Q&A: Syncr Music Competition Winner Alexis Kings – Velvet

For those readers that haven’t heard of you before could you tell us a little bit about the band, your story?

The band started when Sam & Myself (Brendan) became friends in school many years ago. We played a couple of shows to friends but never really took the band seriously until we left university. This is when we wrote our first EP Squire. Around this time is when we met our drummer Fabio and started to gig a lot more consistently. Our debut single from the EP ‘Squire’ reached #8 in the Spotify UK viral chart which helped a lot with our immanent touring as a full band to where we are today. Now we are starting to sell out UK shows and have plans for shows all over the world which is incredible.

Who inspired you to get on stage and perform?

I don’t think anyone in particular in my life. My Grandad and Dad both have great voices. I was always just obsessed with music. I guess I have always idolised other frontmen growing up. Mick Jagger, Jim Morrison and Pelle Almqvist from The Hives are probably my favourite.

I have always admired out and out frontmen, Nothing to hide behind.

Are there any particular artists or albums that have stuck with you throughout the years?

There are quite a few albums that stick out, however, I get obsessions over specific songs, many very different over the years

Specifically, there are three songs that have always had a big impression on me from the first time I ever heard them.

Michael Jackson – Stranger in Moscow

Kings of Leon – Pyro

Arctic Monkeys – Crying Lightning

Could you tell us a bit about the writing/recording of the Syncr Music winning track Velvet?

Velvet is a song that came about during a rehearsal. I had the idea of an intro of a simple kick-snare and before you know it, within ten minutes we were playing through the whole song, Melodies & hooks. The best one’s always come quickly. I also have a voice note of the original version of when we played it on my phone.

How was the response to your latest single “Surrender”?

The response has been amazing and it was interesting to see how many people had come to hear it at our shows on this recent tour. It had only been out two weeks and a few knew every word, that’s what we like to see.

We wanted to release it first because it holds a lot of the values of the direction we’re going to be moving in. This is when we’re at our best both live and as musicians.

What is the most interesting venue you have performed at?

We have played a few random shows, as every band does. But the strangest was probably on a farm where it was pouring down with rain and none of the electrics were covered. Thinking about it was probably pretty dangerous but at the time we weren’t in the clearest frame of mind when we were playing this show.

Here at Artistic Echoes, we are always on the lookout for new artists do you have anyone to recommend?

Our friends Maximum Love & Apex are both excellent.

What plans for you have for the rest of the year?

We have some amazing things in the pipeline, a lot of which we can’t yet mention. But 3rd of March we are heading out to India to play a few shows for Hard Rock Cafe.  Whilst we are there we have become ambassadors of the charity Well’s on Wheel’s where we will be visiting some of the local villages to help the families as-well-as playing a little show for the locals.

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