Salina, Kansas based band Clever Violet is stepping into a new era with the release of their single “The Likes of You”. A track that reveals a softer, more vulnerable layer of their ever-evolving sound. The band is made up of Ikky on vocals, Robert on guitar and primary riff architect, JD on bass, Krunkle holding down rhythm and production insight, and Jeremy, whose basement has become the DIY headquarters where their growing catalog is coming to life. Together, they are building something deeply personal and community rooted, and this latest release captures a moment of emotional honesty, self discovery, and creative chemistry that continues to define who Clever Violet is becoming.

The title “The Likes of You” feels pointed. Without giving too much away, what themes were you exploring when you wrote it?

Ikky: I wanted to express and experience my queerness for the first time in my life, and I had some feelings that I hadn't been able to place anywhere yet. When Robert brought me this song in 2022, I thought it sounded so much like a "dad rock" love song at the time, so I wanted to make dad rock for people like me, and that's where these feelings lie and what this song became. The inspiration for TLOY comes from a gorgeous goth friend that I've known forever (Oh, Kay!). I just didn't know at the time whether I wanted to be with her or BE her.

Was this a song that came together quickly, or did it evolve over time through rewrites and live performances?

Ikky: As Clever Violet, TLOY came together quickly since it was the first song we really had to work on together as we were finding members. It was the first one we sent to all potential joiners, to gauge interest and a vibe of what we thought we would sound like as we progressed. Otherwise, it may have come together quickly as an Ephemerus track. All I remember is Robert bringing us another one of his new ideas, which seems to be never-ending. I'm pretty sure I was already in the middle of writing lyrics for two other tracks when he brought me this one.

Krunkle: Our first 8 songs came together very quickly. This one was easy because Robert and Ikky had a completed version of it already demoed. Once the rest joined the band, we were able to put just a few touches on it to make it our own as a whole band.

You chose to release the single on Bandcamp before dropping it on other major streaming platforms. What went into that decision?

Krunkle: I've been using Bandcamp for over 15 years. When I was trying to start a record label, the site was just getting started, and it was the perfect fit for a small indie label to get music released in the digital world. My label never took off, but it was important to me to include Clever Violet's catalog with the rest of my music making history. Plus Bandcamp really is designed for independent artists much more than the typical streaming platforms. Having the ability to set our own price for downloads, and even giving fans the chance to pay a little extra towards our efforts is a great perk of the way Bandcamp runs the site.

Bandcamp tends to attract listeners who want to be more intentional about supporting artists. How important is that direct fan connection to Clever Violet at this stage?

Krunkle: Direct fan connection is everything to the band. We don't necessarily have aspirations of being huge rock stars, getting signed to a big label, or booking a massive world tour anytime soon...but the whole point of making music, for me anyway, is to connect with an audience and group of fans who truly appreciate the art we make. We continue to hit up social media with the hope of deepening those connections, and Bandcamp certainly has the potential to be another place we can engage with our audience and hopefully expand that base a bit.

Sonically, what should longtime listeners expect when they hit play? Familiar Clever Violet energy, or something that might surprise them?

Ikky: If listeners have enjoyed "Stop" so far, then they can expect an almost completely different sound. Still the same queer behind the mic, but not as angry this time. It's a much softer, poppier song, with no screaming! TLOY is one of those surprising sounds we have compared to most of the heavier, grungier stuff that we make.

Krunkle: Our longtime listeners should already be somewhat familiar with the song, as we've been playing it for some time. But hopefully the specific sonics of the single version reveal our potential pop sensibilities and that we hope to make music that feels good and belongs on the radio.

Do you feel this song was written with live shows in mind, or did it take on a new life once you started performing it?

Ikky: Originally, it was definitely written with the mindset of taking it to live shows. Once we actually started performing it as Clever Violet, it quickly found new life. It became somewhat popular before its actual release onto streaming services, and it was the first song where the audience actually knew the lyrics and started singing them back at us. Took a couple of months for fans to listen to it and for that to actually happen, but what an amazing feeling! I personally haven't been to many local shows where the audience knew the lyrics to even one entire original song. Even though it hasn't necessarily gone viral, hearing my lyrics screamed back at me definitely made me feel famous, and breathed new life into me.

Salina, Kansas isn’t always the first place people think of when they talk about emerging bands. How does being rooted there continue to shape your sound or perspective?

