KING at St Pancras Old Church

Fresh off the plane from LA, soul trio KING played their first UK show to a sold-out crowd at London’s St Pancras Old Church. Their soothing melodies and shimmering vocals have earned them a mentor in pop legend Prince and after their break-out, three-track EP, The Story, the coming year looks set to be a big one. 

Anita Bias and twins Amber and Paris Strothers, make up the three-piece in which Anita and Amber take lead vocals and producer Paris provides the instrumentals. From the intro, One of a Kind, KING’s connection as a group is apparent. With just the three on stage, the tracks sound raw and real, which plays to the band’s obvious musical strengths whilst still giving a sublime, full-bodied tone. 

It takes a few songs to get going but with an enthusiastic crowd the band soon get into their stride performing new tracks from their forthcoming album alongside the more established and popular Supernatural, In the Meantime, and Hey.

Supernatural is all catchy beats and rich harmonies that knit together into a sound in which individual parts are indistinguishable. There are recurring synths throughout that manage to be indicative of several decades past yet still remain fresh. The funk rhythms of Mister Chameleon make it the most exciting addition to the setlist and a sure fire hit from their eagerly anticipated LP.

The band have just completed a tour of the US supporting British singer- songwriter Laura Mvula and it is easy to draw comparisons between the two when it comes to their musicality and vocally oriented performances.

Despite this being their first UK show, KING have amassed a small yet dedicated fanbase that includes Paloma Faith and r’n’b sensation Kwabs, who both attended the show. The venue, St Pancras Old Church, is thought to be one of the oldest worship sites in England and its acoustics allow KING to create an immersive atmosphere that resonates with the audience from start to finish. They might be the new kids on the block over here, but KING sure are on to a good thing.

Georgia Snow

For further information and future events visit King’s website here.

Listen to Supernatural here: