Interview By: Carlos Garcia (with collab of Raquel de Avelar)
Photos: Band's archives
Created by experienced musicians in Minneapolis, and "rising from the ashes of the pandemic" in 2021, SUNFLOWER FOXX & THE CHICKEN LEG was born with the purpose of rescuing the soul of 70s Rock and bringing back that power of Rock & Roll, with an organic sound full of feeling, bringing the elements and nuances that shaped that era.
And indeed, they bring back that essence of the 70s, with instruments that sound real, far from the "pasteurized" and "perfect" music produced today, and are undoubtedly one of the best bands in this "Retro Rock" style.
Their first full-length album was mixed by the legendary Ron Nevison (The Who, Led Zeppelin, UFO, Ozzy and many others), and with the potential to become one of the next big names in current Rock & Roll, the band has been releasing new singles, touring the USA and seeking to bring their music to more people.
We talked to the incredible vocalist Kaity Heart, who found some time to speak with us amidst her chaotic schedule, already counting more than 200 shows this year! Kaity told us a little more about the band, her career and plans. Check it out!
RtM: Hi Kaity, thank you for taking the time to grant us this interview, I've become a big fan of you and the band Sunflower Fox.
Kaity Heart: Hello! Thank you. It's great that you're interested, we've had a lot of streaming in Brazil.
RtM: I (Carlos, editor/writer) and Raquel (writer) think the band's name is very cool! "Sunflower Fox and the Chicken Leg" — one of the coolest names ever! So, to start, I'd like to know how the idea for the name came about, as well as the inspirations and meanings behind it for you.
Kaity: Well, there are many stories behind this name — in fact, for a while, every time we gave an interview, we made something up to see how ridiculous the story would sound before anyone noticed! (Laughs)
The real story is that we were writing in our drummer Kyle's basement. I suggested the name "Sunflower Fox," but I thought it sounded too "indie" or "girly," and James, our de facto leader, kept saying "and the chicken leg"... I have no idea why he insisted so much on it. It was a nickname he used for a friend.
He wouldn't stop talking, hahaha, so I said, "OKAY. It's Sunflower Fox and the Chicken Leg!!! Shut up!!" hahaha.
RtM: With so much music these days that, let's say, lacks "soul," it's a pleasant surprise to find a band like Sunflower Fox. You capture that vibe and energy of the great bands of the '70s, with that organic and real sound. We'd like to know how the idea of forming the band and following this path came about — and, of course, what your main inspirations are.
Kaity: We are all professional musicians and, when Covid happened, we all lost our shows. This was the first time in a VERY long time that we had time to compose! Including me: and my FAVORITE genre, without a doubt, is '70s rock. It's so raw. It's full of heart and magic, and they never left humanity aside — mainly due to the absence of technology.
So, I had the idea of forming a group that would compose in this style, with little or no technology, without Melodyne or Auto-Tune, and that we would all record together in a studio. It was quite easy to find musicians who were up for it. Because now... everything is so polished and perfect. It lacks humanity.
RtM: And you have "Heart" in your name! Kaity Heart — a singer who makes music and sings with her heart.
Kaity: Oh! That's right! Actually, I changed my name to that after my mother passed away, about 20 years ago. Our favorite band is Heart — it was an easy change.
RtM: I first discovered your work — and the band's — through your participation in Jim Peterik's album *River of Music - The Power of Duets Vol. I*. Tell us how that opportunity came about and what the experience was like.
Kaity: First of all, I LOVED that you found me, and Sunflower, through that. Because Jim found me through Ron! Literally, as with most things, it was the right place at the right time.
I was recording vocals for the third album in Portland with Ron and Sunflower, and Ron asked if I would like to sing with Jim, and I said yes! We had a meeting, and in the fall they took me to Chicago!
RtM: What were your most memorable moments from the recording sessions?
Kaity: They're like... THE NICEEST GUYS. It's weird hearing them praising you while you're in the room, especially knowing what they've done. I was so uncomfortable—I just didn't know how to react. Jim showed me his house, and he has hundreds of guitars.
He showed me which recorder he used to record "Vehicle" by Ides of March (one of my all-time favorite songs). He said he bought it at Sears a long time ago. And the meaning of the song is so sweet! It's about his wife. So freaking cute!
RtM: You've released several singles after the full-length album; are there plans for a new full album soon? Or is the strategy to continue releasing singles along with sporadic physical material, like the EPs/Singles you made available on your Bandcamp?
Kaity: One of the things I don't like about this new music industry is everyone's lack of attention. So, of course, we have to release everything little by little. We've already released the first full album, which is self-titled.
And to mix things up a bit, we're going to release the second album as two 7-inch singles that will eventually be available as a set! Just to mix things up! The third album, which will be released next year, will probably be a normal album again.
RtM: Regarding the singles, the most recent ones are the beautiful and moving "Wishing Well" and that incredible version of "Hair of the Dog." I played the latter for a friend who loved it; he said he imagined if Janis Joplin did a cover, it would sound very similar to your version.
Kaity: Wow, what a compliment! Regarding "Wishing Well," I'm not really into ballads; I'm more the type who enjoys upbeat music. I have too much energy. So, when I write lyrics/melodies, it's usually about something peculiar. Writing sappy love songs isn't my thing.
