Leeds-based artist Taro Kinard arrives with a striking statement of raw individuality and self-discovery on their new EP, RAGGED, released November 7, 2025. As the title suggests, this collection of six tracks is a tapestry of imperfection—threads of pain, humor, nostalgia, and self-awareness woven together into something profoundly human. Entirely self-written, mixed, and mastered, the record doubles as both an emotional confession and a technical proving ground, capturing the vulnerable chaos of growing up in a fractured home. Like the artists who inspired it—Will Wood, Lemon Demon, Tally Hall, The Kinks, and Madilyn Mei—Kinard finds power in eccentricity, turning deeply personal turmoil into something vibrant, inventive, and defiantly alive.
The opening track, “The Terror of Falling in Love,” sets the tone with its uneasy marriage of whimsy and dread. The title alone hints at the EP’s balancing act between romantic naivety and existential fear. Over quirky instrumentation that feels playful and melancholy, Kinard’s voice moves between sweetness and strain—never polished, always sincere. The lyrics paint a picture of emotional vulnerability, where love becomes less a fantasy and more a free fall. It’s the sound of someone trying to trust the ground beneath them when life has taught them to expect collapse. By the time the song closes, the listener is already immersed in Kinard’s offbeat emotional universe—a place where anxiety and affection coexist like siblings who can’t stop teasing each other.
“My Friend in Death” takes the introspection deeper. This track feels like a letter to one’s own mortality, dressed up in ironic detachment and dark humor. The instrumentation leans toward the theatrical, with a cabaret-like sense of drama that recalls Will Wood’s best work. But beneath the eccentricity lies something honest and raw: a quiet acceptance of despair. The production mirrors this duality—clattering percussion and fractured harmonies sit atop a melancholic piano line, creating a sound that feels both intimate and surreal. It’s less about wallowing in sadness and more about acknowledging it as a companion, a constant presence that shapes how we love, create, and survive.
Then comes “Help! Broken Radio,” a brilliantly chaotic centerpiece. This is Kinard at their most experimental—tape distortion, fragmented vocals, and an unpredictable rhythm that mimics the static of a damaged broadcast. It’s a metaphor for mental clutter and miscommunication, for the way trauma garbles the signal between who we are and how we’re perceived. Yet, amid the noise, there’s melody and motion, as if hope were trying to push through the interference. It’s the sound of resilience—the messy, imperfect kind that doesn’t always look like healing but still moves forward.
“It’s Me Again” and “Little Mr. Pollywog” showcase Kinard’s versatility as a songwriter. The former feels like an emotional reprise—gentler and more introspective, with the warmth of acceptance after turmoil. The latter, meanwhile, is pure eccentric storytelling, blending surreal imagery and nostalgic tones reminiscent of The Kinks’ quirky character sketches. There’s something delightfully unfiltered about it, as if Kinard is rediscovering the world through the eyes of their younger self, equal parts wonder and confusion. These songs underline one of the EP’s most powerful qualities: its refusal to choose between sincerity and strangeness. For Kinard, those things are inseparable.
The closing track, “Ran Myself Ragged,” ties the entire collection together with aching beauty. It’s a confession, a sigh, and a release all at once. You can hear exhaustion in Kinard’s voice—the weight of carrying too much for too long—but there’s also triumph. This is the moment when self-reflection turns into resolve. The line between sadness and strength blurs, and what remains is endurance. Like its title, RAGGED embraces imperfection as proof of effort. The frayed edges are what make it real.
What makes RAGGED so compelling is its emotional honesty and DIY authenticity. Recorded primarily in Kinard’s home studio with additional sessions at Old Chapel Studios—famous for hosting acts like the Kaiser Chiefs—the EP carries the warmth and intimacy of a personal diary set to music. Every imperfection feels intentional, every rough patch part of the storytelling. The sound may be unpolished, but that’s exactly what makes it resonate: it’s music made not to impress, but to connect.
Ultimately, RAGGED is a triumph of spirit over circumstance. It’s an unfiltered glimpse into the life of a young artist learning to turn their pain into art and their chaos into catharsis. In a world obsessed with perfection, Taro Kinard offers something far more valuable—truth. Vulnerable, odd, and quietly powerful, this celebrates the beauty of surviving it.
