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Kiwi Jr. have shared “Something Wicked,” a song recorded during the Detroit sessions for their album Blowin’ Up but left off the finished record. Frontman Jeremy Gaudet said the song was an early composition that no longer fit the album’s direction; the band described it as a favorite to play.
Toronto rock band Kiwi Jr. have shared “Something Wicked,” an outtake recorded during the Detroit sessions for their recent album Blowin’ Up. Frontman Jeremy Gaudet said the song was written early in the album process but was left off because its mood and ideas no longer matched the rest of the record.
Stereogum reported the release as a sparkling indie-pop jam and identified it as a track from the Blowin’ Up recording sessions. The report does not describe the song as a new single from a forthcoming album; it presents the recording as an outtake from the band’s recent record.
Gaudet said the group recorded this version in Detroit. He explained that as the band continued writing and approached the album’s completion, the song came to feel distinct from the other material. Even so, he said it remained one of the band’s favorite songs to play.
Gaudet described the lyric as drawing on Shakespearean witches brewing something intended to steer someone off course. He said the song’s idea involves trouble arriving in different forms from unexpected places. That explanation comes from the songwriter; the source does not offer a separate account of the lyric or its meaning.
A Song Outside the Album’s Direction
The release gives listeners access to a song from the Blowin’ Up sessions that did not make the album, while also showing how Kiwi Jr. made decisions about the record’s shape. Gaudet’s explanation points to a difference in feeling and ideas, rather than a reported dispute or technical problem, as the reason the track was omitted.
That distinction matters for understanding what the release is: a standalone look at material recorded for an existing album, not confirmation of a new album campaign. The band’s affection for the song also suggests that leaving it off the record did not mean it was abandoned altogether. The source, however, does not say whether its release signals further outtakes or new music.
For fans, “Something Wicked” offers a chance to hear one part of the album’s recording process that did not appear in the final sequence. Its connection to the album is clear, but its separate release leaves open how the band plans to use it beyond making it available now.
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Detroit Sessions Behind Blowin’ Up
Kiwi Jr. recorded Blowin’ Up in Detroit with Graham Walsh, a member of the band Holy Fuck, according to Stereogum. The sessions included contributions from Michigan artists Stef Chura, Fred Thomas and Protomartyr members Joe Casey and Greg Ahee. The report also lists Alvvays’ Kerri Maclellan and En Attendant Ana’s Margaux Bouchaudon among the other contributors.
Gaudet said “Something Wicked” was among the earliest songs written for the album. The band continued writing as the project developed, and its view of what belonged on the record changed. The song was recorded during those same sessions, but Gaudet said it stood apart by the time the album was finished.
Stereogum’s report also listed upcoming tour dates in the United Kingdom, continental Europe, Canada and the United States. Those dates provide touring context for the release, but the source does not say the song was released to promote a particular show or tour leg.
““Something Wicked” was one of the earliest songs written for the album.”
— Jeremy Gaudet, Kiwi Jr. frontman
Release Plans Beyond This Outtake
The source does not give a calendar date for the release, identify a label or platform, or say whether “Something Wicked” will appear on a later edition of Blowin’ Up. It also does not announce a forthcoming album, a larger collection of outtakes or additional songs from the sessions.
Gaudet’s comments explain why the track was omitted, but the source does not specify how many songs were considered for the album or describe the final track-selection process in detail. It is also unclear whether the song will become a regular part of the band’s live set; Gaudet’s description of it as a favorite to play does not confirm future performances.
Tour Dates and Further Releases
Stereogum’s report listed Kiwi Jr. tour dates following the release, including performances in the United Kingdom and Europe in November, shows in Montreal and Ottawa later in the month, and dates in Boston, Brooklyn and Washington, D.C., in January. The source does not state the year for those dates, so readers should check the band or venue listings for current details before making plans.
For the song itself, no additional release or performance plans were announced in the source. The confirmed development is the arrival of the Detroit-session outtake; any further material from the Blowin’ Up recordings remains unannounced.
Key Questions
What is “Something Wicked”?
It is a Kiwi Jr. song recorded during the Detroit sessions for Blowin’ Up and released as an outtake from those sessions.
Why was the song left off Blowin’ Up?
Frontman Jeremy Gaudet said that as the band wrote more songs and neared the album’s completion, “Something Wicked” no longer fit the record’s feeling and ideas.
Who worked on the Blowin’ Up sessions?
Kiwi Jr. recorded the album in Detroit with Graham Walsh of Holy Fuck. Stereogum also named Stef Chura, Fred Thomas, Protomartyr’s Joe Casey and Greg Ahee, Alvvays’ Kerri Maclellan and Margaux Bouchaudon of En Attendant Ana among the contributors.
What is the song’s lyric about?
Gaudet described it as a story involving Shakespearean witches brewing something to lead someone astray, with trouble arriving from unexpected directions.
Has Kiwi Jr. announced more outtakes?
No further outtakes or a new album were announced in the source. “Something Wicked” is confirmed as an outtake; additional releases remain unconfirmed.
Source: stereogum.com
