Introducing: Kids Return

From packed stadiums in the U.S. to Japan’s biggest festival stage, Kids Return have been making waves worldwide. With a cinematic sound that’s caught the attention of tastemakers and luxury fashion houses alike, the French duo have proven they’re more than just rising stars—they’re shaping the future of music. Fresh off a whirlwind tour and industry accolades, we sit down with them to talk about their journey, their inspirations, and what’s next.

1.⁠ ⁠Your music blends the nostalgic sounds of ‘90s Britpop with French Touch. What drew you to this combination, and how do you think it defines the Kids Return sound?

Britpop is the musical style we’ve listened to the most, but in general, it’s English rock—from the Beatles to Blur, as well as Arctic Monkeys, The Clash, and so on. When we met at school at 14, we swapped iPods with our favorite tracks and musical references, and that’s when we really developed a love for rock. As we grew older, we started discovering French bands like Air and Phoenix, for example, who in the early 2000s brought something fresh and unique to France. They became role models for French artists like us who sing in English. There's something elegant and precise about their sound.

2.⁠ ⁠You’ve had an incredible journey so far, from playing at Red Rocks to performing at Japan’s Summer Sonic festival. What’s been the most surreal moment of your career to date?

Playing in Japan was a dream for us. From the very beginning, we told ourselves it was a goal. We're named after the Japanese film Kids Return by Takeshi Kitano, and Japanese pop music and Joe Hisaishi’s soundtracks were major influences on our first album, Forever Melodies. So, ending the tour with a show at Summer Sonic in Tokyo felt like the ultimate reward! The festival boss booked us directly after discovering the video we made with Saint Laurent on the rooftops of Paris on YouTube. The concert was incredible—there were 10,000 people, and the crowd loved it. We can’t wait to go back.

3.⁠ ⁠You’ve been championed by major tastemakers like Clash Magazine, GQ France, and KCRW. How does it feel to receive this level of recognition, and has it influenced the way you approach your music?

It’s incredibly gratifying, and every interview has been great. However, it doesn’t influence the way we make music. Whether it’s big media or smaller outlets, we approach them all the same way. We don’t make distinctions based on size.

4.⁠ ⁠Fashion has played a role in your journey, with collaborations with Saint Laurent. How do you see the connection between music and fashion, and how does it influence your artistic identity?

There’s something about Saint Laurent that blends elegance and rock, which we really like. In general, image plays an important role. Fashion, like music, is a reflection of our times, so there are interesting connections between the two. Our style evolved between our first and second albums—not necessarily by design, but simply as a natural progression.

5.⁠ ⁠Your new single Teenage Dreams just dropped—what inspired the track, and how does it fit into the next chapter of Kids Return?

In the beginning, we had this keyboard loop that we used for 1 year as a concert intro on tour. It had a supertramp or 70s rock mood, but when it came to recording it, we wanted to go further and do something. It all started with a keyboard loop we used as a concert intro during our tour for about a year. It had this Supertramp/‘70s rock vibe. But when we got to recording it, we wanted to push it further and make something more hybrid and unique. We built the beat with an MPC and decided to make the track in two parts. The lyrics are about a friendly breakup.