Kero Kero Bonito

Kero Kero Bonito is a British group formed in 2011 and based in Bromley, United Kingdom. The line-up consists of Sarah Bonito, Gus Lobban and Jamie Bulled. Their name comes from Japanese words associated with frog croaks and a kind of fish.

Formation and early activity

Gus Lobban and Jamie Bulled grow up in the suburbs south of London and attend school together. Looking for a new band member, they place adverts, including on MixB, an online bulletin board used by Japanese expatriates, reflecting their interest in Japanese rap. They choose Sarah Bonito for her art background and bilingual ability. Although she has previously worked with a Japanese girl group, she does not come from a professional singing background.

Releases

The band release their debut mixtape, Intro Bonito, through Double Denim Records in 2014. Many of its songs are written on a Casio SA-45 mini-keyboard. Around the same period they also contribute “Flamingo” to Ryan Hemsworth’s compilation EP shh#ffb6c1. In 2014 they issue Bonito Recycling, a remix compilation of Intro Bonito featuring artists including Danny L Harle and Spazzkid.

Their first studio album, Bonito Generation, appears in 2016 on Double Denim Records. It includes earlier singles such as “Picture This”, “Lipslap” and “Break”. In 2018 they release “Only Acting”, which moves towards a darker, rock-influenced sound, followed by the EP TOTEP. Later that year they issue “Time Today” and the album Time ’n’ Place, which reflects changes in the band members’ personal lives and continues the style of TOTEP.

Later work

In 2019 the band upload “KKB Life” to YouTube, marking the start of a new period of activity. They then release “When the Fires Come” and the EP Civilisation I, which return to an electronic style closer to their earlier work. In 2020 they write and perform “It’s Bugsnax!”, the theme song for the video game Bugsnax, recording their parts remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 they release “The Princess and the Clock”, followed by Civilisation II, a sequel to Civilisation I. Later that year they issue Civilisation, a compilation combining both EPs with the added track “Gateway” placed between them.

Style

The group’s work spans electropop, pop, synthpop, indie pop, noise pop, bubblegum pop, j-pop and pop rap.