Another Exclusive aKING Interview
When Hunter Kennedy and Jaco Venter of Fokofpolisiekar fame, got together with friends Laudo Liebenberg and Hennie van Halen the band aKING was born…
They met at various different functions “Hunter, Laudo & Snake went to school together and met me (Hennie) through mutual friends and church & parties…”
On the name Hunter (whom I also interviewed) says “it was going to be called KING, when we checked that there’s some Scandinavian folk act with the same name. Like PRINCE, QUEEN, PRINCESS, KING, you know? So instead of The King, we decided on aKING and the wordplay didn’t hurt”
They came together in early 2008 and the fact that 2 of the members came from Fokofpolisiekar caused many to wonder if aKING was merely trying to ride off the success that was Fokofpolisiekar but how wrong they were, aKING established themselves as a force to be reckoned with, delivering three no 1 hit singles, and their debut album “Dutch Courage” was hailed as one of the “best rock releases in SA in 2008”.
The band is influenced by artists like “Bruce Springsteen, Roy Orbison, and Lionel Richie.” And the process of recording ‘Dutch Courage’ was “Long and Tedious and Cathartic and Awesome and Shit and Stressful and Hilarious.” Working with Johnny De Ridder was “like spooning my girlfriend.” says Hunter and when asked if anything off the wall happened whilst in studio the response was “Nope. Just the usual late night drug-induced nervous breakdowns.” (laughs)..
“I [Hunter] started playing guitar when I was 16. I started making music because I had to. There was no other way. No other decision to make.” Hennie adds “half the achievement [in the music industry] is being a full-time musician, but if what we do could create greater interest in the local industry it would benefit all of us in the long run.”
The thing that makes performing worthwhile is “the applause! It’s great seeing people loving to listen and party to what you love doing!”.
As for the new things happening well, “we are currently writing the new album, to be released early in 09 and have a new single that’s being released called “In The Twilight”
Being featured on the BRC package was “Awesome! Like flipping through a family album and thanking god that you’re in it!” the BRC package featured a series of notable artists all from Bellville such as The Springbok Nude Girls and more recent well-known names such as Jax Panik, Ashtray Electric and New Holland.
When asked about the craziest or funniest things that has happened at a show? The response was “Jeez…I don’t know! It takes quite alot to take us by surprise, I reckon. Most of the really exciting stuff happens afterwards!”
Within the band either Hunter or Snake take the longest to get ready before a gig, as for side projects Hunter is also in Die Heuwels Fantasties. The ‘honour’ of the biggest rubbish talker goes to all of them as “you can’t say who talks the most rubbish, if trash-talking is the band hobby!” and the messiest on tour? Well…”It gets pretty messy on tour, baby!”
That’s aKING for you-now get ready; they are taking over one hit at a time…
Enjoy the video for their hit ‘Safe as Houses’ below
xx
yours in musical madness
[...] Enjoy, the video for ‘I believe’ below and take a look at another interview I got with the guys here. [...]
[...] aKing – Against all Odds: [...]
[...] @ MySpace aKING – Official Website aKING @ Facebook aKING @ LastFM aKING – Overtone Another Exclusive aKING Interview aKING – Against All Odds – Musical Mover Categories: Music Tags: [...]
[...] that well. After this me and one of my friends made our way to the front of the main stage to watch aKING perform. And they definately did not disappoint, hearing the whole crowd sing along to Safe as [...]
What a stunning show last night. You guys rock!! Cant wait for the next show!!