Dressed up in cultish imagery, complex lyricism and a mutating, tradition-be-damned approach to rock music’s typical sonic palette, King Nun’s long-awaited debut album Mass is a coming-of-age record like few others. To celebrate its release, the band are heading on tour, including a stop at Manchester’s Soup Kitchen. We caught up with them to find out all about the new release and what they love about the city!
How does it feel to have the album out?
Great, really great. I’m really happy that it seems to be well liked, I’m really glad I’m still such a big fan of it as a piece of work. That last bit is really important to me.
How has the band developed since those first singles to now?
We’ve become better musicians and can now write closer to what we feel. We’ve toured all over and with all those experiences comes more people and places to draw inspiration from. We understand a great deal more about what it is we want to write about too. Other than that, we’re still trying to do what we’ve always wanted to do, inspire as we have been inspired. That’s the motto and always has been.
What songs are you excited to play off the album most?
‘Black Tree’ is working out very well. At first there was some difficulty with that song, the beautiful symphonic parts in the recording had us question our serious apprehension to using a backing track live. We practised with playback a few times before our manager Glen Rowe asked us to play without it for a while. At first I hated it, couldn’t stand how barren it was. But, Glen and the band insisted that it worked, eventually I caved and after months of playing it like that we’ve refined it into a very confrontational, very exposed part of our set. It’s a good time in the set for us to create a big moment and learning to step up to that has personally helped me as a performer a lot.
Have you got any fond memories of playing in Manchester?
Always. I really love Manchester, I always do my best to get out into the city when I’m there. For whatever reason I feel some sense of homecoming despite having never lived there, or even stayed for any extended period of time. It’s my favourite place to tour in England. Couldn’t say if it’s the people, the culture or the architecture in particular, maybe all of it but I love it. I want to go there to make something, maybe another album or something else I’m not sure I just wanna go and do cool s**t in Manchester all the time.
You’re playing Soup Kitchen, what’s your go to choices of soup at this time of year?
Tomato soup in my eye gland
Any pre-gig rituals?
Just the one!
Why should people come to see your show?
I invite everyone to come on down and lose themselves for a bit, come and join our escapism.
If (when) your band have stans, what are you calling them?
I really don’t know. I’ve asked the others in our van and the general consensus is we’ll call them all by their individual full names. Maybe sunshine people or something not wet I don’t know.
If you could design your stage outfit, with an unlimited budget, what would it be?
Honestly, I’ve thought about it for a while and I can’t really think of anything I might want to wear specifically on stage. A really good pair of socks would be great, I find there’s something about a thicker pair of socks in my boots that helps with all the jumping and sliding around so there is that. Otherwise I’m good, I’m really sentimental about things so even with that opportunity I’m more likely to stay in my older clothes.
Message for your Manchester fans?
You’re great and we really love you a lot.
Tags: interview / king nun