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King Krule

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Not to be confused with King K. Rool.

King Krule
Marshall performing in Germany in 2013
Marshall performing in Germany in 2013
Background information
Birth nameArchy Ivan Marshall
Also known as
  • Zoo Kid
  • DJ JD Sports
  • Edgar the Beatmaker
  • Edgar the Breathtaker
  • Lankslacks
  • The Oozemaster
  • The Return of Pimp Shrimp
Born (1994-08-24) 24 August 1994 (age 30)
Southwark, London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
  • rapper
  • record producer
Instruments
Years active2010–present
Labels
Websitekingkrule.net

Archy Ivan Marshall (born 24 August 1994),[1] also known by his stage name King Krule, among other names, is an English singer, songwriter, musician, rapper and record producer.

He began recording music in 2010 under the moniker Zoo Kid. The following year he adopted his present name. He has released several EPs and his debut full-length album, 6 Feet Beneath the Moon, was released in 2013 to positive critical reception.[2] His third album, The Ooz, was released on 13 October 2017[3] and his fourth album, Man Alive!, was released on 21 February 2020[4] both to further critical acclaim. He released his fifth album, Space Heavy, in 2023.

His music blends elements of punk jazz with hip hop, darkwave, trip hop and post-punk.

Early life

Archy Marshall was born to Rachel Howard and Adam Marshall in Southwark, London.[1] He has family in the Czech Republic.[5] During an interview with The Guardian's Rob Fitzpatrick, Marshall said that from a young age, he experienced discipline issues and refused to go to school.[1] Throughout his childhood, he spent much of his time between his father's house in Peckham and his mother's house in East Dulwich; his mother was much less strict than his father, who had many rules.[1] Marshall recalls that his father had to physically carry him to school, otherwise he would skip and hide in his room.[1] Once he turned 13 years old, he was given a private house tutor. He was later accepted into the Brit School to study art, where he struggled with discipline initially, but soon found his place.[1]

Marshall has said that he was tested for several mental health conditions at London's Maudsley Hospital.[1] He claims that the tests took a toll on him; that the doctors, counsellors and psychiatrists were wrong most of the time; that he hated everybody; and that he would hide in his room for hours on end. He refers to his mental health issues, such as depression and insomnia, in some of his lyrics.[1]

During an interview with NPR, Marshall recalled that he often created art in many different media, as his parents encouraged creativity throughout his childhood.[6] He noted that visual art in particular is important to him, and he mentioned that he carefully crafts his music videos and album art such that they reflect his particular aesthetic sensibility.[6]

Career

During Marshall's years at Forest Hill School and then at the Brit School alongside long-time collaborator Jamie Isaac[7] between 2008 and 2011, he released two singles as "Zoo Kid". He created a genre of music called "Bluewave" and its form was realised in the mixtape entitled U.F.O.W.A.V.E. In July 2011, Marshall began playing under a new moniker, King Krule, at a festival in Hyères, France.[8] Later that year he released his eponymous debut EP. Contrary to some reports, his stage name is not inspired by the character of King K. Rool from the Donkey Kong Country video game series, but rather by the Elvis Presley film King Creole.[9]

On 9 December 2012, the BBC announced that he had been nominated for the Sound of 2013 poll.[10]

King Krule performing at Melt! Festival 2013

King Krule released his debut album 6 Feet Beneath the Moon on 24 August 2013, his 19th birthday. More than half of the tracks had already been released on his EPs.[11] This brought him to prominence, especially in the US, with performances on Conan and the Late Show with David Letterman.[12][13]

On 8 January 2014, he released a video for "A Lizard State" which gained over 800,000 views on YouTube.[14] In February 2014, King Krule appeared on the cover of The Fader in its 90th issue.[15]

