods in 2001. They played mostly in England, but also toured the United States on many occasions. </p><p>The band's debut album was released in August 2001 on the Devil in the Woods label, entitled <i>You've Seen Us..You Must Have Seen Us...</i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> This was quickly followed up with a single, "Cat Nap", on the <a href="/facts/Fierce_Panda/Gc68vDTe">Fierce Panda</a> label, while British music critics praised KaitO's unique <a href="/facts/Punk_music/voBjpcpS">punky</a> sound. </p><p>2002 began with tours for the band, most notably with <a href="/facts/The_Datsuns/1oNjXXp5">the Datsuns</a>, <a href="/facts/Seafood_(band)/01eDsoJ8">Seafood</a> and <a href="/facts/Imperial_Teen/9fatvaoJ">Imperial Teen</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> An <a href="/facts/Extended_play/Eh0xpDPY">EP</a> was released (<i>Montigola Underground</i>) that summer despite the touring, and KaitO eventually left Devil in the Woods for <a href="/facts/SpinART/o6AMh02h">SpinART</a> in 2003.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> Their album <i>Band Red</i> was released in May 2003. The band performed at the <a href="/facts/South_by_Southwest/KXXcJwfF">South by Southwest</a> festival in the same year.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> The band's final release was a self-titled EP on <a href="/facts/Blast_First/QSBw6f1v">Blast First</a> in 2003. In 2006, Kaito broke up. </p> <h2 id="post-break-up">Post break-up</h2> <p>Colk later joined <a href="/facts/Factory_Floor/rQtGUnCb">Factory Floor</a>. </p><p>Cullingford became the co-founder of the Norwich Ukulele Society,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> and a <a href="/facts/Ukulele/BwpjfePy">ukulele</a> instructor.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> In 2015 she formed new band Sink Ya Teeth, who released albums in 2018<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> and 2020. Since 2021 she released music solo under her own name, including 2021 album, <i>Let Me Speak</i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p><p>Lake later played as guitarist in the Norwich-based band <a href="/facts/Magoo_(band)/yB22CLsQ">Magoo</a>. </p> <h2 id="musical-style">Musical style</h2> <p>The band's sound has been described as "scathing bubblegum pop",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> and "tightly coiled post-punk-pop".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> They have been compared to <a href="/facts/Elastica/vmYrHS8D">Elastica</a>, <a href="/facts/Sonic_Youth/KcpJeQ3H">Sonic Youth</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Wire_(band)/7J0SuEcE">Wire</a>, <a href="/facts/PiL/hAQKSqLb">PiL</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> and <a href="/facts/Sleater_Kinney/ssxqt6lo">Sleater Kinney</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="members">Members</h2> <ul><li>Nikki Colk (<a href="/facts/Singing/EWY1s7lw">vocals</a>, <a href="/facts/Guitar/QIJdTYa6">guitar</a>)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a></li> <li>Gemma Cullingford (<a href="/facts/Bass_guitar/lbeoAatH">bass guitar</a>)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a></li> <li>Dave Lake (<a href="/facts/Guitar/QIJdTYa6">guitar</a>)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a></li> <li>Dieta Quantrill (<a href="/facts/Drum_kit/XsmopoW9">drums</a>)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="discography">Discography</h2> <h3>Albums</h3> <ul><li><i>You've Seen Us..You Must Have Seen Us...</i> (2001), Devil in the Woods</li> <li><i>Band Red</i> (2003), <a href="/facts/SpinART/o6AMh02h">SpinART</a>/<a href="/facts/Mute_Records/0jlQseFY">Mute</a></li></ul> <h3>Singles and EPs</h3> <ul><li>"Who'ee Owee" (1997), Vibrations From The Edge of Sanity</li> <li>"60 Second Popstar" (1998), Vibrations From The Edge of Sanity</li> <li>"Go" (2000), Sickroom Gramophonic Collective</li> <li>"Cat Nap" (2001), Fierce Panda</li> <li><i>Montigola Underground</i> EP (2001), Future Farmer</li> <li><i>Kaito</i> EP (2003), <a href="/facts/Blast_First/QSBw6f1v">Blast First</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.mute.biz/kaito/">Official website</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.myspace.com/kaitothepopband">Kaito's MySpace page</a> – featuring new music</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070928071830/http://www.kexp.org/aspnet_client/KEXPViewMediaGroup.aspx?rID=263&pID=528&fID=539&artist=JR">Kaito performing live</a> – audio stream of an in-studio performance at KEXP in Seattle</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070928063742/http://www.kexp.org/aspnet_client/KEXPViewMediaGroup.aspx?rID=74&pID=528&fID=539&artist=JR">Kaito performing live again</a> – another audio stream of a more recent in-studio performance at KEXP in Seattle</li> <li><a href="https://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/kaito/bandred?q=kaito">band red reviews</a> at Metacritic.com</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Wilson, MacKenzie "KaitO Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2011-08-15 <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kaito-p483964/biography" target="_blank">http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kaito-p483964/biography</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Wilson, MacKenzie "KaitO Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2011-08-15 <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kaito-p483964/biography" target="_blank">http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kaito-p483964/biography</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Sarvady, Glen (2001) "Kaito – You've Seen Us, You Must Have Seen Us...", CMJ New Music Monthly, September 2001, p. 70, retrieved 2011-08-16 <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=sCoEAAAAMBAJ&dq=kaito+colk&pg=PA70" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=sCoEAAAAMBAJ&dq=kaito+colk&pg=PA70</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Wilson, MacKenzie "KaitO Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2011-08-15 <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kaito-p483964/biography" target="_blank">http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kaito-p483964/biography</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Pareles, Jon (2003) "MUSIC: PLAYLIST; Now in a Club Near You: Gamelans and Baby Talk", The New York Times, 1 June 2003, retrieved 2011-08-16 <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/01/arts/music-playlist-now-in-a-club-near-you-gamelans-and-baby-talk.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/01/arts/music-playlist-now-in-a-club-near-you-gamelans-and-baby-talk.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Pareles, Jon (2003) "CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK; Paying Dues Amid Some Singing of the Blues", The New York Times, 17 March 2003, retrieved 2011-08-16 <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/17/arts/critic-s-notebook-paying-dues-amid-some-singing-of-the-blues.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/17/arts/critic-s-notebook-paying-dues-amid-some-singing-of-the-blues.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Ukulele revival embraced by City of Norwich". BBC News. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2012. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-11497013" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-11497013</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"Norwich/Norfolk". Ukulele Lessons. Retrieved 24 November 2012. <a href="http://www.ukulele-lessons.co.uk/norwich-music-lessons.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.ukulele-lessons.co.uk/norwich-music-lessons.aspx</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>MacKay, Emily (23 June 2018). "One to watch: Sink Ya Teeth | Pop and rock". The Guardian. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jun/23/sink-ya-teeth-one-to-watch" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jun/23/sink-ya-teeth-one-to-watch</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Gemma Cullingford". Gemma Cullingford. Retrieved 3 January 2025. <a href="https://gemmacullingford.bandcamp.com/music" target="_blank">https://gemmacullingford.bandcamp.com/music</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Clarke, Betty (2004) "Kaito, Band Red", The Guardian, 2 April 2004, retrieved 2011-08-16 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/apr/02/popandrock.shopping6" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/apr/02/popandrock.shopping6</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Phares, Heather "band Red Review", Allmusic, retrieved 2011-08-16 <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/band-red-r629890/review" target="_blank">http://www.allmusic.com/album/band-red-r629890/review</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Garrett, Jon (2006) "Liars / KaitO ULU, London, UK: 16 March 2006", Pitchfork Media, 5 April 2006, retrieved 2011-08-16 <a href="http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/6303-liars-kaito/" target="_blank">http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/6303-liars-kaito/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Hochman, Steve (2004) "POP MUSIC REVIEW; Steamy night for a pair of Brit acts", Los Angeles Times, 1 March 2004, p. E24 <a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times" target="_blank">/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>"A Quick Spin", Washington Post, 1 June 2003, p. N5 <a href="/wiki/Washington_Post" target="_blank">/wiki/Washington_Post</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Wilson, MacKenzie "KaitO Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2011-08-15 <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kaito-p483964/biography" target="_blank">http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kaito-p483964/biography</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Clarke, Betty (2004) "Kaito, Band Red", The Guardian, 2 April 2004, retrieved 2011-08-16 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/apr/02/popandrock.shopping6" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/apr/02/popandrock.shopping6</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Garrett, Jon (2006) "Liars / KaitO ULU, London, UK: 16 March 2006", Pitchfork Media, 5 April 2006, retrieved 2011-08-16 <a href="http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/6303-liars-kaito/" target="_blank">http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/6303-liars-kaito/</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Wilson, MacKenzie "KaitO Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2011-08-15 <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kaito-p483964/biography" target="_blank">http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kaito-p483964/biography</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>