Spring King
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Spring King are one of the UK's most exciting new bands, no question. But it's not in their nature to take the easy route. From a bathroom-based de facto studio to their superb debut album 'Tell Me If You Like To', their story is a victory for any band plugging away endlessly in the hope of one day achieving their dreams.
In summer 2012 and with his parents away, Tarek began to write songs as
Spring King. He had the entire house to himself. "I felt like
this was the most honest way to go. I was obsessed. I woke up and I
wanted to write music." Eventually, best mate Pete Darlington told Tarek
to put these songs in motion. They hastily formed a band and booked a
show without having a drummer - hence why Tarek took on the double-duty.
Shortly after, they asked guitarist Andrew Morton to join. Bassist James
Green replied to a Facebook ad Tarek put out. He couldn't play bass, but
he purchased one on Gumtree, as you do.
As a settled four-piece, Spring King have racked up close to two hundred shows, some game-changing moments. Their first stateside trips to CMJ in 2014 and SXSW in 2015 playing the BBC Introducing showcase marking the band out as British talent capable of taking the transatlantic jump. The summer prior, BBC Radio 1's Huw Stephens picked them to play a slot on his Lake Stage at Latitude Festival. Plus tours with some of the country's biggest names - from Wolf Alice to Slaves - gave them a platform to launch from.
While on the road, DJs like Zane Lowe, BBC Radio 6 Music's Steve Lamacq and Triple J's Zan Rowe have fallen for the group's in-your-face, enlivened force. They've been press darlings from the start, too. NME and DIY have been loyal fans, while The Guardian, Stereogum and The Line of Best Fit have also tracked their journey.
In terms of live shows, they cite last year's tour with Courtney Barnett as a defining moment. For one, it was the first time they'd played to so many people. And it's where Spring King began to develop their insane, eye-catching live presence. All of a sudden, they had room on stage. Tarek found himself at the back of giant rooms, which led to the maniacal, in-your-face showmanship Pete, James and Andy collectively sport. "They knew that at the front, they had to take over," says Tarek.
Then, in June 2015, the band's fortunes were given a huge boost.
Zane Lowe opened his first ever Beats 1 show on Apple Music with 'City',
a raucous call to arms fully capable of starting a new era. Zane's love
of 'City' was already proudly declared in his BBC Radio 1 days. The song
followed him from London to LA, without pause. But this time, millions
were listening in. Tech-heads, Apple enthusiasts and the entire music
industry were waiting for this first play, and to Spring King's
shock, it was their latest single that opened the station's doors. In
four bizarre and unexpected minutes, the band's status was transformed.
Publications like Wired, Billboard and USA Today suddenly wanted their
say. A&Rs flocked in their droves. Fence-sitters who didn't stake their
claim or even have a concrete opinion - began to turn their heads, too.
Years of hard work paid off in a crazy moment that barely any other new
band will ever experience. Spring King were suddenly everyone's
business.
Zane's game-changing Beats 1 play was coupled with shows at Reading & Leeds - two experiences Tarek describes as a "headfuck." Label offers flocked and eventually, in late 2015, they settled on Island Records, a major who wanted the band to retain their creative control. "Spring King started as a self-sufficient thing and we always want it to be like that. It came down to the label that'd give us more control over the album."
'Tell Me If You Like To' captures the chaos and rollercoaster turns of Spring King's previous few years. It possesses the same 100mph, blink-and-you-missed-it spirit as debut track 'Let's Ride', coupled with moments of stark clarity. 'The Summer' is a homage to heroes The Beach Boys and a dead cert go-to anthem for 2016. 'Rectifier' and 'Demons' wrestle with fear and paranoia. 'Who Are You?' is the blistering garage rock sister track to 'City.'
But throughout, these emotionally twisted songs are ready to be embraced
by thousands. These are party songs with a melancholic edge, Tarek
citing an amped-up Arcade Fire or Lykke Li's 'I Follow Rivers' as
influence. "It's so dark. But everyone's partying to it," is the motto.