In December 2015, under the name Archy Marshall, he released an album titled A New Place 2 Drown, which includes 12 songs, a 208-page book of visual art and text and a ten-minute documentary. He partnered with his brother, Jack Marshall, on this project.[16] In an interview with NPR, Marshall said that he wanted the album to have a physical component, as well as something for the eyes and the ears.[6] He released the album under the name Archy Marshall rather than King Krule to differentiate between the two different genres of music, as he claims that he thought of A New Place 2 Drown as a hip hop album rather than the dark alternative/jazz sound of 6 Feet Beneath the Moon.[6]

Marshall took to NTS Radio, hosted by Mount Kimbie, and released two songs under the name Edgar the Beatmaker. The first song is untitled, and the second is titled "When and Why".[17] In August 2017, Marshall released a new song entitled "Czech One". This was a King Krule release, the first since the release of his debut album in 2013. In September 2017, Marshall released a new song entitled "Dum Surfer", released under the name King Krule.[3] On 13 October, Marshall released his second full album The Ooz under King Krule. It included the singles released in the previous two months as well as 17 new songs. The album received positive reviews, and was ranked the #83 most discussed album of 2017 and the 75th most shared album of 2017 according to Metacritic.[3] The album ranked 23 out of 100 on Official Chart Ranking[18] and was ranked 8.7 out of 10 based on 56 ratings.[3] Pitchfork named the album the best rock album of 2017 and the third best album overall of 2017.[19][20] It was nominated for IMPALA's European Album of the Year Award.[21]

On 8 March 2018, a live performance of songs from "The Ooz" was uploaded to the Molten Jets YouTube channel, titled "King Krule – Live on the moon". This performance consisted of 8 different songs and was directed by Ja Humby.

On 19 November 2019, King Krule uploaded a video titled "Hey World!" on his Youtube channel. This video is an analog video recording of live acoustic performances of 4 songs from his third album, directed by Charlotte Patmore. On 14 January 2020, Marshall announced his third King Krule album titled Man Alive! and released the single "(Don't Let the Dragon) Draag On" , as well as the single "Alone, Omen 3" on 5 February.[22] Days before the album release, he released the single "Cellular" along with an animated music video, directed by Jamie Wolfe.[23] The album was released on 21 February.[24]

On 10 September 2021, King Krule released the live album You Heat Me Up, You Cool Me Down.[25]

On 9 June 2023, King Krule released the album Space Heavy.[26]

On 20 June 2024, King Krule released the EP SHHHHHHH!, along with a self-directed music video for the song "Time for Slurp".[27]

Musical style and influences

Many reviewers and journalists have noted King Krule's unusual transcendence and appropriation of disparate genres. His music has been described mainly with jazz derivatives such as punk jazz[28] and jazz fusion,[28] but also as darkwave,[29] post-punk and hip hop.[30] Writers have also noted elements of trip hop,[28][30][31] jazz rap and dub in some of his songs.[32] Jason Lymangrover of Allmusic states that his songs are mainly in the form of ballads with major seventh chords, but by contrast there is also a "grittiness" to Archy's voice and persona, portraying him as "the type of kid who would be quick to throw a punch without asking questions."[31]

His music has been likened to Morrissey and Edwyn Collins.[33] He is inspired by disparate influences such as Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, Josef K, Chet Baker, Fela Kuti, J Dilla, Billy Bragg, Aztec Camera (his godfather is the band's former drummer, Dave Ruffy) and The Penguin Cafe Orchestra.[29][34] Marshall said in an interview with The Guardian that he began his musical career with the influence of Pixies and The Libertines.[35]

Marshall's lyrics, according to a Flaunt magazine interview, generally consist of romance, sex, aggression, conflict, and depression. These themes link to his literary influences, in which Marshall further elaborated: "Literature, poems, songs are all very similar[.] I used to read lots of poetry and sit there for ages trying to decipher the meaning, or work out the narration behind it all, then I found my own form of that. [...] you can see how their metaphors develop and understand their uses. So really, I learnt to do that for myself."[36]

