There is only one thing that goes through my mind when I am introduced to new music and that’s usually ‘Please, I beg you, let them be good!’ When I was given the heads up about King Antics I wasn’t just taken a back I was stunned into near silence. There are few acts on the music scene in the UK today that can match what these three guys do and their music is a simple testimony to real life and passon.

I take my hat off to these guys and know that their audience is out there and is ready to be as blown away as I am. I was really lucky to get the chance to send Jago, lead singer, who took the time out to answer our world famous email questions. If your looking for something new, something real, and something fresh then King Antics are the band to watch, envy, and respect.

-How did you guys come together? How long have you been a band?

We’ve actually known each other for a long time, The three of us used to be in a band before, but we split up after our drummer slept with the bassist girlfriend, since then we started playing with drum machines, thus the change.

King antics is a brand new thing, we started writing songs in late 2009 but we consider 2010 our birth year as we started rehearsing and playing live.

-Where does the name of the band come from, was it hard to come up with a name?

The name came from a title I saw on a newspaper, (half covered by a mug). it describes quite well our controversial attitude, it doesn’t necessarily need to mean anything, we just like it to have different meanings for each people who read it, we don’t want to explain anything; we love people to use their imagination.

The name though came after a while, as a sort of necessary thing in the creative process, something I wish popped out spontaneously from the music itself, if this does make any sense.

-Describe your music/style in five words?

Dark wave tribal oniric awakening

-Best & Worst shows you’ve played?

Well we just played a bunch of gigs in London for now, so I guess It’s a bit early to make a point on that, though I can say we really enjoyed playing the macbeth in hoxton street ; It’s a cosy venue, the sound is great and the audience was amazing, we hang out there quite often.

The worst was probably one of the first gig we played, in kilburn with a punk/hardrock band, their fans stared at us like we were robbie williams or someone like that.

-Do you have a pretty ‘normal’ fan base, any stalkers been told to keep their distance?

We used to have a stalker, really! But yeah since she’s been told off we got a pretty normal following I guess… girls screaming and crying at the hotel’s backdoor, you know.

-Are you planning attending any festivals?

Too bad we’re not playing, though we’re probably going to attend Field Day and Offset, they’re pretty close to where we live, and both got a great lineup.

-How do you write your music, is it a collaborative effort or do you work on the music first then the lyrics?

We usually write some tracks on a computer first, then we try to play the song with actual instruments and then we put everything back into the computer again, then I sing along in the shower and someone is out there with a microphone recording me; that’s what we call a wet sound.

-What do you want people to take from your music?

I don’t really know how to reply to this one, I hope music is still something everyone should take in a different way, because it belongs to the unconscious part of the self; although there are too many factors people are influenced by when they listen to music. So I’d say I’d like people to avoid giving it names, genres, reviews and let themselves find out if they like it or not without judgements. Basically the opposite of what a journalist is expected to do I guess!

-If you could choose a song to explain who you where what song would it be?

I wouldn’t choose one of our songs; at the minute I’d say I’m like Wire’s “I am the fly”: scratchy edgy and confusing.

-What inspires you?

We take inspiration from everything and anything, mostly gigs we go to and films we watch, and objects: the british museum was a great source of ideas for us.

-What you have planned for the rest of the year, any new releases?

We’d like to release a single and start touring the UK first, then we’d like to go in a studio and work on a proper album but we need some label’s money for that, so will see..

-Who would you want to work with?

There are so many producers we’d love to work with, at the top of the list there is our friend Luke Smith (ex clor), we worked with him in the past and was amazing, he’s one of the best around in my opinion.

-How has it been for you guys as a band with all the changes within the music industry, you been getting a lot of support?

We’re getting some attention for now, as I told you is all a bit new so we’re hoping the industry will be able to evolve somehow, at the minute everything seems temporary and unsure, but exciting at the same time.

-Best advice you’ve been given?

Someone once told us “you should play this like if you were lesbians” whatever that means we’ll never forget it.

-And, if you where to give me advice about starting a band what would it be?

I’m not good at giving advices though I would say whatever you play play it loud.

As our Myspace family has once again given us one hell of a band to tell you about and we can not be happier that the guys have taken part in our world famous email interview! For more information take a look at their myspace by Clicking Here.

How did you guys come together? How long have you been a band?

