Tiny Stills

The band’s latest single, a cover of Cheerbleederz’ pop punk classic Nail Biters has been getting regular airplay on Altzone Radio — and for singer‑guitarist Kailynn West, choosing that track was a no‑brainer.   “It gets stuck in my head all the time.  When we talked about doing a split EP, I knew I wanted to cover that one.”

So for those that are unaware of who Tiny Stills are, the band’s origin story is equal parts fate and Facebook mishap. “I had put out a post looking for musicians years before we met,” Kailynn explains. “Chris replied, and I just… never responded. We found the message years later.”  They eventually met through a mutual producer friend, and after touring together, the line-up was solidified.  Indeed post pandemic Kailynn made a decision:  “This band wasn’t going to keep going unless Chris was still in it. That’s the one nice thing I’ll say about him this year.”

Despite being the band’s songwriter and front‑person, Kailynn didn’t want to perform under her own name.  “I didn’t want to be seen as a singer‑songwriter. Tiny Stills comes from the idea that each song is like a little snapshot — a tiny still — of a moment in time. It let me write honestly without feeling like I was reliving everything.”

Tiny Stills sound can be described as pop punk (their social media suggests they are the love child of Taylor Swift and Green day), but their influences are many, from Dikembe and the Pixies, to Slayer and Anderson .Paak.  You could hear the enthusiasm from Chris’ voice: “I love bands that take you somewhere else for three and a half minutes.” Kailynn meanwhile grew up wanting to write like Ben Gibbard and perform with the energy of Green Day, but now finds herself inspired by bold, genre‑bending artists like Dochi and Anderson .Paak. 

The band is heading to the UK for the first time in April alongside Cheerbleederz, including dates at the Exchange in Bristol on 10 April, the Lexington in London on 12th, as well as appearing at Manchester Punk Festival on 6th featuring amongst others Toronto hardcore legends Fucked Up.  “I’m going to be first in line at the barrier” Chris excitedly proclaimed.  

The smaller land mass of the UK will be a pleasant change.  Touring the US often means brutal drives — sometimes 8–10 hours between cities.  Sometimes loading out of one show and driving overnight to the next load‑in.  But its not without its experiences.  Such as a show in Oxford, Mississippi, in a converted museum on the night of the town’s homecoming parade.  “We got pelted with candy by high schoolers,” Kailynn laughs. “The crowd was incredible.”  

Life on the road isn’t just about playing rock n roll.  While staying at a friend’s home in Pittsburgh — a house previously owned by Mac Miller — things got weird.  Kailynn and Chris shared a sofa bed which in the middle of the night started shaking.  According to Kailynn “It wasn’t a bump.  It was like someone punching the mattress from underneath.”  Much to her annoyance Chris refused to look under the bed.  “I told her, ‘Put the covers over your head and don’t talk”.  And for a terrifying nights sleep I’m sure much nail biting ensued!