Six Of The Best: Goodnight Kid

Newcastle alt‑emo quartet Goodnight Kid release their debut EP, Happy Like This, via Wipe Out Music. Emerging earlier this year with singles House (With A Balcony) and Rabbit—together nearing 40k streams—the band now expands their sound with live favourite Hold My Breath, infectious Elaine and stripped‑back ballad Lum. Formed during lockdown over Zoom, Goodnight Kid channel early 2000s alternative with pop‑punk energy and mid‑western emo twists. Four years on, Happy Like This marks their move from bedroom demos to a fully realised debut, celebrated with a hometown headline at Little Buildings on 28th November.

The EP kicks off with Rabbit, a melodic sway that bursts into an infectious chorus and blistering guitars. House (With A Balcony) delivers soaring vocals over drivetime rock intensity, while Better To Me ups the punch with dramatic lifts. Hold My Breath and Elaine add crunch and shifting dynamics, before Lum closes with tender notes and impassioned delivery. Across, tight production and assured musicianship shape a gritty, full‑bodied soundscape that lets the vocals shine.

Guitarist Jackson talks about his influences across the board, with a six of the best…

This project has been something that, while *officially*, has been in the works since 2020, this style of music has been with me since I (Jackson) can remember. As a result of this, when thinking of my influences, they can date all the way back to childhood, to only just a few years ago. Some things may have happened without me realising but there are some things that I’ve made a conscious decision to take influence from,

TV – Kerrang! TV
Is this a copout choice by choosing a music channel for TV first up? I think I would be omitting the biggest influence on this band without mentioning Kerrang!. There’s been so many times that we’ve referenced “This sounds like it could be on Kerrang!”. That’s the measuring stick for us a lot of the time. It’s so inherently nostalgic to talk about watching that channel, I think it was my first time experiencing music as a cultural thing. I can still remember that a fact would pop up on My Chemical Romance’s music video Famous Last Words telling us that the now late drummer burnt his leg during filming.

Film – The Digimon Movie (2000)
If you know, you know. The English dub of this film has such a great soundtrack filled with Ska-Punk (Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Less Than Jake) as well as some other quirky songs (One Week – Barenaked Ladies, All Star – Smash Mouth… BEFORE SHREK!). I think growing up I must’ve watched this film 3+ times a week. I can recite the script probably 80% of the way through, and have done with Rhys (Drums for Goodnight Kid). Again, nostalgia is the main reason for this pick and will more than likely be a common theme throughout. This in particular isn’t the songs or the dialogue but the comfort it provides me, which I hope translates into our music.

Music – ‘Afterlife’ by Holding Absence (2021)
Something from this decade, not just a nostalgia merchant. I came across this song from John (Guitarist in Goodnight Kid) who put it in a joint “inspiration playlist”. Like most joint playlists, it became over-saturated very quickly from songs that we’d like to draw inspiration from into songs we just enjoy. On one occasion when I was in the mood to not actually skip tracks I didn’t personally add, this song started and the feeling hit me like a tonne of bricks. It immediately grabs your attention and demands to be heard. As soon as that first snare hits it’s like an explosion of energy. I sent a message into the group chat saying “this is what we should be aiming for”. The drum sound, guitar tone and even vocal processing are all impeccable and I think it’s the perfect example of a modern alternative rock song.

Art – Our very own ‘Happy Likes This’ EP Cover
Taken by my friend Sabrina of her dog Hunter, who has since passed. The moment she sent it to me I knew “that’s an album cover”. I didn’t know it was going to be *our* EP cover at the time because we (as a band) didn’t exist. I couldn’t tell you the technical details of why I found the picture so inspiring such as the composition or anything like that, it was just a feeling. It’s like pure unbridled joy and warmth and I really hope we as a band can make people feel the same way. I actually didn’t ask permission from Sabrina before I pitched the idea to the band. (Less of a pitch and more of a demand). I then had to sheepishly ask her forgiveness instead of permission but all is well. I really love the fact we’ve now immortalised Hunter.

Podcast – Song Exploder
Not a particular episode, but the podcast in general is an absolute goldmine for producers and songwriters. I love hearing the story of how a song can come together and it is inspiring to learn how other people can go about the songwriting process. I think knowing how other people struggle to find the perfect part of a song makes me feel better when I’m struggling myself. It also helps me make an emotional connection to a song I previously wouldn’t have had. The time and dedication for each episode makes for a very well put-together show.

Community/Music – Fueled By Ramen (Record Label)
So not a community I’m specifically a part of, but certainly one that I draw inspiration from. Maybe the most influential Pop Punk/Emo bands (Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Panic! at The Disco) featured heavily in the mid 00’s, and some not as famous (Cobra Starship, The Academy Is…). Watching this record label be so cliquish from outside when growing up made me yearn for that sort of community. I used to love watching the music videos for Cobra Starship and seeing a Pete Wentz cameo, and then hearing Patrick Stump performing vocal ad-libs on a Gym Class Heroes track. A record label that somehow managed to establish a chokehold on a sound that is incredibly significant and noteworthy to the genre.