Guitars That Gleam, Lyrics That Linger: The Kowloons Return With ‘I Don’t Care’
The Kowloons are a band on the up. Formed by brothers Stephen and Anthony Ng—lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist and drummer respectively—there’s a real sense of momentum behind what they’re doing and where they could go.
Since their first single release in 2021, they’ve been met with nothing but great aplomb, and there’s no reason why I Don’t Care should be received with anything less. The song itself is short and sweet. Right from the get-go, we’re treated to delightfully jangly guitars. Put simply, I’m a big fan of the guitar work. It’s got that classic West Coast vibe—chock-full of warmth, texture, and timeless shimmer. The main riff repeats throughout but never loses its freshness.
There’s just enough movement to keep things trucking along. Both guitars are perfectly in tune with each other—no pun intended—yet each is distinguishable in its own right. I’ve found myself listening to the track just to follow the guitar parts, trying to catch every nuance. I’m not there yet, but that’s okay—I don’t think I’ll be getting bored of it any time soon!
The production is bright, fresh, and well-balanced. Every element—from percussion to vocals—has its own space, creating a rich and layered listening experience. There’s real depth here—it hits that sweet spot, with just enough low-end to accentuate the pauses and maximise their impact. Those little breaks are perfectly executed ear candy: subtle details you might not notice at first, but that you’d definitely miss if they weren’t there. As silly as it might sound for something so minute, it’s these moments that elevate a good song into a great one. Lyrically, the song left me feeling melancholic yet hopeful.
There’s a sense of longing in the words that never overstates its case. Instead, it’s paired with a quiet optimism—especially in the choruses—that creates a compelling emotional contrast. Lead singer Stephen doesn’t over-sing it; the delivery is measured, full of just the right emotional weight to keep things grounded and sincere.
The use of allegory is impressive too, with lines like “When I hear your voice in stereo, before I know it’s always time to go” painting vivid emotional pictures without spoon-feeding the listener. The lyrics are strong, the message is clear, and there’s a refreshing honesty in the way it’s all put together.
The call-and-response vocals are another standout. They add a fresh layer to an already rich tapestry of sound. It’s great to see a young band show the musical and artistic maturity to try something like that—and even better to see them pull it off. It’s a technique that’s been somewhat lost in recent decades, so hearing it done well here is a real treat.
The sound harks back to the Mersey scene of the late ’80s and early ’90s. A shell-suited Lee Mavers wouldn’t look out of place banging out this tune. The Kowloons’ sound follows in the proud tradition of working-class Northern lads come good. It’s the sound of where they’re from—running through red-brick terraces and seaside arcades, past shuttered pubs and windswept promenades.
The song bows out on the line: “We can share everything that we own.” Well, allow me to be the first to say—tar very much, The Kowloons, for sharing such an uplifting and well-crafted piece of art with the rest of us.
It’s still early days for the brothers Ng and co., and with so much promise, I—like many others—will be keeping a keen eye on where The Kowloons head next. It’s been said that Oasis were Manchester’s answer to The Beatles (hmmm)… well, here’s hoping Stephen and Anthony are Merseyside’s answer to the Gallaghers. Show ’em how it’s done, lads!
Stream The Kowloons’ I Don’t Care now.
Follow @the_kowloons on Instagram for updates.
Daniel Ryan
