Getting to Know… Kingsfoil | Interview

In the 431^st Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from the UK alternative rock-funk fusion band, Kingsfoil.

“You can nod your head clean off, start a mosh pit, shake your hips, and throw some shapes throughout our set.” Rock on, Kingsfoil! Formed in 2019,  we get the inside scoop on the UK alternative, rock-funk fusion band’s genesis, goals, musical influences, and current and future musical endeavors. So, without further ado or spoilers, let’s jump into Getting to Know…Kingsfoil: Interview No. 431!

For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes Kingsfoil distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

I think our set brings together all the best parts of a live show. You can nod your head clean off, start a mosh pit, shake your hips, and throw some shapes throughout our set. Our chorus hooks will be stuck in your head long after you leave the venue (we’ve been told) so what is there not to love? We all grew up attending live shows in dark, dingy basements and I feel like it shows that we’re at home in these sorts of spaces.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Kingsfoil form, and what were some of your goals or visions early?

Back in 2019 we formed to support a solo EP release I was doing. We’re all fans of JRR Tolkien and Middle Earth so we took inspiration from the world he created for our band name, and we set off on an adventure to take our music to some large festival stages. We’ve yet to get there as COVID was a huge setback for us, and we had a lineup change almost immediately afterward, so 2024 has been our first year really.

Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or perspectives changed since starting? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

I don’t think our goals have changed. We all want to make it onto a big festival stage and form a large fan base of followers, but it does certainly take time and huge amount of consistent effort. It can feel a little fruitless at times, but when you get that final pressing of your music, or you get onto the stage you realize all the hard work to get there was worth all of the effort. There is nothing quite like it in this world.

Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Whom would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

So many things influence us. Personally, I love hearing new bands that are doing something that just connects with me in that moment. Sometimes, I listen to music and I’m not in the right space at the time, but later on it comes back around and it becomes my new favorite thing and I just listen to it on loop. I feel albums or songs like that become a part of you and influence your being – they’ve resonated with some part of your being. Bands and musicians I would put in that category for very different reasons would be Incubus, Michale Jackson, Queen, Thin Lizzy, InMe & Dave McPherson, City & Colour & Alexisonfire, Alter Bridge and Prince. If there’s a vocal, guitar riff, or rhythm that chimes with me, then I’m hooked.

Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

Being a guitarist as well as a vocalist, I’ve had my guitar strap come off mid-song, smashed the jack plug into pieces in the input. I had to quickly remove it and plug another jack plug in before slinging my strap back on and taking my solo. Exhilarating problem-solving in the heat of the moment.

To this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

My favorite song I’ve ever written and subsequently performed has to be “Whips & Chains” [which arrived] on October 25th. It started as a funky, choppy mess around at home and turned into a fun, suggestive, and edgy track. Recording it, with high falsetto harmonies was extremely fun, and hitting some of the high notes evoked some raised eyebrows in the studio which was a great moment.

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left-of-center we should know about Kingsfoil? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

It wouldn’t be a secret talent if I shared it with you now would it? That being said, people are often surprised to find out I’m actually left-handed and left-footed, considering I play the guitar right-handed.

What is Kingsfoil currently working on or promoting that you can share? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

“Whips & Chains” arrived as a video release (looks ridiculous and insane by the way) on Friday, October 25^th. Shortly afterward we will be releasing details about our EP due out before the end of the year (you read it here first).

Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward. 

Follow… Kingsfoil: Instagram • Facebook • Spotify • YouTube • Website

Getting to Know… Kingsfoil: Interview No. 431 [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Kingsfoil; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Królestwo Nauki, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pete Linforth, Tumisu from Pixabay]