Taro kinard – “RAGGED”
Frayed Edges and Hidden Harmonies: Taro Kinard Unveils Emotional Depth on RAGGED
Taro Kinard’s new EP RAGGED, released November 7, 2025, is a compelling six-track exploration of broken homes, shifting foundations and personal truth. Coming out of Leeds, Kinard wears many hats, writing, performing, mixing and mastering the project, and that complete creative control shows. The EP moves through alternative rock and art-rock territory with some folk-tinged moments, delivering an emotionally rich and musically confident statement.
From his own home studio and sessions at Old Chapel Studios, Kinard builds songs around textured guitars, inventive rhythms and vocals that carry distinct character. The guitar tone is striking, crisp yet raw, full of personality and resonance, especially when the arpeggiated motifs frame the verses or darker edge of the arrangements. The drums are clever and solid throughout, anchoring each track firmly while allowing the more experimental touches to shine. The closing track, Ran Myself Ragged, leans into electronic textures, completing the EP’s arc from introspection to creative expansion.
Kinard’s influences come through yet remain his own: the playful theatricality of Lemon Demon or Tally Hall, the sharp songwriting of The Kinks, and the introspective edge of Madilyn Mei all feed into the mix. But his perspective, drawn from a childhood in a fractured household and the journey of finding stability and identity, gives this EP its unique heartbeat. Vocals feel reflective and sometimes off-kilter, fitting the unstable home life he writes about.
What makes RAGGED stand out is its blend of thematic cohesion and sonic variety. Each track offers its own groove, but the EP holds together as a unified artistic statement. The production honours the DIY roots of the project while boasting clarity, creative layering and a sound that’s both intimate and expansive.
RAGGED is a strong and thoughtful release from Taro Kinard, an artist finding his voice, telling his story, and shaping his sound with honesty and imagination.