RtM: Of the singles released in 2025, my favorite is "The Watcher," a very intense song; your vocals are incredible and deep—they remind me a bit of Heart. Could you talk a little about this song and its lyrics?
Kaity: It was really cool to record this song with Ron Nevison. Mainly because it's so strange, and the story behind it is peculiar too. A close friend of mine was being stalked by a guy who lived in the same building as her.
The situation took a strange turn, and we found out he was a suspect in a series of murders.
RtM: What a scary situation! And what happened to the guy?
Kaity: My friend can't give many details because, as far as I know, the case is still open. But I wrote the song for her… interestingly, she says she uses it in her group therapy sessions. I think that's incredible!
RtM: What are the main messages you seek to convey through your music? And is there any song by the band that has a special meaning for you?
Kaity: There's a lot about reclaiming power, justice, anger… there's a strong punk influence in the lyrics. For example: “Naughty Little Girl” isn't the sexy little song it seems to be. It's about revenge.
I also really like using folk tales as allegories for what's happening now — this is very evident in "Siren Song", "Wishing Well", "The Watcher", "Selling Lies", "Shadow Girl"… I could talk about this forever!
RtM: "Breath it in" is your most streamed song, and it's one of my favorites. I think it's a great way to showcase the band's personality, with feeling, groove, that amazing keyboard part, and a memorable chorus. I'd like you to comment a little more on it.
Kaity: Well, here's the thing: "Breathe It In" was the song that fooled Ron Nevison when we sent it to him (laughs). When I was composing and sketching the song, I wrote versions for the choruses and bridges. When I sent it to the guys, instead of a normal bridge, I had sketched an instrumental bridge, which wasn't necessarily complicated. Because in the '70s, there are a lot of songs that have these strange bridges, which seem to have nothing to do with the song, and are usually instrumental. One of my favorites is the song "I Could Be Good for You" by 707.
RtM: I also love those kinds of unusual things that artists created in the 70s.
Kaity: It's completely random. Why is it there? It has nothing to do with the rest of the song, but it's there. So, I wanted to do something similar, and then our guitarist, Al, just took the idea and developed it. And then, there's a part later on where it's a 5/4 time signature instead of 4/4. And when we play live, I still literally have to count on my fingers so I don't mess up! (laughs) I still mess up all the time. But anyway, that's it.
Yes, it's a lot of fun. And in our process, when it's a song I write, I make a sketch and then, you know, the chords, the basic chords, the lyrics and the melody, and then I send it to the guys, and then we compose together. So, anyway, that's how we do it. That's how we made "Breathe It In".
RtM: Speaking a little about your career and trajectory: how did your interest in music begin and which artists most influenced your development as a singer?
Kaity: Oh, I've always sung. My father used to say that I sang on the back of his bicycle when I was three years old. The biggest influences were Ann Wilson, Stevie Nicks, Grace Slick, En Vogue, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin… I felt divided between rock, blues and soul. That's what I listened to most.
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RtM: At what point did you realize that music could be a career for you? And what were the main challenges you faced along the way?
Kaity: Well, you need to have a million small jobs to make it a career. I'm lucky to have many shows, but I also know how to edit videos, set up a complete sound system myself, assemble curtain and stage structures, assemble trusses (with help), operate the stage sound, sing in the studio, do voice-overs, play keyboard, give lessons, mentor, and fix up an impeccable trailer. That's... literally what 95% of musicians do to support themselves.
RtM: And what about the representation of women in the music scene today? Do you still see many barriers?
Kaity: It's better. Do we have equality? Not at all. I have to do, like, 10 times more work than my bandmates to be taken seriously, and even then, many times, I'm reduced to my appearance. That can be extremely frustrating when you have a normal body and face like me.
I'm not a supermodel, nor do I want to be. I just want to sing: I think that's why I idolize the 70s so much… they really DIDN'T care about anyone's appearance (men or women)… what mattered was the quality of the music. I really wish it could be like that again.
RtM: If you could sing a song with any artist in history, who would you choose and what would the song be?
Kaity: "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones. What an incredible song. I would love to be the singer who sang alongside Mic Jagger on that one. The lyrics, the melody. Perfection.
That one or "Great Gig in the Sky" by Pink Floyd – I've sung it live… I would love to have been the one to create all that craziness.
RtM: I would love to hear your version of "Great Gig in the Sky". Well, besides music, when you have some free time, what hobbies or activities do you like to do in your free time?
Kaity: Free time??? What is that? (Laughs), I like horror books and Harry Potter (no judgment), The Simpsons and enjoying my cats, Scrambles and Lil' Ral.
RtM: Could you name just five albums that you consider essential to your life?
Kaity: Hmm... Let's see:
1. Rumors - Fleetwood Mac
2. Dreamboat Annie - Heart
3. 13 Tales of Love and Revenge - The Pierces
4. 8 Arms to Hold You - Veruca Salt
5. Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette
RtM: Kaity, thank you again, we loved learning a little more about you and your work, here's the space for your final message.
Kaity: We really want to play in Brazil, we're very focused on that. Attention producers, and also record labels and distributors, because we also want to release our album there.
Sunflower Fox & the Chicken Leg are:
Kaity Heart (vocals), James Gross (guitar), Mike Schmidt (guitar), Craig Holets (bass), Kyle Primus (drums), and Al Berg (keys)
Buy the album and merch on Bandcamp
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