Inside the video game and sci-fi-inspired world of Silverwingkiller: “We don’t really want it to be cool”

Silverwingkiller, the electropunk duo of British-born James Baca and Chinese-born Yushang Ni, build a sound shaped by sci-fi films and video game music. Their second EP, *Desperate Struggle*, continues the world introduced on their debut, *Triad Funded*, and gives listeners a more cinematic take on their noisy, genre-blending style.

The pair describe the two EPs as a sequel and a foundation for the band, rather than a definitive statement of their sound. *Desperate Struggle* opens with ‘Kid Africa’, which gradually leads into heavier tracks; the earlier EP includes ‘Roof On Fire (X Over9000)’ and ‘Hold Up (All Firearms In The United Kingdom)’. Baca says the duo draw more from film and game soundtracks than from particular bands or current trends, and they want their music to feel distinctive rather than simply “cool”.