Ikky: Personally, I'm from Kansas. I've grown up here all my life. These dirt roads are mine. Being rooted here gives me the freedom to find the spaces that I need to write, and it gives me the challenge to write what I want in a politically red state. I think being here motivates me to work harder and to shape whatever sound we please. I've heard of bands making it "big" out of Wichita, but not yet from the Salina area. I don't even think of us as "being" from Salina. That's just where our homebase is. I'm from all around here, so I'm happy to just be making music that you wouldn't expect to be coming out of Kansas. (All this midwest anger has to go SOMEWHERE.) Being located in Salina has put us in connections with some other really awesome bands from around the area, though!

Krunkle: I'm the band standout that has never lived in Salina. I live about 40 minutes south in a much smaller town, but I have family that lives in Salina. I guess that's what feels right about making music in small-town Kansas...this is our home and our family. It's all about remaining in our roots while we try to make music that not only appeals here, but can appeal on a much bigger scale as well. We need our friends and family to support us in order to make music the way we want to make it...and maybe that's a little less important in the bigger music scenes around the world.

Is “The Likes of You” a standalone release, or does it hint at a larger project on the horizon?

Ikky: You may be the first to publish this, but it's part of an album we've been working on! Originally, it was just a single, but the chemistry between all of us in Clever Violet is so strong, that songs just kind of kept organically coming out of us. We decided a couple months back that we could actually produce an album, all recorded from the comfort of Jeremy's basement, and make this band a completely homegrown, DIY project, all the way down the merch. Overall, TLOY isn't just about us or one person. It's about the people that also keep the community going. Without the likes of you, our fans, community, and closest supporters, we wouldn't be who we are.

Krunkle: We are making significant progress on our full length album. We're excited to get our music out for the world to hear...and doing that one song at a time just isn't enough. We all appreciate the old school album, including hard copies with full artwork and packaging...maybe even a vinyl release if there seems to be an audience for it.

Robert: At first, I was worried we would struggle to come up with material for a full length album.. but we’re at a point where we are stockpiling ideas for a 2nd album. As we get more and more comfortable with each other, I feel we’ll definitely get more experimental with our sound. That’s why I love that we don’t adhere to the boundaries that are specific genres. Basically, our genre is whatever we feel like.

How has your songwriting process evolved since your last release, especially in terms of collaboration within the band?

Ikky: Personally, my songwriting process has stayed the same. I don't have an ear for putting together instrumentals like the guys do, so I'm more than happy to keep receiving blank tracks as a canvas for me to fill up. I either come up with my own ideas, or I bounce lyrics off of whatever outrageously wild thing one of the guys said the night I receive it. It's rare that I have lyrics before the guys have a track for me. I actually think there's a couple tracks that are still waiting for my brain to come up with something for [something] saved deep into our files right now. We do, however, have one track that we're working on soon, where I have written the lyrics and (somewhat) an idea for the instrumental. I'm not much of an instrument player, so this will probably be the only track for a long time that will have instrumentally come from my brain. Thank the stars for Robert, who took my sad attempt at some guitar strums and made it into a much fuller idea.

Krunkle: Our songwriting process continues to evolve as we continue to get to know each other as musicians and writers. It started with songs Robert and Ikky had worked on...then we started writing songs out of jams and accidental riffs...and now Robert keeps coming up with more riffs that we get excited about...and the album even includes a song that originated from Jeremy. And hopefully the rest of us can begin contributing ideas to the brew...our creative process should never get stale by any means.

Robert: I make guitar go “chugga chugga” and they seem to like it. But in all seriousness, we’re definitely in a more collaborative state than a few months ago. As much as I love being the creative force, I also love learning from the ideas that come from their brains. I want my CV to sound less like me and more like US, if that makes sense.

If a new listener discovers Clever Violet through this single, what do you hope sticks with them after the song ends?

Ikky: I hope that listeners feel seen after giving TLOY a spin. I know we're not necessarily a "queer" group, but I personally want other little “queirdos” to know that you don't have to fit entirely underneath one label. You don't have to hide who or what you like, and you CAN make it in spaces that weren't always welcoming of us from the start. TLOY isn't just about liking a girl, it's also about the likes of YOU! You, who gets up every day and persists in spite of the horrors. You, who creates what they want with a passion. You, who refuses to tone down who you are, despite no one else around looking quite like you. You who are simply you. On the hard days, pick your chin up and see yourself for who I see. This song is a cry to pick yourself up and keep going. Without the likes of YOU, the world doesn't turn. Keep being YOU! Clever Violet loves you!

At its core, “The Likes of You” is more than a love song or a stylistic shift. It is a reflection of identity, belonging, and the quiet power of being truly seen. As Clever Violet continues shaping a full length album from the ground up, one basement session at a time, this single stands as a reminder that music does not have to come from a major city or a major label to mean something real. Sometimes it comes from small town Kansas, from friends learning how to create together, and from the simple but life changing truth that without the likes of you, there is no story to tell at all.

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