The King's Parade – the band chats about soulful new track ‘Brother’ and their music journey so far
Today, The King’s Parade, London based alt-pop outfit release their latest offering ‘Brother’, the third track from their upcoming debut album. The track is definitely one for fans of Alabama Shakes, The Black Keys and Leon Bridges and we love the soulful, emotional side to the band that the song brings out. ‘Brother’ follows well after their second track from the album – ‘How Long?, which really oozes soul, with jazz organs reminiscent of Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together, and well-crafted melodies on top of hard-hitting drums which we can hear filling festival circuits up and down the country (once we can again)!
Both tracks together really hint at the richness of the band’s upcoming catalogue.
“Brother is a track about feeling left behind...The song is an expression of that void.”
Speaking of ‘Brother’, Olly said on behalf of the band:
“Brother is a track about feeling left behind. The sudden disappearance of someone you hold close to your heart can leave an emptiness that feels impossible to fill. The song is an expression of that void.”
The tracks leave us highly anticipating what’s to come when the album drops in December, particularly as it was recorded by Marco Pasquariello (whose credits include Coldplay and Snow Patrol) and was produced by Guy Massey (credits include The Libertines and Ed Sheeran).
Interview:
How would you describe your sound/ who are your favourite artists and influences?
”We’re all huge fans of classic soul and Motown, so I think if you chuck that in a pot with a few of our more modern pop / rock / indie influences (Alabama Shakes, The Black Keys, Half Moon Run), you get close to The King’s Parade... That said, there are a couple of songs we just finished recording for our debut album that sound like something you’d hear on a Radiohead album… so I think the sound is getting harder to pin down as we experiment more.”
When did you decide to pursue music as a career?
”I remember playing drums in front of people for the first time at a battle of the bands night when I was 14. With the help of a few school mates, we totally butchered ‘Plug in Baby’ by Muse, but the buzz that I got from playing that night was ultimately the beginning of my career in music. When I met the other guys from TKP, we all knew within a few months of jamming together that we wanted to pursue things long-term. Everything just clicked, socially as well as musically, so it was a no brainer moving forward.”
The cover art for the new single ‘Brother’, released 2 Oct.
What are your goals for this year musically?
”The goal is the same for us every year - in a nutshell, to create music that we want to hear (and if we’re lucky, that other people want to hear too!)”
Thing you're most proud of so far in your music career?
”The album we’ve just finished - it’s a massive step up from anything we’ve ever done.”
Best piece of advice you have ever received?
”Never stop doing what you do.”
What's the worst thing people tell you about the music?
”That our recordings don’t live up to our live performances. It’s annoying as we know it’s true, especially for some of our older stuff. I have a feeling that after people hear the album they will be saying our live performances don’t live up to our recordings!”
Has anyone ever been negative about your desire to pursue a career in music?
“Of course! And weirdly I think that some negativity is a good thing that every artist needs to experience. I see it as a test of will power and commitment, with these things only getting stronger if you come out the other side.”
If you could collaborate with any artist in the world, who would it be and why?
“Brittany Howard from Alabama Shakes. I think the vocal and creative possibilities would be insane.”
What's one surprising thing about you that people may not know?
“We all spent a day behind bars after being arrested for playing music on the street.”
What's your favourite snack (we always ask this- we have a podcast called talking tracks with snacks!) and why?
“If we’re talking chocolate bars, I’d have to go for snickers. It’s by far the best in terms of taste! The nuts make it feel like it’s not too bad for you either… I like to think that anyway. If we’re talking a savoury snack, the list is endless... A mix of cheese, mezze, crisps (but only lightly salted with cracked pepper) is probably at the top of the list.”