Kingsway roared onto the airwaves earlier this month with It Is What Is, a soft rock single that saw the band navigate life’s uncertainties.
A return to the classic rock stylings of Australia circa 2010, the track arrived like a breath of fresh air, ushering in what’s sure to be a breakout moment for the Melbourne quintet.
So feverish was our reaction to the single that we simply had to catch up with Kingsway to chat all things It Is What It Is, guitar riffs as light bulb moments, and taking time out of their day to “ponder existence.”
Read our full interview with Kingsway below, and scroll down to listen to their new single It Is What It Is.
HAPPY: What are you up to today?
KINGSWAY: New tunes! A spark of inspiration, as a response to the current political situation, has set the band, collectively, on a creative wave of explorative jam sessions (enhanced by a few jars down the local) to develop “Blame” which, funds permitting, will be Kingsways next release (you heard it here first!).
HAPPY: Tell us about where you are from? What’s the scene like in your neck of the woods?
KINGSWAY: Sunny Scunny aka Scunthorpe! A steeltown in the north of England with a long history of a vibrant grass roots indie scene, centred around the Cafe Indie venue where Liam’s dad showcases up and coming artists.
The wider music scene across our part of the world has embraced us by providing opportunities to play sets in nearby cities, both as a support and headlining at venues such as the Washington and West street live in Sheffield and The Polar Bear and Adelphi in Hull.
HAPPY: Describe an average day?
KINGSWAY: Eat – sleep – write tunes – ponder existence – repeat
HAPPY: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your latest single, “It Is What It Is”?
KINGSWAY: Picture this: it’s a blazing hot day (we don’t get many of those here so we really appreciate them when they come around), around June 2020, and Liam, Alex and I are meandering across the expansive fields of north lincolnshire to find a spot to chill and relax with guitars, to leave behind the fear and chaos created through the lockdowns.
Alex, out of the blue, shares a riff that he’s been working on and wham!Just like that,I am transported back to reflect on a time when my mental health had hit rock bottom and I was immediately inspired with a new perspective, casting a new warm light on what was a dark and repressive memory that was transformed and now felt uplifting and hopeful.
There was a new meaning behind that time and that inspiration fuelled the song’s development.
Our dream is to share this insight with others, to reframe the harsh and bitter experiences we sometimes encounter, into stonking good tunes that uplift spirits and carry you away for a while.
HAPPY: How would you describe the overall sound and vibe of the track?
KINGSWAY: I’d say Mr. Disalvo put it perfectly, nothing over complicated, a back to basics number that focuses on the right things, a strong melody with big warm guitars, lyrics that actually mean something to the writer and a good tight track.
HAPPY: What was the creative process like when writing and recording the song?
KINGSWAY: Again, casting your mind back to that lockdown period where there really wasn’t much to shout about, recording our music was a beacon of hope and something to escape from that dreary period.
Recording was a blast in the countryside for a weekend at our studio, a hotbed of ideas with the 5 of us in the end trying our best not to kill each other.
HAPPY: The review mentions a nostalgic quality in your music. Are there specific influences or eras that inspire your sound?
KINGSWAY: As a group we have eclectic tastes ranging from the 60’s with The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Led zeppelin and of course Jimi Hendrix to Sublime, Snuts, Blossoms, Cage the Elephant and Paolo Nutini. There is punk for a livener, soul for the chill and a penchant for fine old school hip hop.
We have a newfound regard for the Australian music scene and would love to see (and one day support?) Sticky Fingers, Spacey Jane or Dope Lemon, to name a few. Hoping that you guys could link us up.
HAPPY: Can you share more about the themes explored in “It Is What It Is” and how they resonate with your experiences or perspectives?
KINGSWAY: I believe songs are a personal note to the listener for them to interpret in their own way. For me this song is about facing things head on and not getting caught up in the cogs and wheels.
One in particular is the idea of facing things head on and shifting focus to the centre of attention, instead of searching for escapes, slowing down in the moment and trusting that you have the answers because that’s when the best things seem to happen.
Meditation helped me get there, letting go of things that couldn’t be controlled, a release of energy but in a good way, trying to lace this in the song.
HAPPY: Looking ahead, what are your plans and aspirations for the band in the upcoming year?
KINGSWAY: Touring a bit further afield from our northern roots and breaking into the festival scene – recording and releasing our first album (you heard it here first).
Playing with artists that we listen to now is the goal, I always wanted to play at brixton academy and get a slot at glasto, so if in a year’s time we’d done those two, I’d consider myself to be content.
HAPPY: Lastly, what makes you happy:
KINGSWAY: The first car listen of when we’ve mixed and mastered a tune and it’s just right, that feeling is scary good. Love an ice bath anorl.