Personal life

Marshall is a co-parent with English photographer Charlotte Patmore. Patmore has been a collaborator with him on photography and videography projects for several years, and has been involved with several of his music videos, including the video for the song "Cadet Limbo", which Patmore directed.[37] In 2019, Patmore directed Hey World!, a video preceding the release of Marshall's album Man Alive!. They have one child, a daughter born in 2019.[38]

Live band

  • Archy Marshall – vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • James Wilson – bass, vocals
  • George Bass – drums
  • Jack Towell – guitar
  • Ben Hauke – keyboards, SFX
  • Ignacio Salvadores – saxophone

Discography

Studio albums

Album Details Peak positions
UK
[39] 		AUS
[40] 		DEN
[41] 		FRA
[42] 		GER
[43] 		SWE
[44] 		US
[45]
6 Feet Beneath the Moon 65 — 19 182 100 60 187
A New Place 2 Drown (as Archy Marshall)
  • Released: 10 December 2015
  • Label: XL/True Panther Sounds
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, cassette
 — — — — — — —
The Ooz
  • Released: 13 October 2017
  • Label: XL/True Panther Sounds
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, cassette
 23 51 — 124 — — 114
Man Alive!
  • Released: 21 February 2020
  • Label: XL/True Panther Sounds/Matador
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, cassette
 12 35 — 121 42 — 84
Space Heavy
  • Released: 9 June 2023[47]
  • Label: XL
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, cassette
 18 — — 191
[48] 		— — —[A]

Live albums

  • 2018: Live on the Moon (XL/True Panther Sounds/Matador)
  • 2021: You Heat Me Up, You Cool Me Down (XL/True Panther Sounds/Matador)

EPs

  • 2010: U.F.O.W.A.V.E. (self-released; as Zoo Kid)
  • 2010: Out Getting Ribs/Has This Hit 7" – single (House Anxiety Records; as Zoo Kid)
  • 2011: King Krule EP (True Panther)
  • 2012: Rock Bottom/Octopus 12" single (Rinse)
  • 2023: Aqrxvst Is The Band’s Name (self-released; as Aqrxvst, with Pretty V and Jadasea)
  • 2024: SHHHHHHH! (XL/Matador)

Other

  • 2014: City Rivims Mk 1 (self-released; w/ Sub Luna City)[50]

Guest appearances

Guest appearances, showing year released and album name
Title Year Artist(s) Album
"You Took Your Time" 2013 Mount Kimbie Cold Spring Fault Less Youth
"Meter, Pale, Tone"
"So Sick Stories" 2014 Ratking So It Goes
"Stackin' Skins" Trash Talk, Wiki No Peace
"Blue Train Lines" 2017 Mount Kimbie Love What Survives
"Turtle Neck Man" 2018 Non-album single
"Seahorse" 2021 Horsey Debonair
"Empty and Silent" 2024 Mount Kimbie The Sunset Violent
"Boxing"

Awards and nominations

Year Organisation Award Work Result
2012 BBC Sound of 2013 Sound of 2013[10] Himself Nominated
2017 IMPALA European Independent Album of the Year[21] The Ooz Nominated
2018 Hyundai Mercury Prize[51] Nominated