We have been a band for about 4 years with our line up, sound and band name changing a long the way to get to where we are now. We haven’t actually been known as Canyons for that long though. We were all into the same sort of music when we were at school, which bought us together in the first place.

How did you come up with the name of the band?

We were trying to think of one when we saw a set list on Sam’s wall by the band ‘The Ghost of a Thousand’, one of their songs ‘canyons of static’ had been shortened to ‘canyons’ on the set. We didn’t think much of it at the time but over a couple weeks we all decided on it as a good new name.

Describe your music/style in five words?

Energetic, heavy, fast, loud and rifftastic

Best & Worst shows you’ve played? Worst thing someone has said?

Our most recent gig at Aldershot west end centre was our best show to date. It was a great venue and really well organized. We were supporting The Xcerts who are a band we’ve been to see before so it was a great experience to be supporting a band we like.

The worst show we’ve played was probably in this church basement in Kingston, on the day of the gig all of the other bands dropped out making us the headliner and only band playing. We got there, the production team had ‘forgotten’ to advertise the gig at all. It ended up just us and 5 members of staff, sort of just like a band practice.

Worst thing someone has said?

Someone once described us as ‘brutal indie scene mash up’ need we say more?

Do you have a pretty ‘normal’ fan base, any stalkers been told to keep their distance?

Yeah pretty normal, as a new band our fan base is slowly but surely growing but the people who do turn up at the shows always seem to have a good time, and always give us great feedback when they see us.

Are you planning attending any festivals?

Reading festival and Guilfest this year. Really looking forward to Reading can’t wait for Cancer Bats, Blink 182 and Queens of the Stone Age. Guilfest is a great local festival that we’ve played a few times.

What you have planned for the rest of the year, any new releases?

Gig as much as possible and just get ourselves heard, as a band were constantly writing new material, and love getting our music out there. Probably aim to record another set of songs towards the end of this year.

Who would you want to work with?

Ideal bands? The list is endless but if we were ever lucky enough we’d love to work with our favourite bands like Alexisonfire, Coheed and Cambria, Cancer Bats or Underoath etc

How has it been for you guys as a band with all the changes within the music industry, you been getting a lot of support?

We’re definitely not fans of some of the stuff getting put out in music today, it seems easy to get your music out there but shame there’s no quality control! When were all surrounded by ‘top’ charts that are just crammed with glee and x-factor winners it makes it hard for any good band to make themselves heard.

Best advice you’ve been given?

Find a job you love doing and you’ll never work a day in your life.

And, if you where to give me advice about starting a band what would it be?

Do what you what you want to do, play what you want to play and don’t worry about what other people think of it. Be passionate about it and be ready to hear good and bad feedback.

As part of this years Latitude Festivals 5th year birthday celebrations the great and good who will be playing at the festival have all sat down and provided some pretty keen insights into what they are going to be doing this year. We are lucky, and I mean LUCKY, to have been given the heads up about The Liberty Vessels, a Liverpool band who will be playing the Sunrise Arena. We are going to have a fuller email interview with the guys later this week but we thought we would share their insightful Latitude Interview with you.

When you think of Latitude what 5 words spring to mind?

Oscar: Calm, Sunshine, Sycamore, Women, Genius
Sam: Good weather, great line-up, quality.
Jack: music, beer, women, more beer.
Zak: Sheep, beer, music, Florence, sunshine

If you could only see one performance at this year’s festival what would it be?

Oscar: These New Puritans
Sam: Vampire Weekend
Jack: Belle and Sebastian
Zak: Florence and the Machine

What 5 items will you be bringing to Latitude?

Oscar: Shampoo, babywipes, smart shoes, football stickers, borrowed boxers
Sam: Football, Straw hat, Wellies, Gameboy Colour Y-Reg, Pokemon Yellow
Jack: Book, Football, AlleyBall rulebook, babywipes, beer
Zak: Hoodie, tent, my car, drum sticks, shampoo.

Do you have anything special planned for your performance at Latitude?

Oscar: The Liberty Vessels
Sam: Nips on show
Jack: No
Zak: Playing the drums correctly.

Latitude is 5 years old, how did you celebrate your fifth birthday?