He vividly remembers summertime as a teen, guitar songs blaring out of
car stereos and soundtracking the reckless parties he'd host in his
empty house. "We want this record to be that moment in other people's
lives."
Spring King have never been a band with a grand multi-year plan.
And this only goes to further emphasise the crazy journey that's just
taken place. The story is reflected in the video for recent single
'Rectifier', which lifts a lid on the last few years. Tarek starts
drumming in an empty, deep-black room, before being joined by Pete.
Those are the early days. This room then transforms into a studio, James
and Andy getting involved - the formation of a proper band. The studio
then morphs into a full capacity venue, all flailing arms and crazed
fans - a fixture of Spring King's current rise. It's a neat,
timely summary of everything that's happened up to now.
The only time these four have ever been properly settled - and not on the road whisked elsewhere - was when they stepped into The Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire, to record the debut. Like being given keys to the city, a new wave of inspiration allowed them to complete this remarkable record within weeks. "There wasn't any harm in just going for it." And in this statement, they sum up the mantra that's already taken them this far. No reservations, they've taken every opportunity that's come their way. The odds are on their side. The next step is anyone's guess.
Spring King
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16 Aug, 2018
Spring King: Dork Cover Stars
Spring King are the cover stars of the September 2018 issue of Dork magazine.
See them on tour in the UK during September.
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13 Aug, 2018
Rize Festival 2018
The Rize Festival takes place next weekend in Chelmsford, Essex & features a whole host of Primary Talent International artists.
Friday 17th August
...Plan B
...Circa Waves
...Dave
...Tom Grennan
...Jacob Banks
...Brand New FriendSaturday 18th August
...Maximo Park
...The Manor
...Bad Sounds
...Kawala
...Majestic
...Jaguar Skills
...Spring King
...Ten Tonnes
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25 Jul, 2018
Bestival Circus 2018
Bestival takes place in Lulworth Cove from 2nd to 5th August, and the Circus stage will feature:
Saturday 4th August
...Superfood
...LaurelSunday 5th August
...Spring King
...Anteros
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23 Jul, 2018
Bingley Music Live 2018
The Bingley Music Live festival takes place in Myrtle Park, Bingley from 31st August to 2nd September, and features a whole host of Primary Talent International artists, including the Sunday night headliner Noel Gallagher.
Friday 31st August
...The Sherlocks
...Pale Waves
...The Night Cafe
...Jordan AllenSaturday 1st September
...Public Image Ltd
...Rat Boy
...Spector
...Spring King
...Bad Sounds
...TOUTS
...Brand New FriendSunday 2nd September
...Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (Headliner)
...Ride
...Neon Waltz
...Nerina Pallot
...RedFaces
...Rosborough
...Bryde
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19 Jul, 2018
Bestival: House Of Vans Venue
Bestival in collaboration with House Of Vans, has announced a new venue at their festival at Lulworth Cove in August. Primary Talent International artists performing there will be:
...Spring King
...Laurel
...Superfood
...Anteroswww.nme.com/news/music/bestival-2018-line-up-additions-2356318
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27 Apr, 2018
Bingley Music Live 2018
The Bingley Music Live festival takes place from 31st August to 2nd September. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds will headline, and many other Primary Talent International artists will participate.
...Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (Headline)
...Ride
...Public Image Ltd.
...Rat Boy
...The Sherlocks
...Spector
...Spring King
...Nerina Pallot
...The Night Cafe
...Jordan Allen
...RedFaces
...Bad Sounds
...TOUTS
...Rosborough
...Bryde
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20 Mar, 2018
Neighbourhood Weekender 2018
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds will headline the Neighbourhood Weekender festival in Warrington, over 26th / 27th May. Many other Primary Talent artists will also be participating at the event.
Saturday 26th May
...Circa Waves
...The Magic Gang
...Spring King
...Blaenavon
...The Night Cafe
...RedFaces
...The Pale White
...TOUTSSunday 27th May
...Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (Headline)
...The Sherlocks
...DMA'S
...Tom Grennan
...Ten Tonnes
...Neon Waltz
...Anteros
...King Nun
...Rosborough