Get To Know: Young Indie Rockers Cut The Kids In Half Talk Debut Single ‘The Quiet Life Of August’

Ahh to be wide-eyed 16 and 17-year-olds again.

That’s precisely what Cut The Kids in Half are- a young indie rock band with a fire in their soul and their whole future ahead of them.

And today, the band – consisting of Jack and Charlie Silver – dropped their debut single, “The Quiet Life of August.” The Rahway, New Jersey, group spent time this summer writing and recording in LA (what a trip at that age) and are getting a jump on what looks to be an exciting music career ahead.

The young band of brethren have their release show for their debut single this Saturday December 17th at City Vineyard in New York City.

We got the chance to chat with the guys to learn more about them, the new single, and more.

How has 2022 treated you guys? Any notable highlights?

As our first year under Cut The Kids In Half, 2022 has been incredibly exciting for us. We began playing live music for the first time in our local Rahway coffee shop, and more recently we played our first official show with We Found New Music in LA.

So Cut The Kids in Half. How did you land on the band name and what others were in contention?

After a solid month of brainstorming, Charlie started searching through lyrics of our favorite bands for inspiration. ‘Cut The Kids In Half’ comes from the Radiohead song, “Morning Bell/Amnesiac.” Our original hope was to go with ‘The Silvers’ after our last name, but that was already taken.

Being in the thick of high school, do you guys mostly play house shows and things like that? Are you able to play certain clubs/venues and if so, do you have fake IDs?

Honestly, as high school students we spend a lot of time focusing on school and all that fun stuff, but we have found opportunities to play multiple shows in our hometown Rahway, including coffee shops, hotel lobbies, and bars if we’re lucky. We do not have fake IDs, but in college, who knows?

I see you were in LA this past summer writing and recording. What was that experience like for you? 

In the week we spent there, we were able to record three complete demos, including “The Quiet Life of August.” Working with American Idol winner, Lee DeWyze, in his home studio was very rewarding, and we learned a lot through the recording process.

So you’ve got your debut single, “The Quiet Life of August,” dropping today. What’s the inspiration and influence behind it?

“The Quiet Life of August” was sonically inspired by the raw sounds of Joy Division and bands alike. Lyrically, as it was written the day before our mom’s birthday in 2021, it tackles the subject of lower middle class life that we observed growing up.

Can folks expect to see this on an upcoming EP or LP or is it a standalone single for now?

We absolutely have plans for an EP or LP as soon as possible, and [this song] has always been the closing track in our minds.

What messages or feelings do you try/want to convey in your music?

Our current catalog is sonically diverse, but a common thread is the passion behind every lyric. We want our songs to be honest. We never want to make a song for the sake of simply making one.

You guys have your whole future ahead of you. Where do you realistically see yourselves in five years as Cut The Kids in Half? 

Five years down the line, we see ourselves playing larger shows, and having released at least two albums we’re proud of. By that point, we want to have made a name for ourselves in indie rock.

Do you plan on continuing your schooling and going to college etc. but keeping the band intact?

Both of us plan on attending college, but our passion for the band and the music we’re making will persist no matter where we end up. 

If you could tour and open for any present-day artist, who would it be and why?

Black Country, New Road would definitely be our first choice. Their album Ants From Up There is one of the best releases this decade, and their combination of introspective lyrics and impressive musicianship really inspires our own work.

What are some of your goals – whether musically or otherwise – for 2023?

Being the year that Jack graduates high school, it will undoubtedly be a very eventful year for us. We hope to continue releasing singles leading up to a debut album, have more live shows, and build our fanbase.