Oscar: Sat alone in my room, crying because I couldn’t put my lego together. I still can’t, even to this very day
Sam: Watched Free Willy
Jack: I had a football party
Zak: Went to the wacky-warehouse

We have been lucky to get the Molotov Jukebox do the world famous email interview with us. We met the guys through Myspace and their music has become and infectious and glorious sound that we are listening to every day in the office (Tim has it on as our morning music till 10am). The guys are going to be heading to Glastonbury this year as well as a whole bunch of other dates, click through to their Myspace HERE for more information.

-How did you guys come together? How long have you been a band?

Well it started with Sam and I meeting in another band and wanting to do our own music and falling in love. Then we slowly got our ideal band through trial and error, for example the Max’s, our drum and bass were stand-ins that we just immediately adopted! As the band is now, we’ve been together a year and a quarter.

-Where does the name of the band come from?

The name came from the sleep deprived, festival fuelled, Sam’s mouth, when after a week of dancing and having it at secret garden festival, we were busking to the last dregs of people standing. It was just Sam and I at the time, we didn’t even have any songs of our own. Someone from the Chai Wallah crew asked us what we were called, and that was Sam’s answer. It stuck, I like it, The Molotov cocktail is the symbol of revolution and we strive to be like a jukebox, full of different genres.

-Describe your music/style in five words?

Fiery whirlwind of urban Mac-do one, source of the GypStep!

-Best & Worst shows you’ve played?

Worst: there are 2 unfortunately. The first is when we didn’t have our now band, we’d just started and we didn’t know what we were doing. It was at the St Moritz club, and there was no sound check (very dangerous with our set up.) The crowd was all wrong and the sound was atrocious. We’d already done a gig and I definitely wasn’t sober anymore, so I started insulting the crowd and the sound engineer. Then we realized there was no sound engineer and that was the problem. Terrible. The second was at the Notting Hill arts club, we were on much later than expected and at the time I had just given up smoking, so I was a bitch from hell. Again there was no sound check (see above) and I felt so self conscious and angry on stage, after the first song, I told the band to go straight to the end of the set list as I needed to get the hell out of there. Both of these make me cringe.

Best: Again there are 2, first at Secret Garden last year on the last nigh. I wouldn’t say its the best we’ve played, but the crowd were EPIC!! Sam played in just his Jazz boxers, I looked like a tropical Tina turner and the band was floating. The best we’ve played was actually at the Brixton JAMM to a small but responsive crowd and we were so tight, I felt like I’d been married to the band for over a century.

-Do you have a pretty ‘normal’ fan base, any stalkers been told to keep their distance?

I think we’ve got an interesting fan base comprised of people that like to dance like epileptics and wear loud outfits. Haven’t met any weird stalkers, but then again, I’m not very aware of the definition of weird.

-Are you planning attending any festivals?

We’re doing a lot of the festival circuit this year, starting with Sunrise, Beach Break then Glastonbury, Secret Garden, Manifest, Green Man just to name a few. Bring on the summer!!!!

-Who would you want to work with?

We’ve just recorded some new tracks that should be ready in a few weeks and are planning to just keep writing new songs and getting tighter as a band. We’re also doing a show in Germany and one in Austria which will be new for us and really would like to go to Brazil over the winter to play there.

-Who would you want to work with?

Gogol Bordello, Amy Winehouse, Buena Vista Social Club, Cat Empire, Shantel, Young Blood Brass Band, Ojos de Brujo, The Specials, Toots and the Maytals, Casper, Stenchman. There are obviously more, but it would fill an entire page and it’s probably the only sunny day left of English summer and I need to lye on the beach!

-How has it been for you guys as a band with all the changes within the music industry, you been getting a lot of support?

I’m not really up to date on the changes in the industry, I just know its always been hard to be an artist of any sort and I have no illusions as to how hard it is to make things happen. It was the same before and its the same after, the rest are just details. There has been a lot of support from Chai Wallah and Jungle Drums and especially our manager, Sirius.

-Best advice you’ve been given?

Stop panicking and be patient. Bascially keep calm and carry on (or carry sausage).

-And, if you where to give me advice about starting a band what would it be?

Find the right people. You can have an amazing player who’s lovely but doesn’t have the vibe of the music. Every one in the band is fucking important, it’s a team. Also don’t jeopardize your dreams for the sake of being nice, you’ll regret it. We’re all going to die so make the most of it.