On a mission to release twelve singles in 2024, Ross King confirms his artistic stature with latest effort ‘Never Know’. Built on soulful and elegant funk tones, the single moves with charisma and confidence carrying King’s cathartic and playful vocal tone to its highest form. Harmonies are equally impressive, showcasing the Edinburgh-based creative as one of the most impressive newcomers in the British scene right now.
Teaming up with talented guitarist Cathal Murphy – another successful and celebrated figure – Ross King manages to deliver a wonderful record, touching the highest peaks of musicianship while exuding a nostalgic, retro flair.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with King to learn more about his artistry and future goals… Interview below!
Hey Ross, how is it going? We have been listening to ‘Never Know’ a fair bit and we absolutely love it. Light yet nuanced, the track showcases your qualities as a songwriter, but also as a singer and musician. This brings me to my first question: do you focus more on the lyrical or the sonic aspect of a recording? Are you team mood&vibes, or team literature?
First of all, that’s really kind! Thank you. Personally, I think it depends on the song. Some songs are about storytelling and others are about the vibe or the sound. I find that, often, the words actually fit the melody, too, so it’s all linked. For Never Know I had both the melody and the words all come to me at once! Generally speaking though, I’m probably team literature because I love to read and I love to write.
Delving into your personal history, it is clear you have been travelling the world a lot. Has that helped you build an eclectic vision of music and art?
Well, that’s … disarmingly perceptive! I have. I was born in the Middle East but moved to the UK when I was very young, then moved to France during my formative years, and back again. I’ve been very fortunate but also eager to keep travelling around. For instance, I found an internship in Paris working for a music label while I was at university and they paid for me to live there for a few months! Travelling and living in new places is probably my favourite thing to do. There’s just so much out there to experience and it’s all incredibly rewarding.
I do think it’s massively influenced who I am and, in turn, my writing. Never Know is all about that. If I hadn’t been randomly looking for an internship at uni, I wouldn’t have found that Paris job, for instance. Keeping moving keeps things fresh for me, but there’s peace to be found in stability too. I think moving is good for having new ideas, while staying is good for expanding on those ideas more deeply.
Was there a special ‘factor’ or element that inspired you to pursue music? When did you know you wanted to express yourself in this industry?
Honestly, I couldn’t tell you. I would just say that I have always felt very different, like a bit of a misfit and a bit of a loner at times. Even though I’ve got some wonderful friends, I’ve always retreated into music, or expressed myself through music more easily. Growing up, I joined a choir as soon as I could, I even started a little ‘orchestra’ at my school in France for the first time, with my music teacher, just the two of us! So yes, I’ve always been hugely driven to pursue music. Not for any real reason other than, I love it. I love the connections it can create, I love the feeling of being free through music. It’s just incredibly rewarding.
This is a fun question I sometimes ask; if you could choose any musician who ever existed (dead or alive) for a fictional trio/quartet/quintet (an ensemble)… who would they be?
Oh well, I’d pick Theo Katzman and Elton John, probably. What a mix that would be! I love Theo’s virtuosity and I’ve seen him three times now. He’s just such a wonderful musician and all-around great guy. Elton, obviously, one of the best songwriters of all time, fierce advocate of human rights, showman, epic career, especially with regards to his recent collaborations and his willingness to change his style with the times … That would be a fun dinner party, wouldn’t it?
Now onto ‘Never Know’. Vibrant and elegant, we really enjoyed listening to its soulful, gentle groovy character. How did the song come about, and would have you been able to reach the same outcome without Cathal Murphy?
Gentle and groovy – that’s me! I love that description actually, it’s exactly what I’m going for. I’m not trying to smash anyone’s eardrums here or create a massive pop anthem, I’m going for a Sunday morning, cooking pancakes, with some nice music on, filter coffee is brewing, and the sun is shining. That’s me. The song came about from a couple of places really.
One of them was the fact I was going through a breakup and I really wanted to focus on myself for a little bit. I’d felt I was neglecting my own dreams and putting everyone else ahead of myself, and I was burnt out. I was giving giving giving, and I thought I really needed time to reset and focus on who I was as a musician and as a person. Never Know is about giving up, or not giving up! It’s about following dreams and giving it a go, because if you give it up, you’ll never know.
The second request was from my drummer at the time, who said he wanted to play something more upbeat and funky, and genuinely I just thought ok cool, what could we do? About 5 minutes later, I had the whole thing written out and recorded in a voice note.
Is the single representative of who you are as an artist, in 2024?
I’d say so absolutely. It’s groovy and gentle, like you say, which really is my vibe. I have a couple more songs coming out this year which are also soft, subtle, but groovy enough to be danced around the kitchen or sung along to in the car. That’s what I love to listen to, and it’s what I’m really enjoying making at the moment. Look out for those new tunes though, because they’re really a lot more complex in terms of songwriting.
Do you feel more confident writing music alone, or within a team?
Honestly, this might be bad but I love writing alone. I love playing in a team, but writing is a solo process, to my mind. If you’re a writer, you have a specific vision and to feel fully satisfied, you need to get as close to that vision as possible. I really enjoy playing with other people and being inspired by them, I even enjoy writing with other people around to bounce ideas off, but I think the nugget, the soul of the song, the real baseline fundamental, often that’s a very personal thing.
What are the next steps for your project? Anything exciting on the horizon?
Yes! Lots of exciting stuff to come from me this year! I’ve got another song out on June 14 called Our Apartment. I play the saxophone on that track and my friend Becca sings some beautiful backing vocals. Then in July, I’ve got another track coming out called Next Train, which is more of a pop banger! Can’t wait for that one to come out. Then in autumn, I’ve got another couple of releases planned. So I can’t wait. This year is really the year I’ve gone for it, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.
