KILL, THE ICON! have ‘released ‘Heavy Heart’, the racist-slating second single from their upcoming debut EP ‘Your Anger Is Rational’, due for release on June 2 via Blaggers Records.
The band is the synth-punk passion project from doctor Nishant Joshi. Joshi, who made national headlines during the Covid pandemic when, working in Luton, he was the first frontline NHS doctor to go public with concerns that staff were not being protected.
In true punk rock style, Joshi and his wife then launched a legal challenge against the government. They won the case, making a huge change and were recognised by The FA and England’s football team. Fuelled with frustration, in the summer of 2020 KILL, THE ICON! was born as an extension of Joshi’s activism.
‘Heavy Heart’ is a kitschy punk anthem, with Neo-noir artwork inspired by the opening scene from film American History X, that plays on the more serious themes of racism, whilst remaining surprisingly catchy.
Injected with disco drums and glam-rock synths, KILL, THE ICON! Has crafted an anthem that is equal parts playful and cathartic.
Speaking about his inspiration behind the track, Joshi said: “I was faced with racial slurs when I was younger, but nobody has uttered a racial epithet to my face for many years.
“But, I know the racists who existed in the 90s are still alive and well. They didn’t die out all of a sudden, and neither did their ideas. So, the point of this song is that everyone acknowledges that racists exist.
“But nobody will ever admit to being racist – so where did they all go? My answer is that they all wear disguises: as politicians, right-wing journalists, and talking heads for shady think tanks.
“The brazen racism has retreated into the shadows, and subtle racism has taken over.
“‘Heavy Heart’ is a sardonic call-to-arms for racists: say it loud, say it proud. Come out of the shadows, and into the light once again where we can all see you.
“Subtle racism is a true scourge of our times because it’s impossible to point your finger at any given incident.
“It then makes you doubt your entire worldview, because you’ve not closed that feedback loop. So there’s a generation of people of colour living in marginalised communities in the UK who haven’t been called a racial epithet, yet still they can detect rooms where something just feels off. ‘Heavy Heart’ explores why that may be.”
In February, KILL, THE ICON! signed to Blaggers Records, the label run by Lutonian Alex Forde and home to two of the indie sleaze trio JW Paris, plus Dunstable’s Ali MacQueen, who cut his teeth as a musician in the town, and will return to play The Castle on May 20.
He will feature on a line-up put together by Vandalism Begin at Home featuring Feral Dogs and The Nimblewits in aid of NOAH, with all profits going to the Luton-based charity that for 30 years has been offering hope and support to people struggling against homelessness and exclusion.
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