Spare Kid: Belgium’s Pop-Punk Export You Need to Hear
Photo credit for all images in this feature article: Vincent Van Hoorick
A late-night doom scroll through RØKKR’s feed is what put Spare Kid on my radar, with text overlaying their reel: “This is for everyone that has The Story So Far, Anxious, and Arm’s Length on repeat.”
Well, the algorithm got it right, Spare Kid is just what I needed. Impressive vocal harmonization, catchy riffs and tempo changes, with just the right amount of attitude that puts it on the heavier side of pop-punk. And perhaps, one of the better import acts that the American scene has yet to discover.
So, in true RØKKR fashion… let’s get your eyes and ears on Spare Kid!
Coming out of Belgium, Spare Kid is two brothers, their brother-in-law, and a longtime friend, all with ties back to the same small village in the north of the country. “Carlos and Ri are both brothers, I am married to their sister,” shares Kane Breugelmans (bassist). “Quinten, our singer, is born in the same town and currently lives in Antwerp. We heard rumors that his band was splitting up and almost forced him to start a punk rock band with us. A few years of trying to find our specific style and here we are.”
That closeness between them shows up in how the band writes and plays. There’s no drawn-out process behind it all. Quinten brings in rough ideas, and they build everything out together in rehearsal. If it works, it works fast, sometimes in just a couple hours — and after “a few beers and some cigarettes.”
When asked what elements of pop-punk are important to them to carry forward, Kane said, “Mainly the energy, heartfelt lyrics and just raw emotions that grab you by the neck and hold on to you for years.” That connection goes back to when he saw The Story So Far live at Groezrock in 2013, then immediately headed to the merch table and not letting go of the music since.
Now, the bandmates are no longer spectating from the festival crowds. They have shared stages with bands like Neck Deep, Trophy Eyes, and yes, even The Story So Far! “It’s an honor opening for legends like that and just real bucket list material. We’re hoping to keep supporting those bands whenever they come ‘round,” Kane tells us.
Their 2025 debut EP Blows Raspberry came together in two recording periods with producer Daan Nieboer at Cornerstone Audio. Early sessions produced tracks like “Breathe” and “Forgetmenot,” but it was later on that things fully clicked.
Kane recalls after the band finished recording “Preoccupied” in their second session, it felt like they had captured the core identity of the band. “Hearing the finished version, it just gave me the chills. It has been well received and is the last song of our set that always gets people moving.”
Coming from Belgium, the bandmates are realistic about the scene around them. It’s small, and pop-punk isn’t exactly leading the charge or getting much radio play. But that hasn’t slowed them down.
“We’re working our asses off to get kids to pop-punk shows as we speak,” Kane said. “The people that do come out are the best. We’re seeing a lot of the same faces every time and we can’t thank them enough. Absolute legends!”
The bands determined to build the European pop-punk scene, show by show. Their momentum has already started to carry beyond Belgium. A recent tour in the UK gave them a glimpse of a larger, more active scene, one they’re eager to keep building within their own country.
Spare Kid has yet to make it to the United States, but it’s on clearly in their sights. Just this month, Amazon Music’s curate playlist Punk Scene picked up “Alone Together”, the first single off their upcoming full length album Troublemaker.
The band has dropped a second single “Make Believe” this week, with the full album set for release toward the end of 2026 via Secret Friends Agency, a roster that includes Good Terms and Youth Fountain.
You can stream the official music video for “Make Believe” right here:
Before we wrapped the interview, I had to ask… what is with the duck? Why does this pond goblin appear in all of Spare Kid’s social media posts?
Kane shared it evolved from “from a tattoo that Carlos has and we just really liked it and will continue using it as a proud mascot of Spare Kid.”
Sooo.. could we see Spare Kid at Warped Tour 2027?
Here at RØKKR, we think this duck-adjacent band is ready to spread its wings and migrate stateside for the summer… and maybe hustle for some bread on this side of the pond.
SPARE KID:
Quinten Pas (vocals & guitar)
Kane Breugelmans (vocals & bass)
Carlo van Nispen (vocals & drums)
Ricardo van Nispen (lead guitar)
