Interview with Kingsfoil

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

As a group we’ve all had different influences growing up. Mikey’s father was a musician and so he was exposed to it from an early age. Ant got involved in musical theatre in school and learned the drums, playing in a band in secondary school. Similarly secondary school was a huge influence on myself (Tim) and Sully, our drummer.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

We’re big fans of gaming and film/tv. We find that these things are really good fuel for the imagination. Also, listening to and supporting other bands and musicians is a really cathartic experience. It helps us to gain a new perspective on music as a performance art.

How long has your band been around?

 We formed in 2019, but you could say 2024 is our debut year, as we started releasing our first music and accompanying music videos this year.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

 We’re based in Bournemouth where there is a lively alternative scene, and events, fuelled by tourism, all year round. Having that hunger for the arts helps to sustain our local scene, and has ensured a core group of supporters and fans for our project. It’s a good platform to build upon.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

 All original members are big fans of The Lord Of The Rings, and we sought inspiration from Middle Earth. Kingsfoil is a bit of a niche reference to the herb, that in the hands of Aragorn the King of Gondor, can heal many a grievious wound inflicted by dark magic. We felt it was a niche enough reference with a positive connotation that expressed some of our personality whilst evoking so good imagery to inspire our brand.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

 I guess, opening Teddy Rocks Festival in 2023 was really cool. It was early, but we drew a solid crowd, and many new people got to hear our songs. We got some really good praise and feedback. Furthermore, supporting Giant Walker was a real treat. The’re such a great band, and we did so in a small cellar venue called The Anvil in Bournemouth. However, the sold out show supporting Gnome has to be our most memorable one. The crowd that came for Gnome, despite being a little different to the headliners, really threw their weight behind out set that night.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

 Our favourite venue so far has the be The Anvil in Bournemouth – we’re always really well supported and looked after. A shout out must go to Bears across the road too, they’ve really got their accommodation of the bands that play there sorted out.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

 This is a tough choice. There are so many great bands out there. We’d have to lay our hat on Rival Sons and Iron Maiden/Bruce Dickinson with InMe thrown in for personal nostalgia.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

 My strongest advice would be what many others said to me but I didn’t understand the importance of at the time. When we’re young we think we know everything until we reflect later and it’s easy to see where we were a little blinded. But that’s life. My advice would be to write music, keep writing, and hone your craft. Seek instruction from those who know more and have been there before, and listen. Always be learning, and you will go far.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

 Patience is a virtue. Sometimes, things take a time, but if you stick to the plan you will see the dividends paid in the end. Stick to your convictions and trust yourself. I’ve been guilty in the past of rushing projects as I’m so excited to share the music, but how you go about sharing your music matters just as much as the music itself.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

 Find Your Way means a lot for many reasons. I tried to capture the crushing moment of heartbreak, and the journey and transition from that space into a more hopeful and progressive one. Where you fight back against the despair and work your way back to peace and love within yourself.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

 Whips & Chains is always requested and a firm favourite. It’s our next single to be released which should delight a number of our fans. However, we definitely derive a huge amount of enjoyment from Find Your Way. It builds from a slow, thoughtful intro into a lively throwdown of pure metal influences with anthemic chorus hooks and chants, including some shredding solo work towards the end.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

 All of our songs are conceived by me (Tim), our frontman. They get brought to the rest of the band and shaped, edited and developed in the practice room. Mikey holds the most influence on that process initially, with his songwriting prowess able to guide the finishing touches to most of our songs. But all members contribute as the song comes together. It’s an open space for ideas, and often there is room for development.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

 There’s a mixture of messages really. Many hold a catchy hook with a theme, drawing from messages of hope, defiance and resistance, whereas others have a passionate, fun, sexy energy to let the crowd shake off some of the more serious overtones in some of our songs. We can do the serious and the whimsical in equal measure, taking our listeners on an emotional rollercoaster.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

 There are often differences of opinion but we rarely have a disagreement. We’re all open minded and happy to hear each other out and weigh up pro and cons for anything. Being in a band you have to learn to compromise as well as communicate well. We’re all in it together and having many different ideas and opinions is helpful.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

 The music video for our next single is dropping on Fri 25th October on our Youtube channel, please check it out at linktr.ee/kingsfoil – we will be swiftly following this up with several huge announcements so make sure you follow us and subscribe to our social channels.