Indie couple BeachKitty—singer‑songwriters Milly May and Keano Smith—are gearing up for a hometown showcase at the 934 Fest in Milo‑Grogan this weekend. The pair will perform tracks from their forthcoming album Cool Breeze, which drops digitally on September 15.
From dream‑pop to grunge, a sound that mirrors their lives
May and Smith first explored dream‑pop and psychedelic influences, citing Beach House, Tame Impala and Mac DeMarco. Over time they gravitated toward grunge and shoegaze, finding that the heavier tones matched the emotional landscape they wanted to convey. Their new record blends swirling guitar textures reminiscent of Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream era with the hazy reverberation of My Bloody Valentine.
“Obviously, we make songs for the sad folks,” May explains of the slow‑burn ballad “Believe You Then.” “It feels like I finally found my voice, letting everything I was feeling out.” Smith adds that many lyrics stem from real arguments the couple has shouted at each other during tense moments.
Family roots and personal journeys fuel the music
May grew up listening to her father, musician Todd May (Lilybandits, Lydia Loveless), who wrote about his own family relationships. “I think that’s where some of it comes from for me,” she says. Smith’s path began with a fascination for hip‑hop rhyme schemes and a brief infatuation with “music star culture,” which he later set aside in favor of authentic songwriting.
Both artists note that creating together helps them express feelings they struggle to voice otherwise. Smith admits he sometimes needs a break after finishing a song, only to wake up with fresh ideas the next day—”creatives gotta create,” May laughs.
934 Fest details
The two‑day festival kicks off at 934 Gallery on Friday, September 11, and continues Saturday, September 12, when BeachKitty will take the stage. Other acts include Times New Viking, DANA and Jay Swifa. The event promises a mix of indie, lo‑fi and experimental sounds for local music fans.
BeachKitty’s first live show was at Café Bourbon Street last spring, opening for Micah Schnabel and Vanessa Jean Speckman. “We were nervous and didn’t think it went well, but the reception was warm,” Smith recalls. Since then, opportunities have kept coming, and the band says their momentum is “snowballing.”
Original reporting: Matter News (Columbus) — read the source article.
