The Kickdrums

Originally operating from Cleveland as a producer, Alex Fitts drew notice from major rappers seeking beats that fused hip-hop with indie rock textures through his contributions to area hip-hop projects. Alongside production partner Matt Penttila, he secured credits on material by 50 Cent, John Legend, and Kid Cudi while also handling remixes for Kanye West, Adele, Ben Harper, and Peter Bjorn and John. Concurrently the pair developed their own indie rock and hip-hop hybrid, issuing the EP Just a Game in 2009 and the album Meet Your Ghost in 2011 under the Kickdrums name. Following Penttila’s departure after that album, Fitts continued solo, recasting the Kickdrums as a one-man project and shifting away from hip-hop remnants toward electronic-tinged indie rock shaped by singer/songwriter traditions. Once signed to Hopeless Records, the project delivered the Still Logic EP in July 2013 and the full-length Thinking Out Loud that October.