"K's discuss their previous lead in the guitar band struggle before Beyoncé surpassed them at the final hour"
In the murky world of modern music, bands are feeling the heat. But that's not the case for Merseyside's four-piece, the K's. Defying the odds, they're taking the scene by storm, blending vibrant punk and indie melodies that capture crowds by the millions.
As many outlets have reported, it seems as if the public has lost their taste for the vinyl variety. Yet the K's are the shining exception, climbing the charts with ease. Their debut album "I Wonder If the World Knows?" grabbed third place in the UK charts in 2024, a remarkable achievement given their lockdown struggles.
Now, with their sophomore album "Pretty On The Internet" due for release in June, we had a chat with the band's chief songwriter, Jamie Boyle, about their journey and their mission to keep guitar bands relevant.
A Serendipitous Start
Jamie reveals the band's humble beginnings: "We were in a band in school, me and Dexter [Baker] and two other lads when we were literally, like 14. That band was actually called 'The K's.' Years later I got talking to Ryan [Breslin] at an after-party in 2017. We'd been on separate nights out and met at our mutual friend's place. It was like 5am. Ryan had been in a separate band in school because he was older than me. So, anyway we got talking and said 'oh we should start a band together' - like in a drunken conversation. But we stuck to it, and we decided to bring back the old name (The K's)."
Musical Synergy
When it comes to musical influences, their backgrounds are diverse, with Jamie favoring punk, Dexter leaning towards bands like Talking Heads, and Ryan loving classic rock 'n' roll acts like The Rolling Stones.
A pandemic-induced blessing
The COVID pandemic dealt a major blow to the industry, but for the K's, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. With offers on the table from record labels and momentum building rapidly before the lockdown, the enforced hiatus allowed them more time to hone their craft. Jamie explains: "Our first record wouldn't have been as good because we wouldn't have had as much time to hone our craft. With the journey that we're on [now], I feel like we've done it the right way. With the label that we chose [LAB Records] and the way everything's building now, it might have been a very different story if we'd signed to a massive label straight away. Just maybe we'd be down a different path."
Bucking the trend
"The [band] scene is really strong at the minute," Jamie insists. "Then there's bigger bands like Fontaines D.C. - they're just global at the minute, and have become so in the last 12 months. They're paving the way for other great bands, like Wunderhorse, obviously growing massively."
Album details and future plans
Created over four months from September to February, "Pretty On The Internet" boasts twelve tracks, including the emotive "Perfect Haunting" and the anthemic "Helen, Oh I." With a release date in June, the K's are gearing up for another successful tour and a rowdy festival season. Keep up with their updates at their official website!
The K's are bucking the trend of declining music sales, as their debut album "I Wonder If the World Knows?" grabbed third place in the UK charts in 2024, a remarkable achievement given the challenges they faced during the pandemic.
In an interview, the band's chief songwriter, Jamie Boyle, mentioned that their sophomore album "Pretty On The Internet" offers a refreshing blend of various musical genres, creating a unique sound that is sure to appeal to music lovers worldwide.
