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| Source: king neptune Official Facebook Page / © @jessica_darling24 |
Kick back into the vibe of the sixties, as the gritty mumbles of the radio welcome you into cerulean drugstores during the charmingly warm summer. While reaching across from the array of bulbed perfume bottles for a cherry cola, the once inaudible radiowaves fizz into life and pump out fresh, thick guitar riffs and fiery vocals, catapulting you into the angst of the modern age. The air of the sixties aesthetic is still present, coexisting with the driven stylism of the modern artist - and somehow king neptune manage to perfectly mesh the two.
The quintet is so divergent from others, with their blooming lyrics and instrumentation that swells into plumes of muted pastel colours. I spoke to Ian (Kenny, vocals and guitar) about the reasoning behind why this band is a perfectly graveled anomaly, 'I've been writing songs since I was about fourteen or fifteen, in and out of various bands with friends and peers in the music scene here on Long Island. I have an appreciation for story-telling through song and believe our attention to lyrical detail separates us from other artists and bands in our genre.'
I first heard of king neptune when I was on a trip to Berlin, mid-spring a couple of years ago. The pale heat was dwindling as dusk drew in and I sat with friends on the train back to the hostel. Being an edgy teenager and all, I looped one headphone under my t-shirt and wore only one. king neptune's 'Black Hole' pummelled into my left ear as a recommendation based on my pre-existing anthology of favoured tracks. I was confused as to how my phone stumbled onto this song, as no other music on my phone at the time even compared to the blushed energy of this band - but I'm sure grateful that it did. I don't think I listened to anything else for the remainder of the trip.
Their debut EP, 'A Place to Rest My Head', released in 2016, knotted up the grit, angst and irresistible melodic capabilities of this band, kicking them into the limelight of the alternative summer. More recently, the 2017 release of sophomore EP, 'Get Lost Among the Flowers Ep.', released on wavey records, loosened these knots and rearranged them into pleasing bows. The diverse capabilities of king neptune highlight that their fizzing popularity is gearing up for rejuvenation, as they deserve much, much more attention than what they are currently receiving.
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| Source: all night (house show music video) / king neptune on Youtube |
Generally, most of my songs begin with a vocal or lyrical idea and a simple chord arrangement on either guitar or piano. From there, I craft the story and work out key production ideas in the studio or jam out with the live band to feel out every song from every angle. I like to have a nice, even mix of working on the song by my lonesome and with other musicians, friends, peers, producers of whom I trust and value input from. I think it allows me to stay attached, but stay self-aware of what my music is actually sounding like or turning into as songs and records develop.'
In a continued appreciation of Ian's literary craft, I asked 'If you had to get one of your own lyrics tattooed, what would it be and why?', a question that led to a charmingly authentic response, 'This is tough. I don't think I'll ever get words tattooed on me for the sake of my ever-evolving mind. (...) My favourite lines change daily, as I find new attachments to old songs or new songs as they live and breathe on the internet and at shows, rehearsals or in my head. So today, I think I'd get something from 'wildflowers', which is a tune I wrote with my mother in mind. A song about unconditional love for something you have no control over and will never understand why or how much you love it.'
'You fell asleep in the garden, and fell in love with the dirt, oh but the wildflowers grow in their own ways.'
'(It is) a call-out to my spirit, which is different from my mother's. We are very different, and this is a reference to having an understanding that I've lived my life, in my own way and she's had to deal with that and loves me otherwise.'
king neptune's gleaming aesthetics, thick vocals, and delightfully reminiscent music encapsulate their raw talent in its fullness. The project consists of Ian Kenny, Tommy Fleischmann, Jordan Schneider, Steve Kupillas and Tom Costa, a group of unapologetically emotive guys with the sole intention of creating music that is fuelled by their adoration of the craft. Curious as to where Ian in particular gains inspiration for king neptune's retro-drenched creations, I asked, and underestimated the clarity of his response.
'My influence is from the life I live, music I enjoy, and the people and things I live among. I strive to be aware of my surroundings and understanding of people overall. My music is both inspired by the night and day, the sun and the rain. I'm one big mood ring and conveying that in my music has been the most important goal. I'm going to put out music for the rest of my life, and it's going to evolve and change or stay the same - I can't predict the future, I just know it's going to be one-hundred-percent me and thoughts, stories.'
Their most recent single release, 'Terrify Me' paints king neptune in a macabre wash and only briefly dulls the muted pastels of their spanning aesthetic. The directional possibilities of this band are endless, and I really hope you support them with whichever journey they decide to take next.
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| Source: bandcamp.com |
king neptune are working on a record for early next year and are playing shows in the New York region until they have some new music out!
