walking upstream…
Black Kids
Black Kids are a Jacksonville, Florida indie pop band fronted by Reggie Youngblood who went from self-released demos to blog-hype ubiquity within months in 2007, riding the sugar-rush single "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You" to a major-label deal and the 2008 album Partie Traumatic. Their sound splices new wave synths and post-punk basslines with unapologetically maximalist pop hooks.
the sound in question
2007
I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with YouBlack Kids
walk the tributaries ↓
New Order1980s · Synth-pop / Dance-rock / New wave
Frontman Reggie Youngblood told Drowned in Sound the band is "influenced by every popular song we've ever loved, from New Edition to New Order... from Prince to Queen," and it surfaces as a love of glossy, dance-ready synth hooks layered over post-punk basslines.
listen: upstream & heresource: Drowned in Sound — Reggie Youngblood ↗
1988
Blue Monday '88New Order
2008
Hurricane JaneBlack Kids
listen forThe pulsing, melodic synth bassline that drives New Order's 'Blue Monday' has an unmistakable descendant in the bright, motorik hook of Black Kids' 'Hurricane Jane.'
Prince1980s · Funk / Pop / R&B / Rock
Youngblood named Prince in the same Drowned in Sound quote about the band's influences, and it shows up as unabashed, falsetto-adjacent pop showmanship layered over dance-rock rhythm.
listen: upstream & heresource: Drowned in Sound — Reggie Youngblood ↗
1986
KissPrince
2008
Hit the HeartbrakesBlack Kids
listen forThe strutting, syncopated groove of Prince's 'Kiss' echoes in the swaggering rhythm guitar on Black Kids' 'Hit the Heartbrakes.'
Queen1970s–80s · Rock / Glam rock / Arena rock
Queen was named alongside Prince and New Order as a Black Kids touchstone, and it surfaces as maximalist, arena-ready pop bombast — big hooks stacked on bigger hooks.
listen: upstream & heresource: Drowned in Sound — Reggie Youngblood ↗
1979
Don't Stop Me NowQueen
2008
I've Underestimated My Charm (Again)Black Kids
listen forThe theatrical, everything-at-once energy of Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now' finds a scrappier indie-pop equivalent in Black Kids' 'I've Underestimated My Charm (Again).'