Notes

  1. ^ Space Heavy did not enter the Billboard 200, but peaked at number 42 on the Top Album Sales chart.[49]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Fitzpatrick, Rob (24 August 2013). "King Krule: 'Basically, I hated everyone'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  2. ^ "6 Feet Beneath the Moon by King Krule". Genius. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d "The Ooz by King Krule". Metacritic. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  4. ^ Man Alive! by King Krule, retrieved 26 February 2020
  5. ^ "King Krule Through His Fractured World". 52 Insights. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d "'We Make Stuff Every Day': King Krule's Archy Marshall on His New Multi-Media Album". NPR. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  7. ^ Zadeh, Joe (9 October 2013). "OTW #531: Jamie Isaac". Clash Music. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  8. ^ "Timely – King Krule". The New York Times. 7 September 2011.
  9. ^ Ryzik, Melena (13 September 2013). "From Zoo Kid to Heartthrob: King Krule on His Debut Album, '6 Feet Beneath the Moon'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Sound of 2013 Profiles: King Krule". BBC. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  11. ^ "Brooklyn based Music Blog: Album Review : King Krule – 6 Feet Beneath the Moon (Blue Wave)". Still in Rock. 26 February 2004. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  12. ^ "Watch King Krule Play "Easy Easy" on "Letterman" | News". Pitchfork.com. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  13. ^ "King Krule "A Lizard State" 11/04/13 @". Teamcoco.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  14. ^ "Watch The Video for a Lizard State". King Krule. 8 January 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  15. ^ "King Krule: God Save The King". The FADER. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  16. ^ "593849 – 10 Things You Didn't Know About King Krule". PigeonsandPlanes. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  17. ^ "Archy Marshall debuts two new songs on Mount Kimbie's radio show – listen". Consequence of Sound. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  18. ^ "the-ooz | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  19. ^ "The 20 Best Rock Albums of 2017". Pitchfork. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  20. ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Pitchfork. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  21. ^ a b "22 acts in the running for best European independent album". 6 March 2018. Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  22. ^ "Hear King Krule's surprisingly reassuring new single "Alone, Omen 3"". The FADER. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  23. ^ "King Krule Shares New Song "Cellular": Listen". Pitchfork. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  24. ^ "King Krule Announces New Album Man Alive!, Shares Video: Watch". Pitchfork. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  25. ^ Hussey, Allison (25 August 2021). "King Krule Announces New Live Album You Heat Me Up, You Cool Me Down". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  26. ^ Minsker, Evan (13 April 2023). "King Krule Announces Space Heavy, Shares Video for New Song Seaforth: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  27. ^ Monroe, Jazz (20 June 2024). "King Krule Releases New EP, Shares Video: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  28. ^ a b c Brown, August (19 December 2013). "Review: King Krule's spooky, angry musings at the Fonda". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  29. ^ a b "HA0004 – Zoo Kid "Out Getting Ribs"/"Has This Hit" 7"". House Anxiety Records. 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 27 February 2011.
  30. ^ a b Morocco, AJ (7 September 2013). "King Krule – 6 Feet Beneath The Moon". Big Takeover. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  31. ^ a b Lymangrover, Jason. "6 Feet Beneath the Moon". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  32. ^ Kitty Empire (17 August 2013). "King Krule: 6 Feet Beneath the Moon – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  33. ^ "New Music – Zoo Kid". Sixthformstyle.co.uk. 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2010.
  34. ^ NardwuarServiette, Nardwuar vs. King Krule, retrieved 7 December 2018
  35. ^ "King Krule: 'Basically, I hated everyone'". The Guardian. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  36. ^ "King Krule". Flaunt. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  37. ^ Garcia, Francisco. "WePresent:It's like a road movie. It's like a weird, Easy Rider kind of thing going on". WePresent.wetransfer.com. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  38. ^ Samways, Gemma. "King Krule – a different man". Loud and Quiet. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  39. ^ "King Krule discography". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  40. ^ Peaks in Australia:
  41. ^ "King Krule discography". danishcharts.dk. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  42. ^ "King Krule discography". Lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  43. ^ "Discographie von King Krule". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  44. ^ "King Krule discography". Swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  45. ^ "King Krule Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  46. ^ "Video: King Krule indtager London i jakkesæt". Soundvenue A/S. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  47. ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (13 April 2023). "King Krule announces new album Space Heavy and releases 'Seaforth'". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  48. ^ "Top Albums (Week 24, 2023)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  49. ^ "King Krule Chart History: Top Album Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  50. ^ "Listen to an 11-Song Mixtape from Sub Luna City, a new Project Featuring King Krule". Noisey. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  51. ^ "Mercury prize 2018: Noel Gallagher, Florence and Arctic Monkeys shortlisted". The Guardian. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
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