The Dutch Kills: New York’s Indie Rock Underdogs Making Noise

Written By: Zach Lee | Photos By Nik Bauman

New York City has always been a breeding ground for rock bands, but only a few capture the city’s raw energy quite like The Dutch Kills. Inspired by the chaos, grit and vibrancy of their home, the band blends emotional depth with high-energy anthems that mirror the very streets they walk. The Dutch Kills, named after an actual bar in NYC, represent the city through their music and tell the story of their increasing success.

“We get very inspired by the city, but also still have our own thing going on,” says vocalist Julia Kley. “Most of the time I’m listening to music when I’m walking or commuting, so I always try to curate the vibe. Our songs kind of live in that space — the perfect ‘on the train’ sound, where maybe you’re feeling a little sad, but also something that gets you pumped up when you’re walking down the street.”

Their music sits somewhere between post-punk revival and the alternative rock resurgence that’s been bubbling up in the city’s underground scene. While their sonic identity pulls from various influences, Kley says the band prioritizes creative freedom over chasing trends. “I don’t think people come to our shows for the aesthetic,” she explains. “They come to jump around and have a good time.”

But breaking into the NYC music scene isn’t just about writing great songs — it requires strategy. The Dutch Kills quickly learned that building momentum takes more than talent. The band speaks very passionately about the pursuits they are undergoing. They have a deep respect for the art and for creating something original and innovative. “I felt like luck became cheap, and I wanted to capture this dread in the intro lick [of The Rot]. I wanted to create a little bit of unease to where you just go, ‘well, what's going to happen next?’, and you're thrown around a little bit,” Kley explains. Having been performing for several months, the band speaks of several instances where they’ll recognize fans from previous shows and are becoming more personally connected with their fan base. Guitarist Alec Berry recalls how they leveraged early success to book more gigs. Within their first year or two, they’ve been able to exponentially increase the number of shows they play - only leaving a few weeks between each performance, they are able to return to familiar venues and debut at new ones frequently.

“We were able to get a show pretty quickly after our first one because we could say, ‘X amount of people came to our last show,’” Berry explains. “Once we had two shows under our belt and put out a song, it became a little bit easier to do this.”

They’ve embraced a DIY approach, handling their own promotions, networking and gig bookings. Word-of-mouth and social media have played a big role in their growth, with local bands supporting each other in a scene that Berry describes as tight-knit. Along with bassist Maxine McCormick and drummer Heather Jensen, the band is gaining more popularity — performing at many venues around the city. They spoke about the close community of musicians that they’ve become acclimated to and how networking and getting shows promoted is so easy because everybody knows everybody. Each member of The Dutch Kills truly has a passion for the band — it’s their shared priority, and it’s clear that each of them feels incumbent to add and support the success of their musical pursuits. Berry adds that each member not only brings their own prowess, but their own energy and style as well, “I don't think people come to our shows for the aesthetic -  they come to every time to jump around and because we look cool. I think we would look good as a cartoon band.”

“There’s a lot of camaraderie right now,” Kley adds. “Most of my friends are in bands. Everyone shares each other’s flyers, goes to each other’s shows, and really roots for one another.”

Despite the scene’s sense of community, The Dutch Kills have also witnessed the more performative side of the industry — where being seen at the right places and looking the part sometimes takes priority over the music itself. Speaking to venue owners on a whim or meeting people who know people are how they build their network. Being able to sell out venues and make an imprint on the music scene in New York goes a long way to booking more and more. Alec spoke about getting comfortable with the songs and materials - rehearsing over and over until they could perform without effort and without displaying the hard work that went into preparation.

 The Dutch Kills are establishing themselves as an embodiment of New York City’s spirit. They honor the place that shaped them, channeling the city’s energy into their lyrics. Their new single “Cheap Love” is out now — “a grungy tale of toil and trouble, fake love and young relationships, replete with tangible emotion and thrashing guitar.” Cheap Love" is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms.