AKp
536 plays
12,300 views
12,300 views
The AKp are the UK's premiere avante-garde pop-punk existentialists. Drawing on influences from Australian power punk, to Ice Cube to Patti Smith, they seek to explore the human condition using accessible, quirky, melodic 3 minute pop songs.Band/artist history
Blood, Art & Death Threats - AKP Biography
In 1999 guitarist and songwriter Alexander King emerged from the split of popular York act Cognac with a humble three piece pop rock act called Alexander King Project. Initially just an outlet for his own material AKP soon became his full focus and developed into a vessel for his own explorations of music, art and philosophy. Many musicians came and went in the first few years, but King's dogged determination and utter belief in what he was trying to articulate kept the band fully active and seemingly indestructible.
In 2001 the lineup finally stabilised as Alexander found musicians who were not only highly talented but sympathetic to his worldview and intentions for AKP. Gem Watson joined on bass and Dan Whiting brought not only incredible power but a slew of electronic perussion and effects.
The following year, AKP recorded their first self-produced demo CD entitled Wake Up Dead, which was successfully distributed internationally by the band via their fledgling record label Essence Recordings. They were invited on the "Circuit Live" Tour and played various dates up and down the country promoting the release.
Around this time Alexander was integrating his broader vision into the band and it's output. The AKP Cultural Engineering Project (www.akpcep.com) was set up as a global communication device in order to explore the human condition through art, writing, poetry and discussion. Lavish and heavily promoted live events were staged with extensive light shows, printed programmes and specially recorded introduction music (provided by King's own power-noise side project Seppuku). The first of which - Nothing Less Than Total War - was a great success but resulted in Alexander recieving multiple death threats and something of a backlash occurred against the band. As the theme of the production was war on apathy, this further cemented King's belief in his modus operandi, and the band played more often and more intensely than ever before.
Another theatrical live show The Truth About Lies the following year saw the band play two back to back sets themed around the principles of truth and lies, including costume changes, extensive lighting and stage props and a publicity campaign that ran for months either side of the show. AKP's live set was growing more confrontational, as the music being played became ever more intense but never less melodic.
For their second release The Joy of Desire (Essence Recordings) AKP opted to enter a commercial studio (Cube Media, York) to work with engineer Rich Bennett. The resulting 4 track EP garnered them considerable interest from radio stations and independent promoters in the USA, South Africa and the Netherlands as well as at home in the UK. The more polished sound evident in these recordings resulted in the band being asked to play a session for BBC Radio Humber, and extensive airplay from local, national and internet radio.
2005 sees AKP back in the studio once again, this time the studio Alexander built himself in order to have complete artistic control over their output. AKP now run their own rehearsal rooms, recording studio and record label and as such are the definitive "independent" band. Refusal to compromise and complete autonomy are the core factors at the heart of this incomparable avant-garde art-rock outfit, packaging experimentalism, philosophy and the study of humanity in three minute hook-laden songs, this is a project that will never die, never quit and never be fashionable.Have you performed in front of an audience?Played live all over the UK. We love playing live, and we're very much a live unit. Being a 3 piece makes gigging relatively easy.
Your musical influences
Listening to a lot of emo, hardcore and so forth, but Dan (drums) is a punk through and through. Gem (bass) likes a lot of contemporary stuff like Archive, Interpol etc. Artists we tend to listen to on the bus include Lostprophets, Christian Death, Prince, David Bowie, Ice Cube, NWA, Muse, Mansun, Grace Jones, Patti Smith and Psychic TVWhat equipment do you use?
Dan plays a genuine 80s Simmons electronic drum kit through Roland modules. Alexander builds and plays his own guitars, called "Alexandercasters".Anything else?
Visit the global consciousness at http://www.akpcep.comI HAVE NOW LISTENED TO OUR HEROES 9 TIMES AND IT STILL MAKES THE HAIRS ON THE BACK OF MY NECK GO ALL FUNNY.
tHIS IS THE STUFF I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR, FOR YEARS!
i WILL BE PUTTING MY ORDER IN FOR THE EP CD.
PS.. GET A LONDON BASED MANAGER.Hi guys!
Just listened to you offerings, and I liked what I heard. Now I've been round the block a bit music wise and I love the sound you have. I especially like the vocal style. very precise, clean and clear. Beautiful tone, very now.
Your music content is very Sparkly for want of a word. I like the progression of many changes within Our Heroes.
It won't be long before some major picks you up. Keep plugging away at the marketing.
I think your songs will still sound quality with a more repetative chorus hook. Don't shy away from the over comerciality. Your sound will carry it off!
Good Luck.
From an old git searching for something new to listen to other than TOTP.All comments (3)
536 plays
12,300 views
12,300 views
Admin
Alexander
@akpcep
Thanks a lot, Bob. We just recorded a brand new 4 track EP entitled "The Joy of Desire". I recommend everyone reading this visit our website at http://www.akp.org.uk for the latest up to date info!