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Biography
Having learned to play the guitar, piano and cello from an early age, and being classically trained singer, Charles would regularly perform in his school’s choir. He began writing songs when he 17 having fallen in love with country music and used the guitar as a creative outlet. Following a couple of terms studying sociology at Durham University, Charles returned to his hometown of London with the pseudonym King Charles.
Shortly after, Charles formed the indie-rock band Adventure Playground who called West London’s ‘Bosun’s Locker” their home. After touring with the likes of Laura Marling and Noah and the Whale in the UK, the band split in 2008. As a result Charles launched his solo career in 2009 around the same time as winning the prestigious International Songwriting Competing in Nashville, with a voting panel consisting of Tom Waits, Kings of Leon and Timbaland amongst others.
With an appearance that’s somewhere in between 18th Century royal aristocracy and Prince, and music that lands somewhere between psychedelic rock and indie-folk, King Charles has been turning heads since his debut single “Time of Eternity” in 2010. The single earned the singer-songwriter a host of positive responses including support from online musical press and UK radio DJs including Zane Lowe and Lauren Laverne.
In late 2010 King Charles supported Mumford & Sons on their sold-out tour of the U.S. and signed an international record deal with Universal Republic in conjunction to his independent UK label Mi7 Records. King Charles released his debut album “Loveblood” in May 2012, which reached No. 26 in the UK Albums Chart. The album was supported by an extensive tour and spawned the singles “Bam Bam”, Love Lust” and “Ivory Road”.
Live reviews
King Charles is an extravagantly-dreadlocked, cavalier-moustached alternative folk pop artist. The man himself describes his music as ‘glam-folk.’ The extrovert look, combined with his extreme arrogance on stage, makes for an entertaining, if not always likeable, image. Others seem to agree. King Charles is currently making a bit of a splash and is deemed the next big thing on the scene. He’s been enjoying greater media attention and a slot on the John Peel stage at this year’s Glastonbury.
I saw King Charles in last year Think Tank @ Hoults Yard in Newcastle. The warehouse location provided the ideal setting for King Charles’s indie tunes. The audience packed into the venue and was keen to get involved. The lively crowd quickly got into the swing of things, enthusiastically singing along to Mississippi Isabel’s repetitive refrain: ‘she kissed me once, I took her out for lunch, and she never kissed me again…’
As he often does when performing at larger venues, King Charles gave his music a more alt rock twist, which works when performing folk-pop hits to a less intimate audience.
King Charles is interesting and thoroughly entertaining. My advice is book tickets before he gets too big and prices shoot right up!
Han93
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