Alvarez Kings – Words I Couldn’t Say

By starrymag | September 2, 2020

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) We would say, ethereal and melodic. We like to incorporate synth soundscapes, pop vocal melodies with a base of heavy guitars.

 

Q) Who are some of your greatest musical influences?

 

A) I think we can all agree that the band and album that made us realize this is what we want to do as a career was when The Strokes came on the scene and released Is This It. Simon and I were young and impressionable and they just seemed so refreshing at the time. Before that, all we really had for guitar music were poor acoustic rock bands and the aftermath of Oasis. We loved their style and back-to-basics indie music.

The Beatles were some of the earliest memories we had from our parents playing their records when we were younger.

More currently we have opened up to most styles of music. I listen to a lot of hip-hop and house music, Aidan digs country music while Simon is good at discovering the next big thing in pop and indie.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your recent single “Words I Couldn’t Say.”

 

A) It was a song that, as soon as we created the idea, we knew that we had to finish it. Simon had the initial idea when making over his spare room into his baby daughter’s nursery. He said when the room was empty, he found the acoustics awesome and he started firing voice memos over. And, yes, the acoustics did sound great! The song is a story of an uncontrollable collision course of self-destruction from drug and alcohol abuse. We like to think of it as the desolation of a failed relationship and self-blame.

 

Q) What is it about the song that you feel the fans will connect with?

 

A) The lyrical content is a subject matter everyone can relate to. We all know someone who has abused drugs or alcohol and the impact it has had on the people around them. Maybe the upbeat production can put a positive spin on the situation and help them through it.

 

Q) With the release of “Words I Couldn’t Say,” when can fans expect the next album and what can we look forward to?

 

A) We will be releasing the next single very soon and then the album will come out at some point later this year. You can expect that usual Alvarez Kings sound – big production, analogue synths, guitar riffs and lyrics that everyone can I identify with.

 

Q) Back in April you released a second version of “Sleepwalking, Part II” on YouTube, utilizing previously unreleased tour footage. How did you come to the decision to create this second version of the video for your fans?

 

A) The fans love to see behind the scenes and we had tones of footage we’d filmed while on the road that no one had ever seen. Some of it should never been seen by the rest of the world! When the pandemic hit, we wanted to get out more content out to the fans and the perfect way to do that was to let them behind the curtain. Hopefully, it provided a sense of nostalgia and of happier times.

 

Q) Even though live music is currently on hold, what is your favorite part about performing live for your fans?

 

A) Just the connection we feel with them especially during those intimate shows. We’ve put years of blood, sweat and tears into making our music and to see it being enjoyed and sang back to us by other people feels so rewarding. That adrenaline rush before going onstage is like nothing you can create anywhere else. It is the greatest high of them all.

 

Q) What has been your favorite song to perform live and why?

 

A) I would have to say our set usual set closer “Postcards From Berlin.” It is more guitar heavy than the rest of the songs, so performing it live there’s just such an energy in the room. The fans just let themselves go completely free during its performance.

 

Q) You have a pretty strong fan base following on social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) These are the people who are giving us a platform to do what we love most in life. They are very important to us and that is why we go out of our way to connect with them and to be as open and honest as possible.

 

Q) Given the opportunity, who would you like to collaborate with on a song or project?

 

A) Probably a bit of a wildcard but someone like Deadmau5 would be really interesting to have in the studio with us. I’ve listened to some of his online tutorials and his knowledge in electronic music is high. It would be a great lesson for us especially with our last few releases having a strong electronic element to them.

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

 

A) I have the new Run The Jewels’ album 4 on repeat right now. I love how they dip their toes into the old school when it comes to hip-hop production. Killer Mike and El-P are very talented rappers and have a message to say in a lot of their lyrics. Not only that but their live shows are very reminiscent of a rock show. The crowd is wild.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of the band and your work?

 

A) A huge thank you to everyone that has supported us over the years. If it wasn’t for you guys, we wouldn’t be doing what we love most in this world. Now that the world is getting back to normal, we hope you enjoyed all the stuff we were doing on social media during lockdown. Some fans were having a difficult time I went out of my way to chat with them. If you have any problems don’t hesitate reaching out to us.

 

 

All Questions Answered By Paul Thompson